Mokpo Hansarang Hospital Director Cho Saenggu's Health Book Concert Concludes Successfully

by Jung Seunghyun

Published 27 Nov.2025 16:19(KST)

Commemorating the Completion of "Health Column" Volumes 1, 2, and 3
Sharing 39 Years of Medical Service with the Local Community
Pediatric Pioneer... 17 Years of Uninterrupted Year-Round Care
Widely Praised as a "Medical Asset of Mokpo"

On the 27th, Cho Saenggu, director of Mokpo Hansarang Hospital, held a book concert and communicated with the audience through a meeting with the author. Director Cho is praised by local residents as a "medical asset of Mokpo." Photo by Seunghyun Jung

The health column publication book concert, held to celebrate the completion of volumes 1, 2, and 3 of the "Health Column" series by Cho Saenggu, Director of Mokpo Hansarang Hospital, concluded successfully.

The event, held at 2 p.m. on the 27th at the Mokpo Far East Broadcasting Public Hall in South Jeolla Province, began with a blessing from Lee Yundong, pastor of Muan Cheonggye Central Church. This was followed by congratulatory remarks from Shin Hyeonpa, pastor of Aphae Central Church, Hwang Taejoo, former director of Chonnam National University Hospital, and other figures from the medical and religious communities.

Political and government officials, including Jeon Kyungseon, member of the South Jeolla Provincial Council, Lee Hokyun, president of Mokpo Science University, Jeong Gwangseon, former director of the South Jeolla Provincial Health and Welfare Bureau, and Kim Gyuwung, spokesperson for South Jeolla Province, also attended in person to congratulate Director Cho on the publication.

During the subsequent "Meeting with the Author," Nam Hyun-yong, head of Mokpo Far East Broadcasting, served as the host. Director Cho took the stage to share health insights gained from over 40 years of medical practice. He explained the importance of correcting lifestyle habits, regular exercise, and routine health checkups, providing attendees with practical health information.

Audience members attending the health column publication book concert on the 27th. Photo by Seunghyun Jung

The Local Community: "Director Cho Saenggu is a Medical Asset of Mokpo"

The book concert has also sparked renewed attention on Director Cho's 39 years of medical service.

A local medical professional commented, "He was virtually the only pediatric specialist who provided care 365 days a year, even when there was a shortage of specialized medical institutions. Director Cho's involvement is present in the growth records of nearly every child in the region."

In fact, since opening Hansarang Hospital in 1999, Director Cho maintained a year-round, uninterrupted medical service system for 17 years. The hospital never closed, not even for a single day, including nights and weekends. Among local parents, it became common to say, "Cho Saenggu in the early morning, Cho Saenggu in the evening, and in emergencies, always Cho Saenggu."

Director Jo Saenggu and his wife, Deaconess Choi Youngrae. Photo by Seunghyun Jung

34 Years of Broadcasting and Column Writing... "Established a Foundation of Local Health Knowledge"

The completion of Director Cho's three-volume health column series is seen as more than just a publication.

For 34 years, his columns in Mokpo MBC, KBS, Far East Broadcasting, and local newspapers served as a "verified guide to everyday medicine" for local residents during times when access to health information was limited.

A representative of a Mokpo civic group stated, "In the 1990s, most hospital information was spread by word of mouth, but Director Cho's broadcasts and columns played a decisive role in transforming the region's health culture. This new book is a compilation of health assets connecting past and future generations."

Domestic and International Volunteer and Donation Activities... "More Than Just a Doctor"

Director Cho is also well known as a leading "angel of giving" in the local community, in addition to his medical career.

He has worked to fill gaps in medical care by providing free clinics in remote island areas, operating clinics for foreign workers, counseling runaway youths, and offering medical services in police detention centers. For over a decade, he has also volunteered in remote areas abroad, including India, Thailand, Nepal, and Kenya.

In 2019, to mark the 20th anniversary of his hospital's founding, he donated 100 million won to the South Jeolla Community Chest of Korea. More recently, he has been working with the Mokpo Chamber of Commerce and Industry to support families with triplets.

Continued Support Needed for Local Medical Professionals... "We Need More Doctors Like This"

Director Cho's example has increased calls for sustained support for local medical professionals.

It has been pointed out that the southwestern region of South Jeolla Province has a low ratio of specialists, making urgent support for personnel and facilities necessary to prevent gaps in local medical care.