Busan Baik Hospital Presents Appreciation Plaques to 'People Sharing Life' and Busan Onnuri Church

MOU for Corneal Transplant Surgery Sponsorship

Giving New Light to the Visually Impaired

Inje University Busan Paik Hospital (Director Lee Yeon-jae) presented plaques of appreciation to Busan Onnuri Church and the Corporation for Sharing Life on the 19th at Imjaegwan.

Inje University Busan Paik Hospital presented plaques of appreciation to Busan Onnuri Church and the nonprofit organization People Sharing Life on the 19th. Photo by Inje University Busan Paik Hospital

In June 2023, Busan Paik Hospital and the Corporation for Sharing Life (Chairman Pastor Im Seok-gu) signed an MOU to support corneal transplant surgery costs, and under the direction of Professor Hwang Moon-won of the Ophthalmology Department, corneal transplant surgeries were performed on 10 visually impaired patients.

Notably, this support began with a donation of 12 million KRW from Busan Onnuri Church in May last year to commemorate its 40th anniversary, and with additional offerings from members of the Korean Methodist Church, a total of about 30 million KRW was provided to patients.

In appreciation and respect, Busan Paik Hospital held a plaque presentation ceremony for the two organizations. Attendees included patients who underwent surgery, Director Lee Yeon-jae of Busan Paik Hospital, Deputy Director Yang Jae-wook, Professor Hwang Moon-won of Ophthalmology, Director Park Byung-hee of the Social Work Office, Executive Director Jo Jeong-jin and Policy Director Lee Sang-yoon of the Corporation for Sharing Life, and Senior Pastor Park Sung-soo of Busan Onnuri Church, among other guests.

The event proceeded with presentations on surgical cases and progress reports by Professor Hwang Moon-won, viewing of a sponsorship video, and the plaque presentation ceremony.

Professor Hwang Moon-won of Ophthalmology stated, “In 2023, there were 2,183 patients waiting for corneal transplants in Korea, with an average waiting period of 3,305 days, but there were only 146 domestic eye donors. Ultimately, we have to rely on imported corneal donations, but even this incurs costs such as corneal processing fees, labor, and transportation, creating economic burdens and practical barriers for patients.” He added, “We are grateful to the Corporation for Sharing Life and Busan Onnuri Church for illuminating the dark tunnel of visually impaired individuals through their support for corneal transplant surgery costs. We will strive to continue this project to offer hope and new light to patients in need of corneal transplants.”