Five researchers studied at Otsuka up to 1991 including Mr. Won-Bae Kim, who is now the therapeutic division vice chairman of Dong-A, and also Mr. Young-Moon Choi, who is now with the US FDA. This was the beginning of Otsuka's association with Korean pharmaceutical companies.
A total of 27 researchers studied in Japan over five years from 1991, honing the drug-development capabilities of Korean companies through the introduction of Korea Drug Research Association (KDRA).