Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that a commemorative ceremony and various events will be held to celebrate the 80th Oral Health Day on June 9, promoting the importance of good oral hygiene and healthy habits.
This year’s slogan is: “80 Years of Oral Health – A Lifelong Companion in the Age of 100.”
About Oral Health Day
Oral Health Day is designated annually on June 9 to raise awareness of the importance of oral disease prevention and healthy lifestyle habits.
It was first established in 1946 by the Korean Dental Association (formerly the Joseon Dental Association), and officially designated as a legal commemorative day in 2016 under Article 4-2 of the Oral Health Act.
The date “6.9” symbolizes the emergence of a child’s first molar around age six (“6”) and represents a permanent molar (“9”, 臼齒).
Main Ceremony (June 9, 16:00, City Hall Grand Auditorium)
●Attendees: Mayor Park Heong-joon, Superintendent of Education Kim Seok-joon, Busan Dental Association President Kim Ki-won, oral health professionals, public officials, and 500 citizens
●Program Highlights:
○Awards for outstanding contributions to oral health
○Performance supporting Busan’s bid to host the National Dental Research Institute
○Celebration performance
Notable Awards:
●Commendations will be presented to individuals recognized for their significant contributions to the oral health field, honoring their service and dedication.
New Initiatives:
●For the first time this year, the Busan Dental Association will present awards to elderly citizens with excellent oral health to highlight the importance of oral care as people age.
●On May 21, the “67th Excellent Child Oral Health Contest” was held, and 10 outstanding children were selected.
Pre-Ceremony Events (June 9, 14:00–16:00)
●Oral health counseling services and panel exhibitions at the lobby of the Grand Auditorium
●Public signature campaign supporting Busan’s bid to host the National Dental Research Institute, led by the Busan Dental Association
Oral Health Experience Program (June 14, 10:00–14:00, Dasom Square, Busan Citizens Park)
●Hosted by: Busan Metropolitan City
●Organized by: Korean Dental Hygienists Association, Busan Chapter
●Participating Organizations: 16 district public health centers, Busan Dental Association, Busan Dental Technicians Association, local universities including Busan Health University, etc.
Programs Offered:
●Personalized oral disease counseling
●Tongue function exercises and salivation tests
●One-on-one oral health education and product experiences
●Toothbrushing lessons using dental models
●Denture care tips
●Dental model crafting
Mayor’s Remarks
Mayor Park will deliver the following message during the ceremony:
“I hope that the long-standing efforts in oral health that have supported Busan citizens for decades will continue to be a strong pillar for healthy living into the age of 100.
We aim to attract the National Dental Research Institute to Busan to create quality jobs for young people and provide better oral health environments for the elderly through diverse oral health policies.”
Appendix: Event Overview
[Main Ceremony Schedule – June 9]
●14:00–16:00: Registration, panel display (Lobby)
●16:00–17:00: Ceremony (Opening, awards, commemorative remarks, performance, closing)
[Oral Health Experience Program – June 14]
●Time: 10:00–14:00
●Location: Dasom Square, Busan Citizens Park
[Oral Health Day Promotion]
●First permanent molars begin to appear at age 6 → symbolized by 6.9 (臼齒)
●Official commemorative day established by law in 2016
●2025 Slogan: “80 Years of Oral Health – A Lifelong Companion in the Age of 100”
This content has been translated by AI. Please refer to the attached original Korean version for accuracy if needed.
Translated by AI
Link to Busan press releases in Korean