The Second Asan Medical Award Ceremony was held to encourage local medical scientists who made great achievements in the medical and clinical fields. The ceremony was held at Chosun Hotel and began with a greeting from the foundation chairman Chung Mong-joon, followed by a congratulatory speech from the Korean Academy of Medical Sciences chairman Kim Seongdeok. The recipient of this most prestigious medical award in Korea was Dr. Koh Jae-young (of the University of Ulsan College of Medicine) for his research on causes of brain cell death and the prevention and treatment of cerebral apoplexy. Dr. Koh's thesis, 'Neurobiology; Effects of Zinc on Health and Disease' was published in 'Nature Review Neuroscience' in June, 2005. Publication in this internationally renowned journal gained him global attention. The Asan Foundation, which was established in 1977, is Korea's largest welfare foundation that provides medical services, support for social welfare, and scholarships to enhance welfare for the general public.