Memorial Ceremony Held for the 4th Anniversary of the Late Yoon Han-duk, Director of the Central Emergency Medical Center

Dedicated to Building a Lifelong Emergency Medical System

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The 4th memorial ceremony for the late Yoon Han-duk, director of the Central Emergency Medical Center, who played a significant role in the development of South Korea's emergency medical system, was held on the 3rd at Chonnam National University Medical School Hwasun Campus.

Memorial ceremony for the 4th anniversary of the late Yoon Han-duk, Director of the Central Emergency Medical Center. [Photo by Korea Medical Association]

The late director passed away in the line of duty due to accumulated exhaustion while guarding the hospital with short naps during the 2019 Lunar New Year holiday to prepare for emergencies. During his lifetime, he left a significant legacy in the development of emergency medical care in South Korea, including the establishment of an emergency medical information network, the introduction of emergency patient-exclusive helicopters and regional trauma centers, and the establishment of disaster and emergency medical situation rooms. The government awarded him the Order of Civil Merit, Mugunghwa Medal, in honor of his contributions, and designated him as a national merit recipient?the first civilian in 36 years to receive this honor.

Lee Jung-geun, full-time vice president of the Korean Medical Association, recalled in his memorial speech, "The late director devoted his life to public interest and social safety over his own health and benefit, sacrificing himself to fulfill his duty until the very end." He added, "His noble sacrifice highlighted the harsh reality of South Korea’s medical system, which is unsafe due to overwork and intense duties, raising awareness in our society." He concluded, "Remembering the late director’s passion for emergency medical care, which was solely for the health and safety of the people, we will do our best to provide the highest quality emergency medical services so that patients, doctors, and citizens can all be happy."

Following the memorial ceremony, the Yoon Han-duk Award ceremony was held, where Professor In Yo-han of Yonsei University College of Medicine, who has contributed to the development of domestic medical care including the development of the 'Korean-style ambulance,' the prototype of the current fire ambulance, received the award. The Yoon Han-duk Award was established in 2021 to continue the late director’s lifelong dedication to the advancement of emergency medical care.