Awarding of Korea Overseas Volunteer Award, Presidential Award to Jeong Hyun-gyun of KOICA Global Cooperation Medical

Koica Global Cooperation Doctor, Nun, Taekwondo Instructor, Volunteer Awarded

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] KOICA held the 15th Korea Overseas Volunteer Award ceremony on the 10th at the KOICA headquarters in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province.

The Korea Overseas Volunteer Award is a government commendation established by the International Development Cooperation Committee to encourage overseas volunteers who have contributed to enhancing Korea's image through dedicated volunteer activities around the world. The award ceremony, which began in 2006, marked its 15th edition this year, with each recipient receiving a citation along with a monetary reward. This year's ceremony was conducted in compliance with COVID-19 prevention guidelines, with minimal in-person attendance and an online ceremony held concurrently.

This year's Presidential Citation was awarded to Jeong Hyun-gyun, a KOICA Global Cooperation Doctor active in Bangladesh. The Prime Minister's Citation was awarded to Jeong Jung-sik, who served as a Global Cooperation Doctor in Cameroon, and Sister Lee Jeong-ok of the St. Paul Sisters currently working in Madagascar. Additionally, ▲Minister of Foreign Affairs Citation went to Jin Gwang-yoon, a government-dispatched Taekwondo instructor, and Shin Gi-ho, head of the Green Asia Mongolia branch ▲KOICA President Citation was awarded to Kang Myung-ji and Lee Seok-rye, KOICA volunteers ▲KCOC Chairman Citation was awarded to Shin In-hwan, head of the Africa Future Foundation branch, and Shin Eung-nam, CEO of World Joiners.

Jeong Hyun-gyun, who received the Presidential Citation, was recognized for his contributions to the development of orthopedics in Bangladesh. He began his overseas volunteer work in 2000 when he was dispatched as a KOICA cooperation doctor to Phongu Hospital in the Dhaka area of Bangladesh. Since then, he has continued volunteering as the head of orthopedics and hospital director at the NGO hospital Koramtola Hospital in the Gazipur area of Bangladesh. Currently, as a KOICA Global Cooperation Doctor, he works as the head of orthopedics at the Korea-Bangladesh Friendship Hospital, providing medical care to impoverished local residents and transferring treatment and surgical know-how to local orthopedic doctors.

Jeong Jung-sik, who received the Prime Minister's Citation, worked as an emergency medical specialist at the Yaound? Emergency Center, the only emergency medical institution in Cameroon, helping to improve the local emergency medical system. He was also awarded the Lee Tae-seok Award in recognition of his efforts. Sister Lee Jeong-ok educated impoverished children and cared for leprosy and tuberculosis patients in remote areas of Madagascar.

Son Hyuk-sang, KOICA President, said, “This year, the difficulties faced by volunteers and activists worldwide were even greater due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these challenging circumstances, I extend my respect, gratitude, and congratulations to the awardees and all those who practice humanity and create value through volunteering, which is both the starting point and the destination of international development cooperation.”

Jeong Hyun-gyun, the KOICA Global Cooperation Doctor who received the Presidential Award, said, “I am grateful to receive the honor of the Overseas Volunteer Award despite my shortcomings. While volunteering, I tried to abandon the attitude of giving from the privileged to the underprivileged and instead live as a friend of the Bangladeshi people, sharing tears and laughter and opening my heart. I will continue to maintain this original intention and be a good friend to the people of Bangladesh.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.