National Cancer Center Recruits Baek Do-myeong, Former Dean of Seoul National University Graduate School of Public Health

Baek Do-myeong, Professor, Cancer Prevention Division, National Cancer Center

[Asia Economy Reporter Chunhee Lee] The Cancer Prevention Division of the National Cancer Center announced on the 14th that it has recently recruited Baek Do-myeong, a healthcare expert and research activist who formerly served as the dean of the Graduate School of Public Health at Seoul National University.

Professor Baek is a scientist and activist who has researched occupational safety and health for over 30 years. He graduated from Seoul National University College of Medicine, earned a master's degree in Industrial Health from the University of London, and completed a doctorate in Industrial Health at Harvard University. Afterwards, he served as a professor in the Department of Public Health and the Department of Environmental Health at Seoul National University Graduate School of Public Health, and also held the position of dean there.

Through his research on cancer occurrence and management caused by carcinogens exposed through occupation and environment, Professor Baek contributed to establishing Korea’s management system for occupational and environmental cancers. In particular, his research on asbestos industry workers and related civil society activities helped ban the manufacture of asbestos products in 2009, which had not been regulated even until the 1980s, and also contributed to the enactment of the Ministry of Environment’s Asbestos Relief Act.

He also pointed out issues in semiconductor manufacturing work environment management, contributing to the recognition of hematopoietic cancers within the semiconductor industry as occupational diseases. Subsequently, he proposed standards for compensating similar health disorders, striving to facilitate active mediation for problem resolution.

Additionally, through various activities such as investigating cancer incidence among residents near nuclear power plants and among radon mattress users, he revealed patterns of environmental victims’ damages, earning the Red Stripes of the Order of Service Merit, the ‘2020 Korea Human Rights Award’ selected by the National Human Rights Commission in 2020.

Professor Baek plans to continue his research and activities at the National Cancer Center’s Cancer Prevention Division to ensure that occupational and environmental information is properly collected and evaluated in cancer diagnosis and management, enabling proactive prevention efforts.

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