Medical Volunteer in Geumcheon-gu for 49 Years... Dr. Baehyeonjeong, the Blue-Eyed Doctor

Established in 1975 in Siheung-dong, Geumcheon-gu by doctors Jeon, Jin, and Sang, providing 49 years of free medical service
Opened Hospice Palliative Care Center in 2008, Seoul's first specialized hospice medical institution

Following the alleyways of multi-family residential areas in Siheung-dong, Geumcheon-gu, you will find the quaint red brick building of ‘Jeon·Jin·Sang Clinic/Welfare Center.’

Jeon·Jin·Sang Clinic/Welfare Center (hereafter Jeonjin Sang Clinic) is a medical-social welfare institution composed of five independent entities: a clinic, welfare center, pharmacy, hospice palliative care center, and a local children’s center, dedicated to realizing community welfare.

At Jeonjin Sang Clinic is Director Hyeonjeong Bae, a blue-eyed doctor who has cared for low-income patients in Geumcheon-gu for 49 years.

Director Hyeonjeong Bae (Marie Helene Brasseur), who was a nurse in Belgium, came to Korea in 1972 through the International Catholic Brothers (AFI) volunteer group. In 1975, she established the ‘Jeonjin Sang Family Welfare Center’ in Siheung-dong, Geumcheon-gu, integrating a hospital, pharmacy, and welfare center, and has been providing free medical services ever since. It has been 49 years since it was established in Siheung-dong, Geumcheon-gu, which was then a shantytown.

‘Jeon·Jin·Sang’ means ‘Complete self-dedication (全), true love (眞), and constant joy (常),’ which is the fundamental spirit of the International Catholic Brothers.

Director Bae explained the reason for coming to Siheung-dong, Geumcheon-gu, saying, “At that time, most of the residents here did not have access to healthcare benefits, so a team of a nurse, pharmacist, and social worker was formed to begin activities.”

Initially, they operated home visits and free clinics for critically ill and mobility-impaired patients. They provided treatment and living expenses to patients struggling financially and also ran free kindergartens and study rooms.

Although supported by volunteer doctors from outside, a resident doctor was needed. Director Bae graduated from a Korean medical school in 1985 to become a doctor and obtained a family medicine specialist certification in 1988.

Director Bae said, “Since coming here in 1975, the neighborhood has changed a lot over time, but the goal of our work has always been the same: medical social work, patient care, and helping those in need.”

Director Bae, who has been conducting home visits since 1975, added, “I believe patients have the right to meet doctors. Therefore, we plan to continue home visits.” Jeonjin Sang Clinic has also operated night clinics since its early days. She added, “We provide evening consultations on Mondays and Wednesdays so that anyone who is economically disadvantaged or has no one to accompany them can come to the hospital.”

Jeonjin Sang Clinic is also a long-established specialized institution in hospice care. Since 1998, when the concept of ‘hospice’ was not yet known in Korea, they started home hospice care for cancer patients. In 2008, they opened an inpatient ward with 10 beds and were recognized as a specialized palliative care center. Hospice palliative care involves alleviating the suffering of patients with incurable diseases and their families to help them live comfortably.

Director Bae said, “People don’t come here (to hospice) to die, but to live well. We focus on helping patients and their families live well until the moment of death.” She emphasized, “Hospice focuses not on death but on ‘living well.’”

Having communicated with terminal cancer patients facing the end of life for decades, Director Bae shared, “Patients spend meaningful time sharing love, reconciling, and forgiving with their families, and pass away peacefully. Through this, we also learn the preciousness of life.”

Finally, Director Hyeonjeong Bae said, “I want to serve as long as I can be active,” and added, “Being together is always important. Especially, I want to promote the hospice field and nurture juniors such as medical staff, social workers, and volunteers. I want to work cheerfully with juniors until the very end.”