Honoring a Dedicated South Korean Surgeon
Korean Doctor Dr. Kim Yong-min, a 67-year-old former Chungbuk National University professor, has been named the recipient of the prestigious 2026 JW Sungcheon Award by the JW Lee Jong-ho Foundation on September 16, 2026.
A Lifetime of Global Medical Voluntarism
A graduate of Seoul National University College of Medicine, Dr. Kim first discovered his passion for medical volunteering while treating leprosy patients on Sorokdo Island during his public service military duty. He later traveled to disaster and conflict zones worldwide, treating gunshot wounds, trauma, and infectious diseases in areas such as the Haiti earthquake site, the Gaza Strip, Gambella in Ethiopia, and Abyei in South Sudan. In 2018, he officially stepped down from his professorship to pursue overseas medical activities full-time.
Continuing Education and Future Missions in Africa
Since 2024, Dr. Kim has continued providing vital spine surgeries and localized medical treatments in Tanzania and Uzbekistan, while also supporting training programs for local medical staff. Humbly referring to himself as a ‘fix-it doctor’ who wants to fill the gaps where no medical staff are available, Dr. Kim stated, ‘I hope to continue providing medical care and education in Africa.’ Established in 2012 to honor medical professionals embodying the spirit of respecting life, the award ceremony will be held on October 21 at the JW headquarters in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province.
