Created in 1967, the Korean Nutrition Society (KNS) has been a vital contributor to the development of the health and nutrition of South Korea. With members from many different fields focusing on nutrition and health sciences, the impact of the KNS has not only been felt in South Korea, but also worldwide. The KNS has helped to establish and maintain dietary recommendations in addition to providing ways to make nutrition information readily available to members, as well as the public. The KNS has also established professional journals to advance scientific discoveries in nutrition and health. With 50 years of progress from the KNS, their contributions to nutrition and health will continue to have an impact throughout the world. To celebrate the 50th anniversary and growth of the KNS, an International Conference entitled “Integrative Nutrition for an Active Life” was held by the KNS in November 2017. The articles in this special issue of Nutrition Research are to commemorate the KNS efforts.

The Korean Nutrition Society (KNS) was created by 59 founding members in 1967. This was a time of significant change in the attitudes about nutrition and public health of the people in South Korea [1]. During the 1960s, the focus on nutrition science started to shift from dietary deficiencies and food insecurity to overnutrition and diet-related chronic disease. A remarkable economic transition occurred in South Korea in the period between 1960 and 1990, leading to an increase in food availability due to the modernization of agricultural systems and the food industry, as well as an increase in food importation. Therefore, the KNS was formed to facilitate improvements in public education about nutrition and health for South Korea in step with the global initiatives to promote well-being of societies throughout the world. For the past 50 years, the KNS has promoted programs to improve health education of South Koreans by acting as the leader of academics in nutrition and related disciplines at universities throughout the country. The 850 KNS members support these activities and coordinate collaborations in research, courses, and public education which is a mission of the society. Members of the KNS include professors and scholars in nutrition, natural sciences, medicine, pharmacology, agriculture, biology, biochemistry, and related fields who are dedicated to the advancement of nutrition sciences. The KNS is responsible for publishing the Journal of Nutrition and Health (pISSN 2288-3886/eISSN 2288-3959; Scopus-listed Korean-English Journal) and Nutrition Research and Practice (pISSN 1976-1457/eISSN 2005-6168; SCIE-listed English journal). The Journal of Nutrition and Health was originally launched in 1968 under the name of the Korean Journal of Nutrition, but the name was changed in 2013 [2]. Originating in 2007, Nutrition Research and Practice is an official journal, jointly published by the KNS and the Korean Society of Community Nutrition [3].