This epidemiologic finding may provide a likely explanation for the distinct findings of several studies using Korean cohorts, including a higher frequency of NAr or BCP mutation (Kim, 2014), the presence of rarely encountered HBV mutation types (Kim et al., 2017), and a higher prevalence of HBeAg-negative HCC patients (Jang et al., 2022). This evidence concerns the gene OPN1SW and hepatocellular carcinoma.