In 1995, the Grand Auditorium on the sixth floor of Asan Medical Center was filled with cardiovascular specialists from around the world. As the interventional procedure in the angiocardiography room was broadcast live, the entire audience watched in breathless silence. It was a moment that signaled new possibilities and a paradigm shift in interventional procedures. Spearheaded by the Asan Medical Center (AMC) Heart Institute, the TCTAP (Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics Asia Pacific) took its first steps and soon became a dynamic forum for spirited discussion and exchange in the field of cardiology. It has played a significant role in elevating both AMC’s and Korea’s global standing in cardiovascular medicine. To mark the 30th anniversary of TCTAP, now established as the leading international cardiology conference in the Asia-Pacific region, we spoke with Endowed-Chair Professor Seung-Jung Park of the Division of Cardiology, who recently published a memoir.

▲ Endowed-Chair Professor Seung-Jung Park of the Division of Cardiology from Asan Medical Center.

Q: You recently published a retrospective book highlighting the past and present of world-renowned cardiovascular experts. What does this publication mean to you?

A: Over the past 30 years of TCTAP, I have shared countless experiences and learned alongside colleagues, building friendships that have enriched my life. Many of the young and ambitious doctors from the early days have now become global leaders. As a tribute to them, I went through more than 20,000 photos, carefully selecting and writing personal reflections to accompany them. Good people created good memories, and for me, that has led to a truly good life. That’s why I titled the book ‘GOOD PEOPLE, GOOD MEMORIES, GOOD LIFE.’

Q: How did a newly established hospital manage to bring together top cardiovascular experts from around the world?

A: It was all about the power of content. This was the only place where you could witness procedures that weren’t being performed anywhere else. At a time when bypass surgery was the only treatment option for left main coronary artery stenosis, we were the first to attempt and share interventional procedures. The conference floor was always charged with energy thanks to live demonstrations and panel discussions, and naturally, the world's leading experts began to gather. What was once seen as a reckless endeavor—coronary intervention—is now a standard treatment. Back then, people used to call me ‘Crazy Park,’ but that nickname eventually changed to “Main Park,” taken from “left main.” (laughs)

In 1995, live procedural demonstrations were unprecedented in Korea. Our medical and support staff had to bring in broadcast crews and manually lay cable from the 3rd to the 6th floor because we didn’t yet have an internal network system. We even built an in-house video editing studio to produce educational materials. All of this hands-on work helped us accumulate internal know-how and turn it into a fully developed system. Once we began broadcasting overseas, the conference gained even greater influence.

Q: How is Asan Medical Center perceived through TCTAP?

A: It’s not something we can easily feel from the inside, but from the outside, international cardiology experts recognize us as a ‘high-level player.’ There are still procedures that only we can perform, and our training standards remain exceptionally high. Since our first publication in NEJM (The New England Journal of Medicine) in 2003, Asan Medical Center has appeared in nine articles. These achievements are the result of continued research efforts by many members of our team.

I’ve always believed that every achievement must be backed by evidence-based publications. That’s why we began building a database from the first opening day of Asan Medical Center. As the data accumulated, writing papers became easier. Very few institutions had such systems in place, which enabled us to consistently produce high-quality outcomes.

Q: What has been our driving force in the past, and what should we prepare for the future?

A: The spirit of sharing and service demonstrated by our late Chairman Chung Ju-yung, founder of the Asan Foundation gave us a powerful sense of purpose. Everyone poured their time and passion into saving lives, and it naturally evolved into an effective survival strategy through collective intelligence and collaboration. We were also fortunate that our decisions and actions aligned with the needs of the times. We can no longer expect the same rapid pace of growth as before. However, if we continue to build trust in the ‘value of team’ and develop a long-term vision through collaboration, I believe we have the potential to achieve even greater success.