International collaboration as a shared path forward

The Journal of Periodontal & Implant Science (JPIS) has undergone steady and substantive development in recent years. As the official journal of the Korean Academy of Periodontology, it is indexed in the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) and has established a strong academic presence, with a current impact factor of 3.2. In parallel with this growth, the journal now receives a substantial proportion of submissions from outside Korea, reflecting its expanding international visibility and the growing confidence placed in it by the global periodontal research community.

Against this backdrop, further internationalization of JPIS has naturally become a topic of discussion. Such discussions are often framed around the potential for internationalization to enhance the journal’s academic standing. Although these considerations are not without justification, they may overlook a more fundamental perspective—namely, the role that a well-established society journal can play in promoting collaboration and shared advancement within the international periodontal community.

From a personal perspective shaped by prior editorial experience, internationalization at this stage may be more appropriately viewed not as an institutional growth strategy, but as an opportunity to contribute to collective academic progress. Contemporary periodontal and implant research increasingly addresses issues that are global in scope, including population aging, peri-implant diseases, and the complex interactions between periodontal health and systemic conditions. Addressing these challenges effectively requires sustained dialogue and cooperation that extend beyond national or regional boundaries.

In this context, academic journals function not only as vehicles for research dissemination, but also as connective infrastructures that link diverse scientific communities. A more mature and meaningful form of internationalization, therefore, lies in facilitating substantive academic exchange rather than simply expanding geographic reach or author diversity.

JPIS has already established many of the foundational conditions necessary to support such engagement. The journal operates in accordance with internationally recognized editorial standards, publishes exclusively in English, and draws upon an increasingly diverse pool of authors and reviewers. These characteristics provide a solid basis for considering how JPIS might further promote international cooperation, including potential forms of collaboration with periodontal or implant societies based outside Korea.

Precedents within the field illustrate the feasibility of such collaborative models. For example, the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, which is associated with the European Federation of Periodontology, demonstrates how a journal can function as a shared academic platform for multiple professional societies while maintaining editorial rigor and coherence. Although JPIS is not obliged to adopt an identical structure, such examples suggest that carefully designed collaboration can enhance academic exchange without diluting a journal’s identity.

At the same time, it is important to recognize the practical challenges inherent in journal-level collaboration. Financial responsibility represents a central concern, as the publication of JPIS is currently supported primarily by the Korean Academy of Periodontology. Any shared initiative would therefore require careful deliberation regarding sustainability, cost allocation, and long-term institutional commitment. Editorial governance constitutes an additional challenge, as ensuring editorial independence, consistency, and operational efficiency becomes increasingly complex with broader organizational participation.

For these reasons, any move toward deeper international collaboration should be pursued in a gradual and deliberate manner. Incremental approaches—such as jointly organized special issues, reciprocal editorial exchanges, or formalized academic partnerships—may offer more realistic and constructive pathways than immediate or comprehensive structural changes.

These reflections are offered not as an institutional proposal, but as a personal consideration regarding the future role of JPIS within the global academic landscape. When approached thoughtfully, internationalization need not represent a departure from the journal’s established identity. Rather, it may be understood as a natural extension of its academic mission, supporting cooperation and shared development across the international periodontal community.