[News Figures] Chairman Yoon Dae-won, the country's first surgeon to perform a 'pancreas transplant,' passes away

Practicing Medical Art Throughout a Lifetime and Training Healthcare Professionals

Yoon Dae-won, chairman of the Ilsong Academy Foundation and the first person in South Korea to successfully perform a pancreas transplant surgery (photo), passed away on the 25th due to old age. He was 79 years old.

The late Yoon Dae-won, Chairman of Ilsong Academy Foundation

Chairman Yoon was born in 1945 as the eldest son of Yoon Deok-seon, the founder of the Ilsong Academy Foundation. He graduated from the Catholic University College of Medicine in 1969 and completed his master's and doctoral degrees in medicine. In 1979, he conducted research on organ transplantation at Columbia University in the United States, and after returning to Korea the following year, he worked as a surgeon at Hallym University Gangnam Sacred Heart Hospital.

In 1987, he succeeded in performing the first pancreas transplant surgery in Korea. He was recognized for contributing to the advancement of domestic medicine by presenting new possibilities for diabetes treatment. Following his father, he took office as the second chairman of the Ilsong Academy Foundation in 1989. He opened Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital in 1999 and Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital in 2012, growing the Hallym University Medical Center into a large-scale institution with five university hospitals (Hallym University Hangang Sacred Heart, Hallym University Chuncheon Sacred Heart, Hallym University Gangnam Sacred Heart). He established the Hallym Institute of Science in 1990 and founded Hallym International Graduate School in 2004, dedicating efforts to nurturing talent.

From a young age, he felt awe toward biology and nature and had a deep affection for life, including humans. During his tenure in management, he focused on expanding medical social welfare. When Seongsim Charity Hospital opened in 1974, he served as vice director and initiated free medical treatment for the underprivileged. From 1991, he established and opened the Korea Senior Health Care Center, Seongsim Welfare Center (now Sillim Comprehensive Social Welfare Center), and Anyang Welfare Center. He also took charge of operating Yeongdeungpo Senior Welfare Center, Hwaseong Naraeul Comprehensive Social Welfare Center, and Dongtan Senior Welfare Center, which have been operated by the Ilsong Academy Foundation for over 20 years. During the foreign exchange crisis, he carried out various projects for the homeless, the underprivileged, and children suffering from malnutrition. In 2000, he donated 20 million won to residents of Nangok-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, which became seed money leading to the establishment of the 'SOS Fund.' This laid the foundation for the government's enactment of the 'Emergency Welfare Support Act' in 2006, which provides emergency living expenses.

Chairman Yoon especially devoted himself to the treatment of burn patients, developing Hallym University Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital into the top institution in this field. During his lifetime, he said about Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, "Someone has to do the hellish work of burn treatment. Since no one else does it, we have no choice but to continue." In 2008, he established the Hallym Burn Foundation and operated a burn hospital school for pediatric patients who could not attend regular school due to burn scars and treatment. From 2013 to 2018, the burn hospital school served 12,755 users, and by 2018, medical expenses provided to burn patients from eight countries, including Vietnam, amounted to 1.8243 billion won.

Last year, Chairman Yoon received the 'Linnaeus Gold Medal' from Uppsala University in Sweden, the first Asian to do so. The award was established in 2006 to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the birth of Carl von Linn?, the biologist who first developed the classification system for plants and animals, and is given annually to individuals who have achieved outstanding accomplishments in the field of science.

The funeral hall is set up at Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, and the funeral will be held as a foundation funeral. The bereaved family includes eldest son Yoon Hee-seong, executive director of the Ilsong Academy Foundation; second son Yoon Hee-tae, director of the Do-um Museum; and daughter Yoon Eun-joo, professor at Hallym International Graduate School.