Minish Technology CEO Jungho Kang’s Minish story was featured in the Dong-A Ilbo. Here is the full article
“I thought they’d be limited because they came from a regional university, but in the end, the path they chose was one that no one else had taken.”
Three doctors from Chosun University School of Medicine and Dentistry have pioneered new treatments and achieved success despite the prejudice and cynicism of the medical community.
They were criticized as “reckless” by the industry, but they didn’t stop when it was for the benefit of their patients.
Today, they have earned the trust of patients and colleagues alike, and have become symbols of innovation in South Korean healthcare. <Read more>…..
Don’t do anything you wouldn’t recommend to your family
Dr. Jung Ho Kang Changes the Dental Paradigm with Minish
“Crowns were something I couldn’t recommend to my family because they require significant tooth shaving.”
Dr. Kang Jung-ho is a dentist who has been recognized for developing Minish, which goes beyond the limits of conventional aesthetic treatments.
In the late 2000s, the dental industry was swept up in the laminate and rapid orthodontic craze, which promised aesthetics and speed, but as the side effects of reckless tooth removal became a social issue, many patients sought retreatment.
Dr. Kang’s philosophy of “don’t do anything you wouldn’t recommend to your family” led him to look for new alternatives.
In 2009, he began researching restorations that would minimize the amount of tooth removal. The key was to “make the restoration as thin as possible,” but at the time, porcelain technology only allowed for thicker restorations, which meant tooth removal was inevitable.
Dr. Kang continued to invest in expensive CAD-CAM milling machines and train skilled technicians. After dozens of trials and errors, he realized thin, precise ceramic restorations and perfected a bonding technique that is both fragile and natural.
But the industry was skeptical. “It’s no better than laminate,” “thin ceramics crack quickly,” and even accusations of being a “scam.” But patients had a different reaction.
The clinic was swamped with patients as word of mouth spread that “it doesn’t hurt, it’s less painful, and it preserves the natural aesthetics of the teeth.”
The breakthrough was on the conference stage. When clinical cases based on precision machining techniques, bonding protocols, and biomimetic theory were presented, some people said, “We need to rewrite the dental textbooks.”
Dr. Kang’s skeptical colleagues began to embrace his philosophy, and the Minish Course began to cultivate specialized medical staff. As of August 2025, there are 290 dentists who have completed the Minish Course, and Minish treatment is practiced in 75 hospitals around the world, including Korea, Japan, the United States, and Canada. The number of clinical cases has exceeded 185,000.
Dr. Kang describes minisheath as not just a procedure, but a “philosophy that preserves the properties and structure of the natural tooth as much as possible. Minish is an ultra-precise process in which the outer surface of the tooth and the restoration are chemically fused together. The material is feldspar ceramic, which has the closest properties to the natural tooth, to reduce damage to the opposing tooth.
In 2021, he founded Minish Technology and is preparing to expand the company globally. The company is working with VITA, a German company, to exclusively supply Minish blocks and is also developing equipment, materials, and IT solutions optimized for treatment.
“Our philosophy is to treat teeth without overtreatment, without harming them, and without pain,” said Dr. Kang, adding, “Through Minish, we will realize the goal of ‘Keeping my teeth for life’ globally.”
Drs. Junseop Song, Hyunsung Kim, and Jungho Kang’s paths are different, but the similarities are clear. Challenges and successes driven by a patient-centered philosophy, despite being labeled as “rural” and facing cynicism and criticism from the industry.
Their determination to blaze new trails ultimately led to the advancement of medicine in our country and the benefit of patients. Their footsteps send a message to younger doctors. “Don’t be afraid to take on new challenges. The path for the patient will be recognized in the end.”
Eunshim Hong Reporter [email protected]
