A lifetime devoted to medicine.

On September 23, SNU honored Doctor In Kwon Kim with the 11th Service to Society Award. Dr. Kim (College of Medicine, graduating class of 1975) devoted more than 40 years to treating patients with Hansen’s disease, contributing to the promotion of medical welfare for the socially disadvantaged.

Doctor In Kwon Kim, Recipient of the 11th SNU Service to Society Award

In 1977, as a resident of SNU Hospital, Dr. Kim spent six months at the Sorokdo National Hospital treating Hansen’s disease patients. After graduating from the College of Medicine, Dr. Kim volunteered as a public health doctor once again at the Sorokdo National Hospital for three years. After finishing his service as a public health doctor, he joined the Yeosu Aeyang Hospital, a Hansen's specialized hospital, as the chief of orthopedic surgery. With the decline of the incidence rate of Hansen’s disease, the hospital now specializes in artificial joint surgery, continuing to serve the public health. Dr. Kim served as director of the hospital from 1995 until his retirement in 2016.

In addition to his domestic services, Dr. Kim contributed to global medical service by continuously visiting medically vulnerable countries such as Kenya, Afghanistan, and Myanmar to operate, as well as inviting local promising doctors to Korea to transfer medical expertise. Dr. Kim also gave the commencement speech at SNU’s 70th fall commencement ceremony in 2016.

SNU has been awarding the Service to Society Award since 2011 to members of the university community and alumni who have distinguished themselves by their dedicated service to the socio-economically underprivileged members of our community.

Source: https://www.snu.ac.kr/snunow/press?md=v&bbsidx=133409
Written by Jaeyong lee, SNU English Editor, moonn6pence@snu.ac.kr
Reviewed by Professor Travis Smith, Department of Asian Languages and Civilizations, tlsmith@snu.ac.kr