Godae Medical Center Provides Medical Support for Ukrainian Refugee Goryeoin

Professor Park Geon-woo of the Department of Neurology at Korea University Anam Hospital is providing disease consultations for Ukrainian refugees of Korean descent.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] Korea University Medical Center has launched medical support for refugee Koryo-saram residing in Korea.

On the 25th, Korea University Medical Center announced that on the 19th, it visited the Koryo-saram Village in Wolgok-dong, Gwangju Metropolitan City, where Koryo-saram who entered Korea to escape the Ukraine war are staying, and carried out medical support activities.

The medical center conducted blood tests, X-rays, CT scans, and consultations with specialist medical staff to check the health status of Koryo-saram struggling with refugee life and trauma, and provided prescriptions and medication tailored to each patient's condition.

The support team was led by Park Geon-woo, head of the Social Contribution Project Headquarters at Korea University Medical Center (Professor of Neurology at Anam Hospital), and included Lee Young-mi, professor of Medical Education at the College of Medicine, Hong Soon-cheol, professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shin Go-eun, professor of Family Medicine, and Lee Dong-hwan, dental resident, among 27 medical staff affiliated with Anam Hospital. Two mobile medical buses equipped with CT and X-ray facilities were also operated.

Additionally, about 10 Koryo-saram youths volunteered as interpreters to facilitate smooth proceedings.

The majority of the estimated 1,200 refugee Koryo-saram who entered Korea are staying in densely populated Koryo-saram residential areas such as Gwangju, Incheon, and Ansan in Gyeonggi Province. Approximately 450 people are staying in the Gwangju Koryo-saram Village.

One patient who received treatment said, "It takes at least 40 minutes to get to a large hospital, so I am very grateful to Korea University Medical Center, the Koryo-saram church, and the Gwangsan District Office officials for coming here to provide medical volunteer services. I think this will be a great hope for compatriots scattered in countries other than Ukraine, and I am glad to receive treatment and maintain my health."

Professor Hong Soon-cheol said, "These Koryo-saram refugees have not yet adapted well to our country and are unable to receive proper medical benefits due to surgery costs. I am glad to participate as a member of Korea University where help is needed."

Park Geon-woo, head of the team, said, "Many have heart or cerebrovascular diseases due to salty and greasy foods different from our diet. I am happy to contribute even a little to helping Koryo-saram refugees who have nowhere to settle their hearts."

Meanwhile, in March, the medical center dispatched a medical volunteer team to Ukraine, the first among domestic medical institutions. In the future, medical support teams will also be dispatched to 'Daetgol Village' in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, and 'Hambak Village' in Incheon, where Koryo-saram are staying.

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