WEO, WORLD ENDOSCOPY ORGANIZATION
The World Endoscopy Organization, WEO, was established in 1962 at the World Congress of Gastroenterology in Munich, Germany. Since then it has led the worldwide promotion of high standards and quality in endoscopy by enhancing both international cooperation and access to training and education.
WEO is a nonprofit umbrella organization covering three geographical zones: Asia-Pacific (via the Asian-Pacific Society for Digestive Endoscopy, A-PSDE), Europe/Mediterranean (European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, ESGE) and the Americas (Interamerican Society of Digestive Endoscopy, SIED). In 2018, WEO opened its doors to individual members, who can now access a global network of specialists.
As part of its goals, WEO develops projects and educational activities that can be adapted to local needs.
Since its founding in 1976, the Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (KSGE) has become one of the largest institutions in Korea with more than 9,500 members.
The most critical role of the KSGE is to promote the academic activities of its members by regularly holding seminars annually since 1989 with over 6,000 members participating in each seminar. In addition, through the International Digestive Endoscopy Network (IDEN), KSGE promotes academic exchanges with our international society members. KSGE is also devoted to the 'International Young Endoscopist Awards Program (IYEA)' to share technical advancement and collaboration with the future leaders of our field.
Since its inaugural conference in 2011, the International Digestive Endoscopy Network (IDEN) has assumed the role of pioneers at the forefront of gastrointestinal endoscopy while simultaneously leading the advancement of research in endoscopic techniques.
The core objectives of the IDEN are defined as follows:
- To lead the research in the field of gastrointestinal endoscopy with the best expertise
- To educate young endoscopists from the Asia-Pacific region and grow them as true professionals of gastrointestinal endoscopy
- To encourages mutual growth through active exchange of information and communication among member countries' gastrointestinal endoscopic societies