The Liver Week 2026

PROGRAM

Turning Evidence into New Standards inLiver Disease Care

June 11-13, 2026ICONRAD, Seoul, Korea

PROGRAM AT A GLANCE DAILY PROGRAM INVITED FACULTY MEAL PLAN INDUSTRY SYMPOSIA

*K: Session in Korean

08:00-09:10

KASL-KAHBPS-KLCA-KLTS Joint Symposium
Expanding Horizons in Surgical Management of Hepatic Malignancies

Chair: Jung-Hwan Yoon (Seoul National Univ.), Deok-Bog Moon (Univ. of Ulsan)

  • 08:00-08:15

  • Expanding Indications for Surgery and Transplantation in Hepatic Malignancies: Ethics, Donor Considerations, and Future Perspectives

    Dong Hyun Sinn (Sungkyunkwan Univ.)

  • 08:15-08:30

  • Downstaging and Conversion to Resection or Transplantation for Advanced HCC Using Systemic and Locoregional Therapies

    Yun Bin Lee (Seoul National Univ.)

  • 08:30-08:45

  • Surgical Management of Uncommon Hepatic Malignancies

    Sang Jin Kim (Korea Univ.)

  • 08:45-09:00

  • Liver Transplantation for Uncommon Hepatic Malignancies: Beyond Current Criteria

    Sang-Hoon Kim (Univ. of Ulsan)

  • 09:00-09:10

  • Discussion

09:10-10:30

KASL Symposium 1
Redefining the Natural History of Chronic Hepatitis B: Expanding Treatment Paradigms

Chair: W. Ray Kim (Mayo Clinic, USA), Jaeyoun Cheong (Ajou Univ.)

  • 09:10-09:30

  • Immunological Features of Chronic Hepatitis B: Stage-Independent Patterns of HBV-Specific T Cell Responses

    Nina Le Bert (Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore)

  • 09:30-09:50

  • Clarifying the Indeterminate Phase in Chronic Hepatitis B: Defining Its Natural Course and Virological Characteristics

    Gi-Ae Kim (Kyung Hee Univ.)

  • 09:50-10:10

  • Impact of Antiviral Therapy in the Indeterminate Phase of Chronic Hepatitis B: Who Should Be Treated

    Yao-Chun Hsu (I-Shou Univ., Taiwan)

  • 10:10-10:30

  • Latest Updates on Novel Biomarkers for Chronic Hepatitis B

    Yasuhito Tanaka (Kumamoto Univ., Japan)

  • 10:30-10:50

  • KASL Leading Research Achievement Award (*K)

  • 10:50-11:10

  • Opening Ceremony

11:10-11:40

President's Choice Lecture

Chair: Young-Suk Lim (Univ. of Ulsan)

  • 11:10-11:40

  • From Clinic to Policy: A Physician's Journey toward Viral Hepatitis Eradication

    Chien-Jen Chen (Genomics Research Center, Taiwan)

11:40-12:40

Plenary Presentation

Chair: Kyung Sik Kim (Yonsei Univ.), Yoon Jun Kim (Seoul National Univ.), Dong-Sik Kim (Korea Univ.)

  • 12:40-13:30

  • Luncheon Symposium 5

13:30-14:50

KASL-AASLD Joint Symposium
Beyond Steatosis: Metabolic, Muscular, and Oncologic Implications of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD)

Chair: Kathleen Corey (Harvard Medical School, USA), Young-Suk Lim (Univ. of Ulsan)

  • 13:30-13:50

  • Public Health and Policy Implications in the Metabolic Era

    Won Sohn (Sungkyunkwan Univ.)

  • 13:50-14:10

  • Contemporary MASLD Management: Integrating Available Therapies, Metabolic Care, and Prevention of Sarcopenia

    Hye Won Lee (Yonsei Univ.)

  • 14:10-14:30

  • Near-Future MASLD Therapies: Resmetirom, GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Emerging Agents

    Kathleen Corey (Harvard Medical School, USA)

  • 14:30-14:50

  • Rethinking HCC Surveillance in the MASLD Era: From Non-Cirrhotic Risk to Global Strategies

    Ju Dong Yang (Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, USA)

14:50-16:10

KASL Symposium 3
From Cure to Care: Remaining Challenges in HBV Management

Chair: Jia-Horng Kao (National Taiwan Univ., Taiwan), Sang Hoon Ahn (Yonsei Univ.)

  • 14:50-15:10

  • Expanding Indications for Nucleos(t)ide Analogue Therapy in Chronic Hepatitis B: Clinical Benefits and Long-Term Outcomes

    Dong Hyun Sinn (Sungkyunkwan Univ.)

  • 15:10-15:30

  • Personalizing Antiviral Therapy in Hepatitis B: Balancing Safety, Efficacy, and HCC Prevention

    Tung-Hung Su (National Taiwan Univ., Taiwan)

  • 15:30-15:50

  • Discontinuation of Antiviral Therapy in Chronic Hepatitis B

    Yao-Chun Hsu (I-Shou Univ., Taiwan)

  • 15:50-16:10

  • Immune Mechanisms Driving HBsAg Decrease with Various Anti-HBV Therapeutics

    Seng-Gee Lim (National Univ. of Singapore, Singapore)

  • 16:10-16:20

  • Coffee Break

16:20-17:40

KASL Symposium 4
Management Strategies for Chronic Viral Hepatitis

Chair: Man-Fung Yuen (The Univ. of Hong Kong, Hong Kong), Hyung Joon Yim (Korea Univ.)

  • 16:20-16:40

  • Beyond Cure: Practical Care for Hepatitis C Patients with MASLD

    Takumi Kawaguchi (Kurume Univ., Japan)

  • 16:40-17:00

  • The Need for Greater Awareness and an Evolving Treatment Landscape in Hepatitis D Infection

    Young Kul Jung (Korea Univ.)

  • 17:00-17:20

  • Persistent Low-Level Viremia on Nucleos(t)ide Analogues in CHB Patients: Clinical Impact and Management Algorithms

    Chun-Jen Liu (National Taiwan Univ., Taiwan)

  • 17:20-17:40

  • AI-Driven Strategies for Chronic Hepatitis B: From Prediction to Post-Cure Risk Stratification

    Moon Haeng Hur (Seoul National Univ.)

07:30-08:00

Mini Special Interest Group 1
The KASL Viral Hepatitis Study Group (*K)

Chair: Hyung Joon Yim (Korea Univ.)

  • 07:30-08:00

  • Unmet Needs in the Clinical Practice of Viral Hepatitis

    Janghan Jung (Hallym Univ.)

  • 12:40-13:30

  • Luncheon Symposium 6

13:30-14:50

KASL Symposium 2
Autoimmune Liver Diseases and Beyond

Chair: Tetsuo Takehara (Osaka Univ., Japan), Sook-Hyang Jeong (Seoul National Univ.)

  • 13:30-13:50

  • Immunopathogenesis and Overlap Syndromes in Autoimmune Liver Diseases

    Ja Kyung Kim (Yonsei Univ.)

  • 13:50-14:10

  • Hard-to-Treat Autoimmune Liver Diseases: Lessons from Clinical Cases

    Soon Kyu Lee (The Catholic Univ. of Korea)

  • 14:10-14:30

  • Treatment Optimization in Autoimmune Hepatitis: When First-Line Therapy Fails

    Atsumasa Komori (Nagasaki Univ., Japan)

  • 14:30-14:50

  • Beyond Ursodeoxycholic Acid: The Next Chapter in Primary Biliary Cholangitis Treatment

    Yu Jun Wong (Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore)

14:50-16:10

Special Interest Group 1. KCSG & CHESS Joint Symposium
Leading the Frontiers of Cirrhotic Portal Hypertension in East Asia

Chairs: Won Hyeok Choe (Konkuk Univ.), Xiaolong Qi (Liver Health Consortium in China (CHESS), China)

  • 14:50-15:10

  • Emerging Evidence: Ongoing Prospective Trials in Cirrhosis from Korea

    Seong Hee Kang (Korea Univ.)

  • 15:10-15:30

  • LiverRCT: CHESS Ongoing Randomized Controlled Trials of Cirrhotic Portal Hypertension

    Xiaolong Qi (Liver Health Consortium in China (CHESS), China)

  • 15:30-15:50

  • Clinical Insights from the Korean Multicenter HVPG Cohort

    Tom Ryu (Soonchunhyang Univ.)

  • 15:50-16:10

  • Vasomics: CHESS Emerging Technologies of Cirrhotic Portal Hypertension

    Ling Yang (Southeast Univ., China)

16:20-17:40

Hepatology Associates (*K)

Chair: Il Han Song (Dankook Univ.), Hee Bok Chae (Chungbuk National Univ.)

  • 16:20-16:40

  • Evaluation and Management of Abnormal Liver Function Tests in Clinical Practice

    Byeong Geun Song (Sungkyunkwan Univ.)

  • 16:40-17:00

  • Assessing Tumor Response in HCC: RECIST and mRECIST

    Hyo Jung Park (Univ. of Ulsan)

  • 17:00-17:20

  • Practical Approaches to Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH) Therapy and Complication Management

    Ha Il Kim (Hanyang Univ.)

  • 17:20-17:40

  • How to Report Complications: CTCAE and SUSAR

    Taekeun Park (Seoul National Univ.)

09:10-10:30

KLCA Symposium 1
From Detection to Prevention: Evolving Strategies in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) Diagnosis and Chemoprevention

Chair: Yong-Han Paik (Sungkyunkwan Univ.), Seok Hyun Kim (Chungnam National Univ.)

  • 09:10-09:30

  • Controversies in Imaging-Based Diagnosis of HCC: Revisiting Major Features and Regional Differences

    Hyo Jung Park (Univ. of Ulsan)

  • 09:30-09:50

  • AI-Driven Prediction and Risk Stratification for HCC Surveillance

    Hyunjae Shin (Seoul National Univ.)

  • 09:50-10:10

  • Biomarkers for HCC Diagnosis and Surveillance: Beyond AFP

    Hye Won Lee (Yonsei Univ.)

  • 10:10-10:30

  • Chemoprevention in MASLD: Can We Reduce the Risk of HCC?

    Jeong Eun Song (Daegu Catholic Univ.)

  • 12:40-13:40

  • KLCA General Meeting

13:40-14:40

2026 KLCA-NCC Practice Guidelines for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (*K)

Chair: June Sung Lee (Inje Univ.)

  • 13:40-14:40

  • 2026 KLCA-NCC Practice Guidelines for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

    Bo Hyun Kim (National Cancer Center), Do Young Kim (Yonsei Univ.)

  • 14:40-14:50

  • Break

14:50-16:10

KLCA-ILCA Joint Symposium
Who Is the Best Partner for Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 in Advanced HCC: VEGF Inhibition vs. CTLA-4 Blockade

Chair: June Sung Lee (KLCA), Stephen Lam Chan (ILCA)

  • 14:50-15:10

  • Evolving Landscape of Immunotherapy in HCC: Finding the Optimal Partner

    Eui-Cheol Shin (KAIST)

  • 15:10-15:30

  • Anti-VEGF as a Partner to PD-L1 Blockade

    Antonio D'Alessio (King's College Hospital, UK)

  • 15:30-15:50

  • Dual Immune Blockade in HCC

    Bo Hyun Kim (National Cancer Center)

  • 15:50-16:10

  • Panel Discussion: Choosing the Best Partner for Anti-PD-1/L1

  • 16:10-16:20

  • Coffee Break

16:20-17:40

KLCA Symposium 2
Managing MASLD-HCC: A Comprehensive Overview of Treatment Modalities and Strategies

Chair: Michael Karin (Sanford Burnham Prebys, USA), Antonio D'Alessio (King's College Hospital, UK)

  • 16:20-16:40

  • MASLD-HCC Carcinogenesis: Genetics and Metabolic Drivers

    Su Jong Yu (Seoul National Univ.)

  • 16:40-17:00

  • Immunity and Resistance in MASLD-HCC: Strategies for Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy

    Arndt Vogel (Univ. of Toronto, Canada)

  • 17:00-17:20

  • Prognostic Imaging: Assessing Risk and Predicting Outcomes in MASLD-HCC

    Sunyoung Lee (Yonsei Univ.)

  • 17:20-17:40

  • Tailoring Immunotherapy for MASLD-HCC: Challenges and Emerging Strategies

    Takahiro Kodama (Osaka Univ., Japan)

07:30-08:00

KASL Branch Early Morning Workshop 1 [Gyeonggi-Incheon] (*K)

Chair: Jung Hyun Kwon (The Catholic Univ. of Korea)

  • 07:30-08:00

  • Clinical and Epidemiological Analysis of HEV Infection Based on the Nation-Wide Surveillance of Hepatitis E in Japan

    Jong-Hon Kang (Teine Keijinkai Hospital, Japan)

08:00-09:00

Translational Research 1
Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) Pathogenesis and Metabolic-Immune Cross-Talk

Chair: Won Kim (Seoul National Univ.), Wonhyo Seo (Ewha Womans Univ.)

  • 08:00-08:20

  • MASLD Phenotypic Diversity: From Genetic Discovery to Precision Medicine Stratification

    Stefano Romeo (Karolinska Institutet, Sweden)

  • 08:20-08:40

  • Inflammation-Fibrosis Axis and Regulatory Mechanisms in MASH

    Yong-Hyun Han (Kangwon National Univ.)

  • 08:40-09:00

  • The Metabolic Triad in MASLD-MASH: Glucose, Lipid, and Amino Acid Dysregulation

    Tatsuya Kanto (Japan Institute for Health Security, Japan)

09:10-10:30

Translational Research 2
Cutting-Edge Technologies in Liver Research: From Spatial Omics to Precision Therapeutics

Chair: Si Hyun Bae (The Catholic Univ. of Korea), Won-Il Jeong (KAIST)

  • 09:10-09:30

  • Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation and Fibrosis Reversal Mechanisms

    David A. Brenner (Sanford Burnham Prebys, USA)

  • 09:30-09:50

  • Multi-Omics and Single-Cell Spatial Insights for HCC Target Discovery

    Jeong Seok Lee (KAIST)

  • 09:50-10:10

  • Senescent Hepatocytes as Tumor Seedbeds in MASH: Lessons from Single-Cell Maps

    Michael Karin (Sanford Burnham Prebys, USA)

  • 10:10-10:30

  • Multi-Modal Analysis of Human Stellate Cells Identifies Novel Therapeutic Targets for MASLD

    Hyun Young Kim (Dankook Univ.)

  • 12:40-13:30

  • Luncheon Symposium 7

13:30-14:50

Data Science Camp 1 (*K)

Chairs: Hong Soo Kim (Soonchunhyang Univ.), Jeong Heo (Pusan National Univ.)

  • 13:30-13:50

  • Principles of Cohort Study Design: From Question to Data

    W. Ray Kim (Mayo Clinic, USA)

  • 13:50-14:10

  • How to Conduct Successful Multinational Cohort Studies

    Jeong-Hoon Lee (Seoul National Univ.)

  • 14:10-14:30

  • From Statistical Associations to Causal Inference: The Role of Regression and Propensity Methods

    Sehee Kim (Univ. of Ulsan)

  • 14:30-14:50

  • Applying Survival and Multivariable Analysis in Clinical Research: Interpreting the Results

    Dong Keon Yon (Kyung Hee Univ.)

14:50-16:10

Data Science Camp 2 (*K)

Chairs: Oh Sang Kwon (Gachon Univ.), Tae-Hee Lee (Konyang Univ.)

  • 14:50-15:10

  • Target Trial Emulation in Hepatology Research

    Kyunga Kim (Sungkyunkwan Univ.)

  • 15:10-15:30

  • Application of Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs) and Mediation Analysis for Causal Inference

    Sun Jae Jung (Yonsei Univ.)

  • 15:30-15:50

  • Application of Vibe Coding in Liver Disease Research

    Ji Won Han (The Catholic Univ. of Korea)

  • 15:50-16:10

  • Sensitivity Analysis Methodologies in Epidemiologic Research

    Hyesung Lee (Kangwon National Univ.)

  • 16:10-16:20

  • Break

16:20-17:20

Translational Hepatology
Integrative Approaches to Liver Diseases: Biomarkers, Microbiome, and Mendelian Randomization

Chairs: Jaeseok Hwang (Keimyung Univ.), Neung Hwa Park (Univ. of Ulsan)

  • 16:20-16:40

  • Promotion of Precision Health Using Molecular and Genomic Biomarkers in Liver Diseases

    Chien-Jen Chen (Genomics Research Center, Taiwan)

  • 16:40-17:00

  • Microbiome-Metabolite Cross-Talk in Liver Diseases

    Ki-Tae Suk (Hallym Univ.)

  • 17:00-17:20

  • Genetic Causal Inference in Liver Diseases Using Mendelian Randomization

    Sung Won Chung (Univ. of Ulsan)

09:10-10:30

KLTS Symposium 1
Liver Transplantation for HCC with Portal Vein Tumor Thrombosis: Redefining the Impossible

Chair: Young Kyoung You (The Catholic Univ. of Korea), Hae Won Lee (Seoul National Univ.)

  • 09:10-09:30

  • Who, When, and Why: Selection Criteria and Timing for Liver Transplantation in HCC with Portal Vein Tumor Thrombosis

    Jae Geun Lee (Yonsei Univ.)

  • 09:30-09:50

  • Downstaging to Transplant: Converting the Unresectable to the Transplantable

    Prashant Bhangui (Medanta Institute, India)

  • 09:50-10:10

  • Operative Strategy and Technical Pitfalls in Liver Transplantation for HCC with Portal Vein Tumor Thrombosis

    Deok-Bog Moon (Univ. of Ulsan)

  • 10:10-10:30

  • Post-Transplant Care and Recurrence Management: Adjuvant and Salvage Strategies

    Kwang-Woong Lee (Seoul National Univ.)

  • 10:30-10:50

  • Coffee Break

11:40-12:40

KLTS Coordinator Session (*K)
The Liver Transplant Patient Journey: Narratives and Experiences

Chair: Jung Ja Hong (Asan Medical Center), Seungheui Hong (Samsung Medical Center)

  • 11:40-12:00

  • Analysis of Symptoms in Liver Transplant Recipients and Living Donors

    JiYeon Choi (Yonsei Univ.)

  • 12:00-12:20

  • Experience and Adaptation after Liver Transplantation: A Qualitative Research Review

    Sunyoung Son (Gangnam Severance Hospital)

  • 12:20-12:40

  • Depressive Symptoms and Self-Care in Liver Transplant Recipients

    Seo Ha Jung (Yonsei Univ.)

  • 12:40-13:30

  • Luncheon Symposium 8

13:30-14:50

KLTS Symposium 2
Body Composition and Fluid Dynamics in Liver Transplantation

Chair: Dong-Sik Kim (Korea Univ.), Bong-Wan Kim (Ajou Univ.)

  • 13:30-13:50

  • Beyond Body Mass Index (BMI): Clinical Utility of InBody and Bioimpedance in Liver Transplant Evaluation

    Suk-Won Suh (Chung-Ang Univ.)

  • 13:50-14:10

  • Prognostic Significance of Sarcopenia and Visceral Fat in Liver Transplant Recipients

    Toshimi Kaido (St. Luke's International Hospital, Japan)

  • 14:10-14:30

  • Extracellular Water Imbalance and Fluid Overload: Impact on Early Graft Function and Complications

    Minseob Kim (Seoul National Univ.)

  • 14:30-14:50

  • Significance of Body Composition in Liver Transplantation

    Seung-Young Oh (Seoul National Univ.)

14:50-16:10

KLTS Symposium 3
Liver Transplantation in the Era of MASLD

Chair: Kwang-Woong Lee (Seoul National Univ.), Prashant Bhangui (Medanta Institute, India)

  • 14:50-15:10

  • The MASLD Era and Its Impact on the Liver Donor Pool

    Bo Hyun Jung (Inje Univ.)

  • 15:10-15:30

  • Outcomes and Risk Factors of Liver Transplantation Using Steatotic Grafts for HCC

    Fengqiang Gao (Zhejiang Univ., China)

  • 15:30-15:50

  • Recurrent Steatosis in Living Donors after Pre-Donation Weight Reduction and Subsequent Weight Regain

    Young-in Yoon (Univ. of Ulsan)

  • 15:50-16:10

  • Recurrent and de novo MASLD after Liver Transplantation

    Tae-Seok Kim (Keimyung Univ.)

07:30-08:00

KASL Branch Early Morning Workshop 2 [Daejeon-Sejong-Chungcheong] (*K)

Chair: Seok Hyun Kim (Chungnam National Univ.)

  • 07:30-08:00

  • Hepatorenal Syndrome in Patients with Hepatic Hydrothorax

    Hyuk Soo Eun (Chungnam National Univ.)

13:30-14:45

Health Insurance, Policy Forum (*K)

Chair: In Hee Kim (Jeonbuk National Univ.), Hyun Woong Lee (Yonsei Univ.)

  • 13:30-13:55

  • National Viral Hepatitis Elimination Strategy

    TBD (Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency)

  • 13:55-14:20

  • Reimbursement Principles and History of Viral Hepatitis Treatment

    Ae Ran Kwak (Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service)

  • 14:20-14:45

  • Unmet Need of Clinical Practice in Chronic Viral Hepatitis

    Soon Sun Kim (Ajou Univ.)

07:30-08:00

KASL Branch Early Morning Workshop 3 [Daegu-Gyeongbuk] (*K)

Chair: Won Young Tak (Kyungpook National Univ.)

  • 07:30-08:00

  • Clinical Application of Non-Invasive Modalities for Fibrosis Assessment in MASLD

    Byoung Kuk Jang (Keimyung Univ.)

07:30-08:00

KASL Branch Early Morning Workshop 4 [Gwangju -Chonnam] (*K)

Chair: Sung Bum Cho (Chonnam National Univ.)

  • 07:30-08:00

  • Regionally Led Project for HCV Micro-Elimination: Jindo-gun

    Min-Ho Shin (Chonnam National Univ.)