The Overseas Korean Nurses Association (OKNA, President Mi-ja Noh) successfully hosted its 8th Annual Academic Conference and Gala Night starting at 8:00 AM on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at the Hotel Messe Affiliated by Meliá in Frankfurt, Germany.

Academic Conference

The academic conference featured research presentations by six distinguished professors covering diverse and vital topics. The sessions included "Wise Senior Health with Artificial Intelligence" presented by Sun-hwa Kang, "Caring for Elderly Dementia Patients Utilizing Artificial Intelligence" by Gye-sun Jeong, "Redefining Nursing in the Age of AI: Anti-Aging Perspective and Preventive Management" by Ki-sun Yoon, "Application of Artificial Intelligence in Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy" by Eun-hye Cho, "Healing Time" by Mi-na Yoon, and "Artificial Intelligence Approaches for Enhancing the Mental Health of Nursing Professionals" by Eun-hee Kim. These insightful presentations shed light on the intersection of modern nursing and cutting-edge technology.

Friendly Evening of the Overseas Korean Nurses Association

The first part of the evening event commenced at around 6:30 PM, skillfully emceed by Secretary General Heung-soon Kim. It began with an opening declaration by President Mi-ja Noh, followed by the recitation of the Nightingale Pledge, welcoming remarks, commemorative speeches, congratulatory messages, a poetry reading, and the presentation of achievement awards.

Dr. Sera Ko, the president-elect and head of the Korean American Nurses Association of Southern California (KANASC), solemnly recited the Nightingale Pledge, setting a deeply professional and inspiring tone for the evening.

In her welcoming address, President Mi-ja Noh expressed her heartfelt sentiments, noting, "Although the President of the Korean Nurses Association, Shin Kyung-lim, pushed aside all her schedules to come and boost our morale, she unfortunately could not attend due to sudden urgent matters." She also extended her sincere gratitude to Consul General Eun-jung Kim of the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Frankfurt, who warmly hosted a grand celebration alongside the city of Frankfurt last June to honor the dispatched nurses to Germany. Furthermore, President Noh warmly welcomed all attendees, stating, "You have been dedicated caregivers with devotion and love in unfamiliar foreign lands, serving as precious bridges connecting South Korea, Germany, and Korean communities around the world. I offer you my deep respect and gratitude."

Myung-sook Cho, Chairperson of the OKNA Board of Directors, delivered a commemorative speech. She emphasized, "This year marks the 60th anniversary since Korean nurses left their homeland and first set foot here in Germany." She praised the seniors, saying, "The sweat and tears shed by our predecessors became a great asset and proud history of Korean nurses, serving as a beacon of pride and hope for overseas Korean nurses active around the globe today." She also stressed that the general assembly and board meeting held this event would serve as a milestone to design a new future for the overseas nursing community and further solidify the global Korean nursing network.

In a congratulatory speech read on her behalf by Vice President Jung-gyun Moon, Korean Nurses Association President Shin Kyung-lim warmly congratulated the successful opening of the 2026 OKNA regular general assembly, academic conference, and friendly evening. She highlighted that celebrating the 60th anniversary of dispatched nurses—one of the brightest milestones in Korean nursing history—together with the members was deeply meaningful, noting that their dedication served as the foundation for South Korea's economic development and the launching pad for Korean nursing to reach the world.

Sung-gyu Jung, President of the Association of Korean Residents in Germany, paid tribute in his congratulatory remarks, stating, "I bow my head in deep respect and gratitude to all of you who have lived your entire lives with the precious lifelong spirit of volunteerism and dedication as nurses for humanity." He added that their spirit of service and devotion toward global humanity is an unmatched sublimity that cannot be exchanged for any other profession.

Consul General Eun-jung Kim of the Republic of Korea in Frankfurt stated emphatically, "In January 1966, when 128 Korean nurses arrived in Frankfurt, a special relationship began between Korean nurses and this city." She stressed that the dedication of the senior nurses went far beyond protecting patient lives and health; it built trust in Korean people within German society and served as a crucial foundation for the growth of the Korean community and the enhancement of South Korean-German friendly relations.

Ye-chan Go, a policy officer at the Hessian Ministry of Social Affairs and Integration and a second-generation Korean, also delivered congratulatory remarks. Additional written congratulatory messages were shared by Boon-ja Yoo, the founder and inaugural president of OKNA, Sung-hee Nam, president of Daegu Health University, and President-Elect Sera Ko.

Following these remarks, a poem was melodiously recited. Poet Jeong-hee Kang (pen name Hyo-rin) read her original poem, titled "On the Occasion of the 60th Anniversary of the Dispatch of Nurses to Germany, A Diary of a Dispatched Nurse," capturing the hardships and emotional triumph of the era with lines such as: "Tears and blood and sweat that made us forget every worry / Sent regularly as tuition for younger siblings, household debt savings / Even with a broken body, it felt tearfully rewarding."

President Mi-ja Noh presented an achievement plaque to Chairperson Myung-sook Cho for her contribution to the development of OKNA and a plaque of appreciation to Jeong-hee Jung, the 6th president. Although a group photo session had been scheduled as the final part of the first segment, it was canceled due to spatial limitations, and the event transitioned directly into the dinner and the second part of the program.

The second part captivated the audience with a dynamic Nanta performance led by Gye-soon Park and four other performers. Nanta, as a proper noun, refers to performing arts utilizing various household goods and everyday items as alternative instruments to deliver beat-oriented performances. Originally representing a non-verbal performance format created by Seung-hwan Song, the five performers on this stage overwhelmed the audience with an intense, powerful performance of enthusiastic drumming.

Next, Kim Yeo-joo, an instructor of Pansori classes at the Frankfurt Cultural Center, captured everyone's affection by performing "Sat-yeol-ga" and the "Sarang-ga" episode from "Chunhyangga." Hearing Pansori—an art form rarely encountered in the diaspora community—delivered by an expert who received formal training at a university in the homeland made everyone immerse themselves in the excitement, enthusiastically chiming in with traditional rhythmic encouragements.

The subsequent stage featured talent presentations by participants organized by regional chapters. A panel of judges, including Sung-gyu Jung and Mi-ja Noh, was introduced, and regional nursing associations showcased talent acts, with cash prizes in Euros awarded to the winning teams.

Ten teams participated, representing Chicago, Southern California, the United Kingdom, New York, Frankfurt, Texas, Northern California, the Association of Korean Nurses in Germany, and the Armed Forces Nursing Officers Association. Most teams presented performances combining songs and dances, while others showcased line dancing, Pansori performances, or appeared in nun costumes, presenting uniquely creative spectacles.

After a fierce and passionate competition, special recognition was awarded to the United Kingdom team, talent recognition to Southern California, costume recognition to New York, and participation recognition to the Chicago nurses. The highest award went to the Frankfurt nurses, who drew tremendous attention by appearing in nun costumes.

The climax of the day unfolded in the final moments of the event. All participants placed their hands on the shoulders of the person in front of them, forming a long line that wound around the venue multiple times while singing together to share parting affection. Thus, the 2026 OKNA Academic Conference, Regular General Assembly, and Friendly Evening Gala Concert came to a close amidst a wave of passionate enthusiasm.

On the following day, participants set out on cultural excursions in teams, and on September 5th, they gathered to join the 60th-anniversary commemorative events for dispatched nurses hosted by the Association of Korean Nurses in Germany in Bottrop, central Germany.

Established in 2011, OKNA serves as an international nursing network comprising Korean nurses' associations from various countries. Its primary goals include strengthening the professional competence and rights of overseas Korean nurses, responding cooperatively to international nursing issues, and expanding intergenerational exchanges and lifelong education. Based on the mission of enhancing the role of the nursing profession for human health and peace, the organization carries out vibrant international activities.

Following its founder and inaugural President Boon-ja Yoo, the leadership has passed through Monica Kwon (2nd), Myung-sook Cho (3rd), Sun-hwa Kang (4th), Hee-kyung Kim (5th), Jeong-hee Jung (6th), and Mi-ja Noh (7th), with Dr. Sera Ko elected as the incoming 8th president.

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