6. What principle do you remind yourself of each day as you begin seeing patients?

“Everything in moderation — within the absolute boundaries of safety, I pursue the best possible outcome for each patient.”

There is a Korean expression rooted in an old proverb that I often remind myself of before beginning the day: too much can be just as harmful as too little.

In aesthetic dermatology and skin treatment, doing more does not necessarily produce a better result.

In fact, pushing a treatment beyond what is appropriate in pursuit of a more dramatic change can sometimes lead to unexpected side effects or complications.

That is why my first principle is to remain strictly within the safe boundaries defined by each patient’s skin condition and facial anatomy.

Within those boundaries, I focus all of my experience and attention on achieving the best possible outcome while carefully considering what the patient can comfortably tolerate throughout the treatment process.

For me, safety is not something to consider after deciding how much improvement we want to achieve.

Safety is the foundation on which every meaningful and lasting result must be built.

7. Dermatology trends are evolving rapidly. Which treatment are you currently most focused on, and where does your clinical experience lie?

“Personalized acne scar treatment with CureJet using NFJI technology.”

One area I am particularly focused on is CureJet treatment using Needle-Free Jet Injection, or NFJI, technology.

Acne scars can be especially challenging because their depth, shape, distribution, and underlying tissue characteristics can vary considerably from one patient to another.

To deepen my approach to difficult and treatment-resistant scars, I have continuously studied advanced clinical techniques and attended academic lectures by leading specialists in scar treatment in Korea.

I currently perform an average of more than 20 to 30 acne scar and regenerative treatment cases each month.

Rather than applying the same protocol to every scar, I focus on identifying the individual characteristics of each patient’s scars and developing a precise, targeted treatment strategy accordingly.

For me, successful scar treatment begins with understanding that not every scar should be treated in exactly the same way.

8. Is there a particular patient experience that has stayed with you throughout your career as a dermatologist?

“Some of my most memorable patients taught me what it truly means to share in a patient’s suffering and to take responsibility as a dermatologist.”

There are several patients from my residency years whom I still remember vividly.

One was a patient with terminal cancer who developed severe scabies.

I visited the patient’s room every day to perform wound care and apply the necessary medication. The patient ultimately passed away due to the underlying illness, and I even contracted scabies myself during the course of treatment.

Despite how difficult that experience was, it remains one of my earliest and strongest memories of what it means to care for a patient without reservation.

Another patient had refractory pyoderma gangrenosum and experienced one of the longest hospitalizations I encountered during residency.

The condition had failed to improve despite multiple immunomodulatory treatments, and the patient later developed a severe wound infection.

After an extremely difficult period, the patient eventually recovered following intensive antibiotic treatment.

Watching that recovery unfold was one of the most dramatic clinical experiences of my training.

I also remember a patient in Uijeongbu who had undergone skin graft surgery following a major injury but faced significant difficulties with postoperative wound care.

I visited the patient every morning and evening to personally manage the wound dressings.

The patient had initially struggled even to walk, so seeing them eventually leave the hospital on their own feet was deeply rewarding.

Before leaving, the patient handed me some chocolate as a small gesture of thanks.

I still remember the sweetness of that chocolate.

It remains one of those simple but unforgettable memories that reminds me why I chose to become a dermatologist.

9. When do you feel happiest and most fulfilled in your practice?

“Just as a child’s smile can make the exhaustion of parenting disappear, seeing a patient respond well to treatment makes the weight of the day feel lighter.”

Clinical practice comes with a tremendous sense of responsibility.

Every patient is different, and each case requires me to think carefully about which treatment will be most appropriate and how to achieve the best possible result without compromising safety.

That responsibility can naturally bring pressure and stress.

In some ways, I think it resembles raising a child.

Parenting can be exhausting, but a single bright smile from your child can make that exhaustion seem to disappear.

I experience something similar in my work.

When I see that a patient has responded well to treatment and is genuinely pleased with the improvement, I feel an enormous sense of happiness and fulfillment as a physician.

Those moments make the effort, responsibility, and constant decision-making behind each treatment worthwhile.

10. What is the one promise you would like to make to every patient who visits Timeless Dermatology Mapo?

“Within what you can safely and reasonably tolerate, I will bring everything I have to your treatment.”

Effective dermatologic treatment can sometimes involve moments of discomfort or a process that requires patience.

I understand that when patients choose to go through that process, they are doing so because they genuinely hope to achieve healthier, better skin.

I do not take that trust or effort lightly.

If a patient is willing to place that trust in me, I promise to bring the full extent of my experience, focus, and commitment to every treatment I perform.

I will never pursue a result at the expense of safety.

But within safe and appropriate boundaries, I will approach each procedure with precision and give my very best to achieve the strongest result we can reasonably pursue together.

That is the commitment I make to every patient I treat at Timeless Dermatology Mapo.