A couple dedicated to medical and educational service in Ukraine, Mongolia, and Malawi for the past 30 years has been awarded the 38th Asan Award.
The Asan Foundation announced on September 29 that Kang Ji-hun, 66, and Joo Soo-kyung, 66, have been recognized for their efforts in training dental professionals and supporting children and women, helping local residents build self-sufficiency.
Kang, a dentist, began his volunteer work in Ukraine in 1996 and continued in Mongolia and Malawi. He provided mobile medical services in underserved areas of Ukraine and operated a dental clinic in Mongolia, where he trained local dentists, sharing medical skills and operational experience to enable them to run their own clinics.
In 2015, he moved to Malawi, where he established the Epata Dental Clinic. There, he provided care to local residents, offered clinical training to dental students, and conducted free medical services for refugees. The names 'Evada' and 'Epata' mean 'open' in the Bible.
Joo supported children's education and women's empowerment alongside her husband during their overseas volunteer work. She ran 'Mother Schools' in Mongolia and Malawi to help women achieve emotional independence and improve family relationships, while also nurturing local female leaders.
She established the Chisomo Child Support Center for vulnerable children in Malawi, providing after-school learning support and working to create a sustainable community care system for children.
The Medical Service Award was given to Park Cheol-seong, 65, director of Park Gajeong Medical Clinic, who has cared for severely disabled individuals and epilepsy patients for 32 years. He has contributed to the development of local healthcare systems in the Philippines and Nepal through operating clinics and providing mobile medical services.
The Social Service Award went to Kim Hyun-soo, 60, chairman of the nonprofit organization 'Friends of the Stars.' He has supported the recovery of emotionally and mentally distressed individuals, including at-risk youth, people with mental disabilities, the homeless, and families of victims from the Sewol ferry disaster, for 34 years.
He also operates alternative schools and vocational training programs for youth and young adults struggling to adapt to public education due to borderline intellectual functioning and autism, establishing a support system that leads to education, employment, and social participation.
The award ceremony will take place on November 25 at the Asan Life Science Research Institute auditorium in Songpa-gu, Seoul. Kang Ji-hun and Joo Soo-kyung will receive a prize of 300 million won, while Park Cheol-seong and Kim Hyun-soo will each receive 200 million won.
Additionally, 15 recipients in three categories—Welfare Practice Award, Volunteer Award, and Filial Piety and Family Award—will each receive 20 million won. A total of 1 billion won will be awarded to 18 recipients across six categories.
The Asan Foundation established the Asan Award in 1989 to encourage individuals and organizations dedicated to serving those in need or practicing filial piety. This year's recipients were selected through a comprehensive review by a committee of experts from various fields.
The Asan Foundation announced on September 29 that Kang Ji-hun, 66, and Joo Soo-kyung, 66, have been recognized for their efforts in training dental professionals and supporting children and women, helping local residents build self-sufficiency.
Kang, a dentist, began his volunteer work in Ukraine in 1996 and continued in Mongolia and Malawi. He provided mobile medical services in underserved areas of Ukraine and operated a dental clinic in Mongolia, where he trained local dentists, sharing medical skills and operational experience to enable them to run their own clinics.
In 2015, he moved to Malawi, where he established the Epata Dental Clinic. There, he provided care to local residents, offered clinical training to dental students, and conducted free medical services for refugees. The names 'Evada' and 'Epata' mean 'open' in the Bible.
Joo supported children's education and women's empowerment alongside her husband during their overseas volunteer work. She ran 'Mother Schools' in Mongolia and Malawi to help women achieve emotional independence and improve family relationships, while also nurturing local female leaders.
She established the Chisomo Child Support Center for vulnerable children in Malawi, providing after-school learning support and working to create a sustainable community care system for children.
The Medical Service Award was given to Park Cheol-seong, 65, director of Park Gajeong Medical Clinic, who has cared for severely disabled individuals and epilepsy patients for 32 years. He has contributed to the development of local healthcare systems in the Philippines and Nepal through operating clinics and providing mobile medical services.
The Social Service Award went to Kim Hyun-soo, 60, chairman of the nonprofit organization 'Friends of the Stars.' He has supported the recovery of emotionally and mentally distressed individuals, including at-risk youth, people with mental disabilities, the homeless, and families of victims from the Sewol ferry disaster, for 34 years.
He also operates alternative schools and vocational training programs for youth and young adults struggling to adapt to public education due to borderline intellectual functioning and autism, establishing a support system that leads to education, employment, and social participation.
The award ceremony will take place on November 25 at the Asan Life Science Research Institute auditorium in Songpa-gu, Seoul. Kang Ji-hun and Joo Soo-kyung will receive a prize of 300 million won, while Park Cheol-seong and Kim Hyun-soo will each receive 200 million won.
Additionally, 15 recipients in three categories—Welfare Practice Award, Volunteer Award, and Filial Piety and Family Award—will each receive 20 million won. A total of 1 billion won will be awarded to 18 recipients across six categories.
The Asan Foundation established the Asan Award in 1989 to encourage individuals and organizations dedicated to serving those in need or practicing filial piety. This year's recipients were selected through a comprehensive review by a committee of experts from various fields.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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