Asan Social Welfare Foundation Holds 33rd Asan Awards Ceremony... 'Grand Prize' Winner Kim Woo-jung, Director of Hebron Medical Center in Cambodia

Director Kim Woo-jung of Hebron Medical Center, selected as the Grand Prize winner of the 33rd Asan Award (photo left), is treating patients locally in Cambodia. (Photo by Asan Foundation for Social Welfare)

[Asia Economy Reporter Chunhee Lee] On the afternoon of the 25th, the Asan Foundation held the 33rd Asan Awards ceremony at Asan Hall in Songpa-gu, Seoul, announcing that Kim Woo-jung, Director of Hebron Medical Center (68), who established a hospital for low-income residents in Cambodia and has contributed to the development of local medical services for 15 years, received the grand prize 'Asan Award'.

The Medical Volunteer Award was given to Dr. Choi Young-ah (51) of Seoul Metropolitan Seobuk Hospital, who has practiced medical benevolence for homeless people deprived of medical benefits and worked to improve their quality of life through housing and rehabilitation support. The Social Service Award was given to Kwon Soon-young (74), CEO of Nutrition and Education International (NEI), who contributed to alleviating hunger in Afghanistan by promoting soybean cultivation and processing industries.

Grand prize winner Director Kim Woo-jung received a prize of 300 million KRW, while Dr. Choi Young-ah and CEO Kwon Soon-young each received 200 million KRW. Additionally, 15 recipients (including organizations) of the Welfare Practice Award, Volunteer Award, and Filial Piety & Family Award each received 20 million KRW, totaling 1 billion KRW in prize money awarded to 18 recipients (including organizations) across six categories.

Director Kim Woo-jung, selected as the grand prize winner, graduated from the Catholic University College of Medicine and operated a pediatric clinic in Korea before deciding to engage in overseas medical volunteer work in 2006 and heading to Cambodia. Feeling the need to establish a hospital amid the poor medical environment there, he renovated a small house in the outskirts of Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital, in 2007 to open Hebron Hospital, providing free medical care to low-income patients. Hebron means 'Village of Friends' in Hebrew.

Hebron Hospital later expanded by establishing a branch in Siem Reap and grew into Hebron Medical Center, which also oversees a nursing college. Director Kim currently serves as the medical center’s director. Hebron Hospital now employs about 100 staff members and has developed into a medical institution treating approximately 60,000 patients annually through 11 clinical departments including internal medicine, general surgery, and orthopedics, as well as specialized centers such as the Cardiology Center and Ophthalmology Center. Director Kim is also dedicated to training local medical personnel. In 2014, he launched a three-year residency training program educating 16 trainees and established a nursing college in collaboration with the Royal University of Cambodia, producing over 70 graduates to date, significantly contributing to the improvement of local medical infrastructure.

At the awards ceremony, Chung Mong-joon, Chairman of the Asan Foundation, said, "I do not think the awardees helped others because they had spare resources; rather, they did so with the mindset that helping those in need is the right thing to do." He added, "The Asan Foundation will continue to support those who serve and help the underprivileged."

The Asan Foundation established the Asan Awards in 1989 to encourage individuals or organizations who have devoted themselves to helping the underprivileged or practicing filial piety. A judging committee and an operating committee composed of experts from various fields conduct comprehensive evaluations of candidates’ achievements to select the awardees.

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