Gangnam-gu provides medical support to Koryo-saram from Uzbekistan

Gangnam-gu has expanded its medical sharing initiative to include overseas Koryo-saram (ethnic Koreans) living abroad. To mark the 81st anniversary of Liberation Day, the district supported Vitaly Lee, a 73-year-old Koryo-saram from Uzbekistan, by inviting him to South Korea for essential medical treatment.

Lee had suffered from severe knee pain that hindered his ability to walk, but was unable to afford surgery. Gangnam-gu provided airfare and accommodation for Lee and his guardian, while Cheongdam Harrison Hospital covered the costs for knee replacement surgery, hospitalization, and rehabilitation. Following a successful recovery, Lee met with Gangnam-gu Mayor Kim Hyun-ki to express his gratitude.

The medical sharing program, which began in 2018, has previously supported patients from Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan. This year, the program has broadened its scope to include overseas Koreans to help those in medical blind spots.