POSCO Cheongam Foundation Selects Kim Jongwon, Director of Inje Goryeo Hospital, as First "Cheongam Heroes" Awardee

Safeguarding Inje's Emergency Medical System in Gangwon Province for 25 Years

The POSCO Cheongam Foundation announced on March 26 that it has selected Kim Jongwon, Director of Inje Goryeo Hospital in Gangwon Province, as the first recipient of the "Cheongam Heroes" award.

Cheongam Heroes is an award program established to honor everyday heroes who have devoted themselves to marginalized sectors of society and spread positive influence. While the existing POSCO Cheongam Volunteer Award serves as a Hall of Fame, recognizing individuals and organizations who have addressed global social issues and practiced love for neighbors and social justice, Cheongam Heroes is a field-oriented award system that supports practitioners who sustain the warmth of their communities in their daily lives.

Director Kim Jongwon of Inje Goryeo Hospital, who was selected as the first Cheongam Heroes recipient, poses after receiving the award. POSCO Holdings

Kim Jongwon, the first Cheongam Heroes recipient, is an orthopedic specialist who graduated from Korea University College of Medicine. Instead of choosing a comfortable life in a major city, he opted for Inje, Gangwon Province, a medically underserved area with a population of 30,000, and has been protecting the health and lives of local residents for 25 years. The Inje Goryeo Hospital he operates is the only hospital-level medical institution in the area and, due to its geographic characteristics, serves as the last line of medical safety for emergency patients who cannot easily be transferred to urban centers.

Despite chronic difficulties in recruiting medical staff and facing management pressures, Director Kim has continued to operate a 24-hour emergency room. He also sets the costs for non-insured medical services as low as possible to ensure that no neighbor has to forgo treatment due to financial hardship. In addition, to address the recent severe shortage of obstetrics and gynecology services, he has opened an outpatient clinic, exemplifying a medical philosophy that prioritizes life over profit.

A representative from the POSCO Cheongam Foundation stated, "Director Kim Jongwon is a practical model of the Cheongam spirit, dedicating himself where he cannot be seen." The representative added, "By starting with this award, we aim to establish a virtuous cycle where Cheongam Heroes can go on to become recipients of the POSCO Cheongam Award, thereby strengthening the moral assets of our society."

The award ceremony was held the previous day at POSCO Center in Seoul. A prize of 30 million won and a plaque were presented.

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