Started with the name of "Union of Korean Medicine Doctors" in 1898, the Association of Korean Medicine (AKOM) was authorized as a medical association with national organizations of Korean Medicine doctors by the government in 1952.
The association is established as prescribed by the medical law (Article 26). And all Korean Medicine doctors shall join the association and observe the constitution of the association according to the same statute. The medical law (Article 2) defines KM doctors as medical professionals along with western medicine doctors and dentists. They acquire license form the Ministry of Health & Welfare only after finishing the study in a university of Korean Medicine, receiving bachelor's degree and then passing the national examination.
In 2005, by constructing a new building in the symbolic place where memorial museum and Guam park named after Dr. Heo Jun's pen name to commemorate him, who is revealed as a great stage in Korean Medicine history. The association opened a new era for the take-off into world medicine.

The association is committed to improving the health and social welfare of the people, promoting scientific research and friendship among members, standing up for the interests of the members and establishing order in medical system.

The association has a headquarters in Seoul, 16 chapter offices in major cities and provinces and 228 subdivision offices in minor cities, districts and universities.
The association has a deliberative organ composed of representatives of members.

Modern educational system in Korean Medicine was established in 1947.
And the university of “Korean Medicine”started to accept application for enrollment in 1953.
There are 11 KM universities of Korean Medicine and 1‘Pusan National University School of Korean Medicine’with each 700
and 50 new students annually and 4,700 undergraduates all over the country.
Established with the goals of Succession to Korean
Medicine with originality and contribution to health of human beings,
the universities pursue harmonization of nature and human beings,
respect of life, cultivation of service spirit and globalization of Korean Medicine.
Each university has has the postgraduate school for master and ph.D.degree.
After six-year study(national university school of KM is four-year), the students supposed to graduate from the universities are qualified for
the national examination for the license as doctors of KM.
The course of the university mainly consists of theory, laboratory work and clinical practice of the subjects of Korean Medicine such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, meridians, Sanghan, prescriptions and constitutional medicine and basic subjects of western medicine.

The hospitals affiliated to the universities established four year training course (one year of general internship and three years of residentship)
for those who want to get further training after graduation.

Though holistic approach that perceives human body as a whole organism is applied to the treatment as well as diagnosis in Korean Medicine,
KM has a peculiar system of specialty. The specialty system was enacted in 1999 and currently the examination in 8 departments is taken once
a year since 2002. As of 2015, 2,611 KM doctors got specialists certificate.
Korean Medicine has competitiveness in terms of high-quality medical care by KM doctors well educated and trained to diagnose and treat patients.