ABSTRACT Over four decades, Korea has advanced from a limited cytology service to a global model of digital and AI‐integrated cytopathology. Since the founding of the Korean Society for Cytopathology (KSC) in 1986, a nationwide framework has been established—encompassing standardized practices, systematic education for specialists and cytotechnologists, and nationwide cervical screening through the National Cancer Control Program. A mandatory Quality Assurance Program (QAP) launched in 2005 ensured consistent diagnostic quality, achieving an unsatisfactory Pap test rate below 0.2% and cytology–histology discrepancy under 0.6% among over 10 million annual examinations. The 2021 STANBAI project digitized two decades of QAP slides into a standardized whole‐slide image (WSI) archive, driving the development of multiple AI models. In parallel, the CytoAcademy web/mobile platform enabled interactive WSI‐based education and global participation by over 200 institutions. Korea has also shared this model internationally through on‐site and virtual programs in low‐resource countries. By integrating national QA, digital infrastructure, AI innovation, and global training, Korea has built a future‐ready cytopathology ecosystem—enhancing diagnostic precision and offering a scalable blueprint for global implementation.
Chong et al. (Wed,) studied this question.