On June 20–21, 2024, the Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Republic of Korea, hosted an annual conference of the Malacological Society of Korea (MSK) and an anniversary event to celebrate 40 years of the Society (http://malacol.or.kr/2024.html).

The MSK was established on February 18, 1984 at the general founding meeting, and the first scientific conference was organized on October 20 of the same year at the Yonsei University Medical School Library. The first issue of the society’s journal, the Korean Journal of Malacology, was published in December 1985 (journal articles are available at: http://www.malacol.or.kr/bbs/board.php?bo_table=ju_list).

The very first article in the journal, written by Prof. O.-K. Kwon and co-authors, addressed the issues of freshwater mollusks in the Han River flowing through Seoul (Kwon O.K., Cho D.H., Park G.M., Lee J.S. A study on a distribution of the freshwater snails and mussels in the north-south Han River // Korean Journal of Malacology. 1985. V. 1, N 1. P. 1–4). Since 1988, the society began publishing newsletters, and since 1993, the journal was issued twice a year (currently, it releases four issues per year, in online and hard-copy formats).

Since 1990, the MSK launched an active international campaign: on June 25–28, the Second International Congress on Medical and Applied Malacology, held at the Yonsei University Centennial Memorial Hall, was attended by 44 scientists from 17 countries; the 10th congress was held in Busan in 2009, where Russian malacologists also took an active part (see: Prozorova L.A. 10th International Congress on Medical and Applied Malacology, 26–29 August 2009, Busan, Republic of Korea // Bulletin of the Russian Far East Malacological Society. 2009. V. 13. P. 116–124). Subsequently, the MSK actively developed, held annual conferences, and launched its own website in 2011. The journal was constantly extending its scope, and invited foreign scientists to its editorial board. The MSK has come to its anniversary as a fully mature and well-respected scientific society, despite its relatively young age (the very first malacological societies appeared in Europe in the 19th century: the London Malacological Society in 1893, the Conchological Society of Great Britain and Ireland in 1876, and the German society (the Deutsche Malakozoologische Gesellschaft) in 1868; in Asia, it occurred later, in the 20th century: the Malacological Society of Japan was founded in 1928). Currently, it consists of approximately 50 members. The journal is included in the Korean Web of Science collection (KCI Korean Journal Database) and a number of Korean national indexing systems. The MSK holds annual conferences and aims to disseminate knowledge about mollusks.

On June 20, an anniversary conference was held at Sunchunhyang University, where more than 40 people took part, including graduate students from the PRC (studying in Korea) and a participant from Russia (Konstantin A. Lutaenko) as an international guest. The first part of the conference included four invited half-hour talks: Dr. Lee Jung-Saeng (Korea Mollusc Research Institute) reported on the history of mollusk studies in Korea; Prof. Choi Kwang-Sik (Jeju National University), on symbiotic associations of marine bivalves in Korea; Prof. Park Joong-Ki (Ewha Women University), on genetic signals in bivalves’ adaptations, based on a study of their genes and genomes; Dr. K.A. Lutaenko (NSCMB FEB RAS), on climatic and environmental changes in Northeast Asia and their impact on bivalves (composition, abundance and distribution). In the second part of the conference, Korean specialists presented their molecular genetics studies on phylogenetics and identification of mollusks, digitalization of collections and data, biofouling of the scallop Argopecten irradians; there was also a poster session (20 posters). The conference showed the active use of state-of-the-art methods in mollusk research, the involvement of young specialists, a wide range of studies, but also the insufficiency of faunistic and taxonomic research in Korea. On the next day, June 21, a ceremonial meeting and banquet was held at the Cheil Hotel Onyang to mark the 40th anniversary of the Society, reward the oldest members with memorable gifts, and watch a video film on the history of the MSK. On behalf of the Far Eastern Malacological Society and NSCMB FEB RAS, K.A. Lutaenko cordially congratulated the MSK members and presented an official congratulatory address to the President of the Society, Prof. Lee Yong-Seok. During these two days, all the events were hosted in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.

Collective photo of conference participants.

Poster session.

Dr. K.A. Lutaenko talks with Prof. Park Joong-Ki.

Prof. Lee Yong-Seok, President of the Malacological Society of Korea (left) and Prof. Choi Jin-Woo.

Prof. Hwang Ui-Wook congratulates members of the society on their anniversary.

Solemn meeting dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the society.

For Russian Far Eastern malacologists, maintaining contacts with the MSK and Korean malacologists is an important part of regional scientific relations. Many members of the Russian Far Eastern Malacological Society have published their studies in the Korean Journal of Malacology (V.V. Bogatov, L.A. Prozorova, K.A. Lutaenko, Yu.M. Yakovlev, N.I. Selin, N.K. Kolotukhina, E.M. Chaban etc.), they sufficiently well know Korean malacological literature, have conducted field works in South Korea, and made a contribution to the study of the fauna of this country. We congratulate the Malacological Society of Korea on its anniversary and wish further development and prosperity.

View/Download Abstracts of the conference of the Malacological Society of Korea

K.A. Lutaenko (NSCMB FEB RAS, RFEMS)