| Articles of Association |

 

Chapter 1 General Provisions

 

Article 1 [Establishment] 

The Society of Phlegm Mass Syndrome (hereinafter, the “Society”) is established pursuant to Article 24 of the Articles of Association of the Society of Korean Medicine.

 

Article 2 [Purpose] 

The purposes of the Society are to promote the development of Korean medicine related to intractable gastrointestinal diseases and phlegm mass syndrome, and to foster fellowship among members.

 

To demonstrate the excellence of Korean medicine through the sharing and standardization of theories and treatments for phlegm mass syndrome

To contribute to public health through research and education on treatments for phlegm mass syndrome

To strive to develop therapeutic agents for phlegm mass syndrome in order to conquer intractable gastrointestinal diseases

To conduct joint research on overlap syndromes and phlegm-derived pathological substances caused by phlegm mass syndrome

 

Article 3 [Office]

The office of the Society shall be located where the President performs his/her duties, and branch offices may be established as necessary.

 

Chapter 2 Projects

 

Article 4 [Projects]

To achieve the purposes set forth in Article 2, the Society shall conduct the following projects:

Academic lectures for training experts on intractable gastrointestinal diseases and phlegm mass syndrome

Publication of journals and other literature

Issuance of certificates and diplomas related to education on intractable gastrointestinal diseases and phlegm mass syndrome

 

Establishment of standardized treatment protocols for the pathological substance referred to as “phlegm toxin”

Research on and implementation of a specialist system for phlegm mass syndrome

Matters concerning fellowship and congratulations/condolences among members

Other matters necessary to achieve the purposes of the Society

 

Chapter 3 Membership

 

Article 5 [Composition]

The Society shall consist of the following categories of members:

Regular Members: Individuals who are members of the Society of Phlegm Mass Syndrome, agree with the purposes of the Society, and pay the prescribed annual dues (or lifetime membership fee).

Associate Members: Individuals or legal entities that are not members of the Society of Phlegm Mass Syndrome but agree with the purposes of the Society and pay the prescribed annual dues (or lifetime membership fee).

Honorary Members: Individuals or organizations, domestic or international, who have made outstanding contributions to the Society or to Korean medicine, and who are recommended by the President upon resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

Article 6 [Admission]

Persons or legal entities wishing to join the Society as Regular or Associate Members shall submit the prescribed admission fee and annual dues (or lifetime membership fee) together with the prescribed application form, and shall be admitted upon passing a qualification review by the Board of Directors.

 

Article 7 [Duties]

Members shall comply with these Articles and the decisions of the Society, and shall pay admission fees, annual dues, and any other assessments by the end of the first month of each fiscal year.

 

Article 8 [Rights]

Members shall have the following rights:

Issuance of a membership card in the prescribed form

Regular Members shall have the rights to vote, to be elected, and to participate in resolutions

Associate Members shall have the right to vote and to participate in resolutions

Receipt of the journal published by the Society free of charge

The right to request academic inquiries and responses regarding theories and practices related to phlegm mass syndrome

The right to request certificates, recommendations, and other attestations regarding membership status

The right to request access to records and to submit inquiries and receive responses regarding the Society’s affairs

 

Chapter 4 Officers

 

Article 9 [Officers]

To conduct its affairs, the Society shall have the following officers from among the Regular Members:

President : 1

Vice Presidents : 4

Directors : 12 or more (including 3 ordinary directors)

Auditor : 1

Advisors

 

Article 10 [Duties]

The President represents the Society, oversees its affairs, and serves as Chair of the General Assembly and the Board of Directors.

The Vice Presidents support the President with divided roles: the 1st Vice President oversees academic affairs; the 2nd, general affairs; and the 3rd, other affairs. In the event of the President’s incapacity, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Vice Presidents shall act in that order.

Directors are responsible for the following divisions and shall allocate duties by division. Ordinary directors shall perform duties assigned by resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

① General Affairs Division : Planning of projects; fellowship and welfare; membership management; establishment of branches; and other matters not assigned to other divisions

② Academic Division : Matters related to academic affairs

③ Finance Division : Budgeting, settlement of accounts, and all financial affairs of the Society

④ External Relations Division : Internal and external liaison

⑤ Editorial Division : Editing of journals and other Society publications

⑥ International Affairs Division : International exchanges of the Society

⑦ Public Relations Division : Publicity activities internal and external

⑧ Insurance Division : Research on the health insurance system and related matters

⑨ Information &Communications Division : Support for the Society’s purposes via electronic information and communication media

⑩ Research Division : Joint research and external research activities

⑪ Clinical Development Division : Development, standardization, and management of prescriptions, therapeutics, and clinical treatments

⑫ Legal Affairs Division : Legal support necessary for the smooth operation of the Society

⑬ Policy Planning Division : Planning of projects pursuant to Article 4 of these Articles

The Auditor shall audit the affairs and finances of the Society and report to the General Assembly.

Advisors may attend Board meetings and offer opinions upon request of the President or the Board with respect to Society affairs, but shall have no voting rights.

 

Article 11 [Election]

The President, Vice Presidents, and Auditor shall be elected at the regular General Assembly by a majority vote of the members present.

Directors, including ordinary directors, shall be appointed by the Presidential team (the President and Vice Presidents).

Advisors shall be former Presidents of the Society or persons who have made significant contributions to the development of the Society, and shall be appointed by resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

Article 12 [Term of Office]

The term of office for officers, excluding Advisors, shall be two (2) years and may be renewed; provided that the President may serve only one consecutive additional term.

 

Chapter 5 General Assembly, Board of Directors, and Committees

 

Article 13 [General Assembly]

The General Assembly shall consist of regular and extraordinary meetings.

The regular General Assembly shall be held once a year, approximately one month prior to the Society’s main General Assembly, and members shall be notified by the President approximately one month in advance.

An extraordinary General Assembly shall be convened upon resolution of the Board of Directors or upon request by at least one-third of domestic members, with notice given by the President approximately one week in advance; only the stated agenda may be addressed.

The General Assembly shall open with the attendance of a majority of registered members, and the President shall preside. All matters shall be resolved by a majority of those present; provided that amendments to these Articles and disciplinary actions against members shall require the approval of two-thirds of those present.

Attendance by proxy (in writing or by email) may substitute for attendance at the General Assembly; however, proxy attendance shall not confer voting rights.

 

Article 14 [Matters for Resolution of the General Assembly]

The General Assembly shall deliberate and resolve the following matters:

Amendments to these Articles

Approval of organizational structures and regulations

Election of the President, Vice Presidents, and Auditor

Approval of budgets and settlements of accounts

Disciplinary actions against members

Changes in membership qualifications

Other matters submitted by the Board of Directors

 

Article 15 [Board of Directors]

The Board of Directors shall be composed of Directors and shall hold regular and extraordinary meetings.

Regular Board meetings shall be held at least twice a year, with notice given by the President approximately one month in advance.

Extraordinary Board meetings shall be convened by the President or at the request of a majority of incumbent Directors, with notice given approximately one week in advance, and only the stated agenda may be addressed. In urgent matters, the President may solicit opinions by email and adopt a resolution, which shall be reported for ratification at the next regular Board meeting.

Board meetings shall open with the attendance of a majority of incumbent Directors, and the President shall preside. All matters shall be resolved by a majority of incumbent Directors present; provided that amendments to these Articles and disciplinary actions shall require approval by two-thirds of incumbent Directors. The Chair shall have no vote except to break a tie.

Attendance by proxy (in writing or by email) may substitute for attendance at Board meetings; however, proxy attendance shall not confer voting rights.

 

Article 16 [Matters for Resolution of the Board of Directors]

The Board of Directors shall deliberate and resolve the following matters:

Draft amendments to these Articles

Enactment of organizational structures and regulations

Approval of committees and committee members

Formulation and implementation of business plans

Preparation of income and expenditure budgets

Approval of settlements of accounts

Acquisition and disposition of property

Preparation for the General Assembly

Review of membership qualifications

Appointment of Honorary Members and Advisors

Awards and disciplinary actions for members

Changes in membership qualifications

Determination of admission fees, annual dues, lifetime dues, and other member assessments

Other matters necessary to achieve the purposes of the Society

 

Article 17 [Committees]

To effectively fulfill its purposes, the Society shall maintain the following standing committees:① Academic Committee: Operated as three subcommittees—Phlegm Diagnosis Subcommittee; Phlegm Treatment Subcommittee; and Phlegm Diagnosis &Treatment Instruments Subcommittee② Editorial Committee③ Insurance Committee④ Specialist Committee for Phlegm Mass Syndrome

Committee members shall be elected by the Board of Directors; each committee shall elect its own Chair; committee members and Chairs shall be appointed by the President. The Chair of the Academic Committee shall be the 1st Vice President in charge of academic affairs.

In addition to the foregoing committees, the President may, as necessary, establish temporary special committees upon resolution of the Board of Directors.

Detailed operating regulations for each committee shall be prescribed separately.

 

Article 18 [Minutes]

The Chair of the Board of Directors and the Chair of each Committee shall prepare and preserve minutes of meetings.

 

Chapter 6 Awards and Discipline

 

Article 19 [Awards]

Members who have made outstanding contributions to academic research or to the development of the Society may, upon resolution of the Board of Directors, be commended with the following awards:① Academic Grand Prize② New Scholar Award③ Merit Award

Detailed regulations regarding awards shall be prescribed separately.

 

Article 20 [Disciplinary Actions]

Regular or Associate Members who, without just cause, fail to pay the prescribed dues for three consecutive years or fail to register for regular events for three years may have their membership suspended by resolution of the Board of Directors.

Regular Members who commit violations of medical ethics or socially reprehensible acts may, depending on the severity of the case, have their membership suspended, revoked, or terminated by resolutions of the Board of Directors and the General Assembly.

 

 

Chapter 7 Finance

 

Article 21 [Finance]

The finances of the Society shall consist of the following income:

① Admission fees

② Annual dues

③ Lifetime dues: the amount equivalent to ten (10) years of annual dues

④ Donations

⑤ Other income

 

Article 22 [Management]

Cash shall be deposited in a financial institution under the President’s name, and the certificate thereof shall be kept by the Treasurer.