Recent studies have suggested an increasing diagnostic trend of EoE in Korea [3-5]. In a retrospective analysis conducted between 2006 and 2016, only a modest increase was observed in the number of esophageal biopsies; however, the number of EoE diagnoses rose significantly over the same period (p<0.001) [3]. Comparable trends have also been documented in other regions of Korea, including Busan and Gyeongnam [6].

Evidence from neighboring Asian countries further substantiates this increasing recognition. A recent nationwide Japanese study, using International Classification of Disease-coded data, demonstrated that the incidence and prevalence of EoE in 2022 were 2.82 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.44–3.26) and 10.68 (95% CI, 10.01–11.37) per 100000 person-years, respectively, reflecting almost threefold and eightfold increases compared to 2017 [7].

Moreover, a recent meta-analysis of Asian studies revealed a significant upward trend in both prevalence and incidence over time.8 Between 2005–2009 and 2015–2019, population-based prevalence rose from 19.8 (95% CI, 19.5–20.1) to 73.0 (95% CI, 72.8–73.2) per 100000 person-years [8].

Taken together, these findings underscore that EoE is no longer a rare entity in Asia. With increasing diagnostic awareness and rising case numbers, the burden of EoE is becoming more apparent, especially for gastroenterologists in Korea.

In this issue, a comprehensive review article titled “Eosinophilic Esophagitis: Emerging Insights Into Diagnosis and Management [9]” offers an up-to-date synthesis of current knowledge. The review discusses state-of-the-art diagnostic tools, therapeutic approaches, including dietary strategies, pharmacologic agents, and endoscopic interventions, and highlights emerging biologic therapies. Importantly, it emphasizes the requirement for a unified diagnostic framework and optimal treatment algorithms to address this increasingly recognized and clinically significant disease.