Former professor wins award for medical aid in conflict zones
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Kim Yong-min, a former professor of medicine at Chungbuk National University in South Korea, received the 2026 JW Sungchun Award for providing medical care in underserved regions and conflict zones.
Kim began volunteering after working with patients with Hansen’s disease and believing medicine should serve patients, not doctors. In 2018, he left his position at the university to dedicate himself to medical volunteer work, travelling to places like the Gaza Strip, Ethiopia, and South Sudan to treat trauma patients.
Since 2024, Kim has personally funded medical trips to Tanzania and Uzbekistan, performing complex spinal surgeries and training local doctors in surgical techniques and patient care. He also supports doctors from Tanzania by funding their training in Korea, aiming to build sustainable healthcare systems. Beyond international aid, Kim has responded to disasters domestically, including the 2010 Haiti earthquake and provided medical support at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and Paralympics.
Since 2020, he has offered free medical services to low-income city residents and foreign workers. The JW Sungchun Award, established in 2012, honors medical professionals who embody a commitment to respecting life and providing care. The award ceremony will take place on October 21 at the JW headquarters in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province.
