"430,000 Patients Treated" Director Sun Woo Kyung Sik, Highlighting Life and Dedication...Lee Chan-won "Tears"


In episode 51 of KBS2's 'The Secret of Celebrity Soldiers,' the life of the late Director Sunwoo Kyung-sik and the value of sharing he practiced are highlighted. Director Sunwoo Kyung-sik is known as a figure who, after completing his internal medicine residency at a university hospital in the United States, devoted his life to establishing a free hospital for the poor in Korea. The hospital, located in a narrow alley in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, in 1997, attracted long lines of patients even before its doors opened and was noted for its unique operation methods, such as conducting breathalyzer tests at the entrance. Notices in the reception area read "People without resident registration are welcome" and "Those with health insurance, please use other hospitals," and scuffles and grabbing of collars between patients and staff were common inside the hospital.

Director Sunwoo Kyung-sik was once evaluated as unsuitable for medicine during his medical school days, to the extent that he would vomit at the smell of blood, but after studying abroad in the U.S., he became an internal medicine specialist and returned to Korea. In the early 1980s, when the medical insurance system was inadequate, after witnessing patients unable to receive treatment due to financial difficulties, he resolved not to become a doctor who worked just for a living. Despite opposition from those around him, he established a free hospital, and his prescriptions included support beyond typical medical care, such as winter jackets, eggs, and pocket money. Lee Chan-won said, "Director Sunwoo's prescriptions included winter jackets, eggs, and even pocket money."

Dr. Ko Young-cho of Yosep Clinic recalled that Director Sunwoo Kyung-sik loved seeing patients eat their fill the most. A story was also shared about how Dr. Ko was moved by Director Sunwoo dining with patients despite the foul odor inside the hospital, which inspired him to volunteer. Many of the patients who visited this hospital in the past were alcohol-dependent individuals living on the streets, and they repeatedly admitted and discharged over 60 times, making treatment difficult. Director Sunwoo persistently asked patients in the clinic, "What did you do in the past?" and "What is your best skill?" to discover each person's hidden talents and help restore their dignity.

The broadcast featured Lee Chan-won, Oh My Girl Hyojeong, announcer Eom Ji-in, and others. Oh My Girl Hyojeong expressed surprise, saying, "What kind of person is the director that he runs a hospital as a hobby?" When private photos of Director Sunwoo Kyung-sik and Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong were revealed, announcer Eom Ji-in said, "Is the director perhaps from a chaebol family?" Lee Chan-won became emotional after hearing Director Sunwoo's story, saying, "I'm tearing up," and announcer Eom Ji-in also stated, "He is truly a teacher who saved lives."

Director Sunwoo Kyung-sik treated 430,000 patients over his lifetime. He passed away at the age of 63 on April 18, 2008, while battling stomach cancer, and those who saw him off on his final journey were the patients he had cared for. His life and dedication can be seen in the episode of 'The Secret of Celebrity Soldiers' airing at 8:30 PM on the 7th.


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