Historical VignetteHistory of Neurosurgery in Democratic People's Republic of Korea

Neurosurgery in Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has undergone remarkable progress since its beginning in the 1950s. With the initial support from socialist countries of the Soviet bloc, especially Professor Constantin Arseni of Romania, the nation has consistently produced a number of its own neurosurgeons each year and fostered further advancement by establishing the Korean Neurosurgery Association (DPRK). Despite the recent international collaborative activity for North Korean neurosurgery-namely with Foundation for International Education in Neurological Surgery, World Federation of Neurological Surgeons, and Korean American Medical Association-the sparse exchange of information, knowledge, and surgical skills still remains largely inadequate.