"Our Hearts to Sorokdo"... 'Sorokdo Angel' Who Sent a Letter to President Moon and His Wife

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] "Our hearts are in Sorokdo"

Marianne and Margaret, nurses known as the "Angels of Sorokdo," sent a handwritten letter in Korean expressing their gratitude to President Moon Jae-in and his wife.

The Blue House revealed the handwritten letter sent by the two nurses to President Moon and his wife on the 3rd.

Nurses Marianne and Margaret cared for the wounds and pain of Hansen's disease patients in Sorokdo for over 40 years and returned to Austria in 2005 due to health deterioration. They became honorary citizens of the Republic of Korea in 2016, and in 2017, a documentary film highlighting their lives was screened.

Recently, during President Moon's state visit to Austria, since the two nurses live in Innsbruck, far from the capital Vienna, he was unable to meet them in person and sent a letter and gifts through the Ambassador to Austria.

In response, the two nurses expressed their gratitude in a handwritten letter, saying, "I prayed a lot along with your visit to Austria," and "Thank you for the beautiful letter containing photos and business cards, the red ginseng and blanket, and the lovingly wrapped gifts."

Nurse Marianne said, "I could have gone to Vienna, where President Moon visited, but as you know, I do not like our names being called," and added, "Sorokdo gave us many opportunities to help in the 1960s, and we are both thankful and happy about that. Our hearts are in Sorokdo."

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