With the death of Dr. Dong-Seok Nahm on February 21, 2021, our specialty lost one of its greatest scientists and thinkers. He was at the age of 81. His pioneering leadership, earned from his excellence as a scholar, passion as an educator, and moral character, was a cornerstone of the very beginning of orthodontics in Korea and will live on through his disciples.

He graduated from Seoul National University, in 1965, and began his research, education, and clinical career in orthodontics in 1972 as the faculty professor. Without any hesitation and determination, he devoted himself in high-level education for next generation at Seoul National University until the year 2006 when he retired with an honor. During this period, he contributed significantly to his alma mater as the chair of the Department of Orthodontics and the director of the Dental Research Institute.

His contributions and achievements are inspiring and their impressive dimensions are so apparent in his curriculum vitae: the Academic Director and Vice President of the Korean Dental Association; President of the International Association for Dental Research Korean Division; President of the Korean Association of Orthodontists; and President of the Korean Cleft Lip and Palate Association; and so on.

While he served as the President of the Korean Association of Orthodontists (KAO) from January 7, 1985 to November 14, 1986, he published the newsletter called “KAO Newsletter” and founded its Spring Academic Conference raising the status of the KAO. “KAO Newsletter” was proudly recognized as the very first newsletter in orthodontics, and preceded the American Association of Orthodontists’ by a decade.

Doctor Nahm’s foresight led our Korean dental profession to broaden up its scope internationally since the mid-1980s. His footsteps marked on his carrier as an ambassador were well recognized: the academic director of the 14th Asia-Pacific Dental Congress and the visiting scholar positions at several foreign institutions (University of Minnesota, US; Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan; University of Göteborg Institute of Odontology, Sweden; University of North Carolina, US; and University of Southern California, US).

In recognition of his achievements, he was awarded the Korean Dental Association Academic Award in 2005 and the 4th Order of Service Merit in 2006.

Relentlessly running the race all his life, Dr. Dong-Seok Nahm did not find rest from hard work on this earth, but we believe he has found rest in the hands of God now. May you rest in peace, Dr. Nahm, beloved and respected teacher.