The Hospital is a Friend to the Poor and Sick... Kosin University Gospel Hospital "We Must Practice the Spirit of Jang Gi-ryeo"

"Hospitals are places that cherish and love neighbors, and we will stand by our poor and sick friends."

Doctors at the hospital founded 73 years ago by Dr. Jang Gi-ryeo, known as the "Schweitzer of Korea," were once again gathering their resolve by recalling the "Jang Gi-ryeo spirit." The medical staff and employees of this hospital, which has "Bogeum" (Gospel) in its name, have a distinctive attitude toward patients, neighbors, and the local community. This is because the life and medical benevolence of the founder, Dr. Jang Gi-ryeo, are deeply engraved in the hospital's history. The Christian spirit that spreads the so-called gospel medicine supports the hospital as its cornerstone and stands as its pillar. Within this gospel space, doctors meet medically vulnerable groups such as patients, the elderly, and the disabled.

This hospital was the first in the region to open a cancer center. Hence, it is widely known as the "Mecca of cancer treatment in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam." Other nicknames for Kosin University Gospel Hospital include "Smart Hospital," "Hospital of Service," and "Overseas Medical Volunteer Hospital."

Built against the beautiful coastline of Songdo, Busan, Kosin University Hospital established the second cancer center nationwide and the first in the region in 1978, achieving significant results in cancer research and patient treatment.

The hospital explained strongly, "As a specialized hospital focused on cancer treatment, we continue to concentrate on cancer treatment and conquest through ongoing conferences and research at the cancer research institute."

Additionally, the stroke center was selected as Grade 1 for six consecutive years in Busan's "Acute Stroke Appropriateness Evaluation" and recently received a perfect score in all categories of the stroke appropriateness evaluation. The neurology department operates the first three-bed sleep center in the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam area. The hospital is also well-known among foreign patients living in unfamiliar lands. It was selected as the only "Excellent Foreign Patient Attraction Institution" in Busan. The hospital has earned as many names and titles as its history.

A hospital official explained, "We have focused on training medical staff and expanding medical equipment to provide the best medical services in order to become a patient-centered hospital."

The results are abundant. In 2011, it was the first in Busan to receive the "Best Certified Medical Institution," was selected for the "Highest Grade S in Special Health Examination Institution Evaluation," earned the "Best A Grade in Regional Emergency Medical Center," received "Excellent Endoscopy Room Certification," and achieved "Grade 1 in Preventive Antibiotic Use Evaluation for Surgery," among other accolades.

Gosin University Gospel Hospital overlooking the Songdo sea.

The hospital practices its mission of "sharing and serving" under four major visions: ▲a hospital trusted for patient-centered care ▲a hospital spreading the gospel for soul salvation ▲a hospital cultivating respected medical personnel ▲and the best relief hospital.

Many citizens remember that the gospel medicine of this hospital originated from the spirit of the late Dr. Jang Gi-ryeo, who devoted his life to serving the poor and lived a humble life without owning a house until his death.

Dr. Jang Gi-ryeo of Seongsan was a "foolish doctor" who left the back door of the hospital open so that poor patients could receive treatment for free. Hence, he earned the nickname "Schweitzer of Korea." During the Korean War, he established a free clinic for refugees. He also created a private medical insurance association, which laid the foundation for today's national health insurance system, enabling even the underprivileged to receive medical benefits.

The spirit of sharing that he practiced during his lifetime has itself become a good earthly commandment, which the hospital continues to uphold. The Jang Gi-ryeo spirit is the foundational spirit of this hospital. The Kosin University Hospital medical volunteer team operates overseas volunteer and short-term mission teams more than five times a year using hospital funds. Various projects for medically vulnerable groups in Korea are conducted similarly.

Last month on the 10th, the volunteer team returned after a 9-night, 10-day medical volunteer trip to South Africa. Those who participated in the medical volunteer work gave up their summer vacation to sweat in a foreign land.

Many medical staff, including Hospital Director Oh Kyung-seung, Professors Ok Cheol-ho, Kim Hee-gyu, Lee Eun-mi, Yoon Hang-gu, and Kim Gu-sang, give up their vacations every year to provide medical volunteer services to local impoverished people. Additionally, 14 faculty and staff members, including Professor Lee Ho-seop, returned after providing medical volunteer services to locals in Thailand. The hospital plans to dispatch large-scale overseas medical volunteer teams during the Chuseok holiday and year-end as well. Domestically, it operates mobile free clinics for underdeveloped areas and multicultural students and their families.

Kosin University Hospital is striving to go beyond medical volunteering and serving local residents by leading the 4th medical convergence industrial revolution. It dreams of entering the smart healthcare cluster in Eco Delta City, Gangseo-gu.

The hospital stated, "In 2019, we formed the 'Kosin Eco Delta City Project Promotion Team' and are operating the Eco Delta City Smart Village Wellness Center to build smart healthcare infrastructure," adding, "We also have concrete plans to integrate smart technology into the hospital," showing strong determination.

Hospital Director Oh Kyung-seung is personally caring for medically vulnerable patients.

Recently, Kosin University Gospel Hospital has faced difficulties as its school foundation, Kosin University, has encountered hardships. A hospital doctor said, "Our hospital, imbued with the Jang Gi-ryeo spirit, is different from ordinary hospitals," and added, "All doctors have declared the Jang Gi-ryeo medical benevolence, so it is bewildering to be scouted with secular standards."

This means other hospitals are offering large salaries to induce transfers. One professor said, "I even received five calls offering salaries four times higher," and asked, "Are we people who work just for money?"

He said, "If I had chosen this work for money, I wouldn't be on this path now," and added, "As a Christian, I will love the school and hospital and remain a doctor who serves neighbors and practices love according to God's word."

Another doctor said, "Although some people are shaking the hospital, the doctors of our hospital, founded on the gospel, will gather more and pray and focus only on practicing the Jang Gi-ryeo spirit in difficult times."