1. What was your major reason for attending
medical school? Why did you want to become a physician? While practicing as a
physician, what have been some of the difficulties and memorable moments?
- As a child, I always dreamed of becoming a
diplomat or judge. I initially wanted to study political science and law in
college. However, because my brother was attending a medical school, my father
wanted me to follow his footsteps and pursue a degree in a medical field as
well. I accepted his advice and decided to pursue a medical career.
- Although I entered the medical profession
and became a physician as my father had wished for, I actually believe that I
am a politician now because of my decision to follow his advice. In that way,
my father has shaped my life in a profound way and continues to inspire me. I
am grateful for his influence and guidance.
- After entering a medical school, I thought
I’d like to pursue my dream as Albert Schweitzer had done by helping those in
need and making a difference in the lives of others. I strived to learn as much
as I could and concentrated on my studies in order to become a respected
physician. I was also actively involved in many school activities, including
writing as a reporter for my university’s medical science newspaper. Applying
the Hippocratic Oath to medicine, I try to remind of myself the original
intention to heal with a conscience and keep the dignity of patient’s life and
health first.
- I specialize in neurosurgery, especially
cerebrovascular surgery. I used a surgical knife many times a day when I was
practicing, and there were many days when I had to be on my feet for nearly 24
hours to operate on patients. Since my residency, I have performed brain and
spinal cord surgeries for more than 5,000 patients over 30 years. At that
moment, the workload was sometimes difficult and challenging. However, I have
learned that what I could provide through my work to save lives was well worth
all the long hours and hard times making life and death decisions. From my
experiences as a physician, I have learned much and gained strong willpower,
wisdom and calm judgment. These features have helped me overcome crises in my
political life later on. Some of the most difficult moments I had encountered
were operating hospital under-budget due to low cost medical treatments and
dealing with possible medical accidents.
- During my 30 years of practice, I looked
after needy patients as my first priority. In my heart, the needy were like
Jesus; the hospital represented the church, and I was the priest wearing the
white gown with a power to heal and stop suffering. I always believed with all
my heart that it would be honorable to spend my whole life at a hospital
providing medical care to patient. That is how much I valued and was satisfied
with my life, and being a physician made each day worthwhile.
2. You are a physician-turned-politician. What
were your motivations to get involved in politics as a member of the National
Assembly? Also, in politics, are there pros and cons to being a physician?
- Simply, I think I was destined to become a
politician. Before the 15th general election in 1996, Former President Kim
Young Sam started the nomination revolution in the New Korea Party, and I was
engaged as a health care expert. That was how I first started my political
career.
- At that time, I was a neurosurgeon, well known
as a leading microvascular specialist. I succeeded in expanding the Bong Sang
Neurosurgery to a larger scale general hospital. Then I became a successful
physician and CEO who created thousands of jobs based on my management
principle, “profits made from patients will be used for patients.” I was
involved in welfare reform and various cultural businesses, which made me
realize that being a politician might be truly my destiny.
- Seeing political corruptions everywhere for
too long in a way pushed me toward politics. My determination to heal and make
the society healthier led me to serve as a physician. I wanted to become the
best physician in Busan by raising the quality of medical and healthcare
services in the region. I have always believed that medicine must be a
benevolent art. I also believe that the ethics of humanism should resonate
strongly for both physicians and politicians.
-One of the most significant advantages of
being a physician-politician is my understanding of human lives as I have learned
from experiences as a medical doctor. Furthermore, the knowledge I have of
human lives at core has helped facilitating my genuine respect for diversity
and attention towards social minorities. I was ready and eager to serve the
society.
- I strictly follow meticulous professionalism
that does not allow mistakes when it comes to handling the lives of people. The
way I examine every aspect of each diagnosis and medical situation in order to
perform a successful surgery has certainly helped me deal with legislation and
policy decisions through a more comprehensive and macroscopic approach.
- Unfortunately though, there’s often
prejudice against politicians with non-political backgrounds, such as
physicians. To overcome this prejudice, I expanded my area of specialization by
actively participating in a lot of committee, including Finance and Economic
Committee, Foreign Affairs, Trade and Unification Committee. I constantly keep
active and try to achieve balance and harmony in the way I engage issues, domestic
or international. I am much concerned with the fair and just dealings between
the eastern and western countries, and the reunification of the North and South
Koreas.
3. Since 1996, you have been actively involved
in politics as an influential Congresswoman. Especially, you were recently
appointed as the Chairwoman of the National Assembly. As one of Korea’s most
powerful leaders, what political philosophy do you have?
- If I were to sum up my political philosophy
into four different parts: 1) balanced development of the domestic regions, 2)
harmony of the East and West, 3) development of the healthy society for society
of trust, 4) the unification of the North and South Koreas.
- Currently, Korea is divided into the North
and South. Within the South Korea, there is an invisible yet pronounced
regional boundary that has been drawn between the Eastern and Western regions
due to intense political polarization and regional rivalry.
- I don’t see our nation’s future possible
with the divided Korean Peninsula nor a huge socioeconomic gap between the
capital and noncapital regions. The conflicts of the Eastern and Western areas
have risen to surface while the enormous gap between the capital and noncapital
regions has been ignored among us.
- To correct this imbalance, harmony between
these regions must be made. I guarantee that the Republic of Korea will grow
exponentially with balanced and strategic development of the national land.
- Korea should seek unification for its long
term growth, while pursuing the harmonious and balanced relationship building
between the Eastern and Western areas. One of my career goals is to help the
nation overcome this challenge.
- My ultimate task as a politician is to
create a ‘healthy society for Korea’ where law and justice are respected and
alive, and everyone is given fair and just consideration and has trust for one
another. Honesty to me is always transparent.
- It has been 18 years since I began my
political career to cure our societal ills similarly to how a physician cures a
patient’s disease. I have also been actively pursuing and supporting our
nation’s aim for Korea’s eventual unification and overall health of our
society.
-
Haeng-baek-ri-ja-ban-gu-sib (行百里者半九十), ‘it’s still half
way even though one has made 90 miles out of a 100-mile journey.” Meaning, one
may still fail the journey if one doesn’t persist to the last. As this proverb
reminds the last part of an endeavor being the hardest to finish, I will
meditate my original motivation of becoming a politician and dedicate my best
efforts to make ‘healthy society for Korea’ for every Korean.
4. Currently, many Korean doctors are
demonstrating their knowledge and skills around the world in medical industry.
Do you have anything to say to those who dream of becoming a doctor one day and
also to those who are currently medical students?
- Even though it is a tough life living away
from home country, I would like to thank all Korean doctors for their
dedication and contribution to humanity. Your practice has improved the status
of our country and I give my heart of respect and gratitude to you all over the
world.
- From a medical book that is known to be a
bible to surgeons, it says that a good doctor is not who succeeds every
surgery. Good doctor means a warm-hearted individual who really cares about the
patient. Being a doctor is not always about good techniques and astonishing
skills, it is always patient-first mind.
- As it is said in the book to become a
patient-first minded doctor, here I include a ‘preparation’ step to make a
perfect doctor. With the preparation step, the doctor can prepare for any
outbreak incidents that occur during operation which will lead to success of
surgery and patients can fully regain their health.
- I would like to tell all of you prospective
doctors to set clear goals and a topic for your life to go beyond the scope and
limits of medical career. Keep in mind to challenge and experience constantly
to make this happen.
- You will find yourself growing up step by
step when you put the patient-first mind in the bottom and stack with
knowledge, skills, preparation, and constant effort to go beyond the limit.
5. WKMO is an organization of global Korean
doctors who have the Korean pride, knowledge and skills to enhance the
healthcare sector for South Korea. What would be your expectations to our
organization if any? As we prepare the ‘World Korean Doctors’ Week,’ an
international medical convention in Seoul in July 2015, what do you hope to see
as an outcome of this event?
- Korea has come a long way since the colonial
era and is still divided into the South and North Koreas. Our nation has
overcome wars and poverty to stand now just outside the top 10 in as one of the
most prosperous and powerful economies around the world. Korea is the one and
only nation in history that has become a donor to help other underdeveloped
nations from once being a beneficiary of the international aid.
- This has been possible in part because of
our fellow Korean physicians and medical researchers around the world who have
helped raise the status of Korea through their dedication and effort beyond the
Korean community. These efforts have had a tremendous impact on increasing the
Korean medical industry’s competitiveness leading Korea to prominence in the
global medical environment.
- I am convinced that Korea’s medical
innovation and leadership today is due to every hard-working medical personnel’s
commitment to the Hippocratic oath and Koreans’ unique national characteristics
of enthusiasm and dedicated workmanship.
- Physicians have the obligations to not only
cure patients’ diseases but also to know the pathology and treat humans to
function well in a larger society. Korea is currently suffering from a chronic
illness of so called a ‘divided nation’ syndrome. It is time for WKMO to step
up and help us treat and cure this disease.
- This should be our people’s mission. I ask
for all of the WKMO members to support this cause to unite Korea. We need to
pay more attention to the potentials which can facilitate Korea’s unification.
For instance, we can improve the relationship with North by developing
collaborative healthcare activities within the private sector.
- As I am looking forward to meeting everyone
at the 2015 World Korean Doctors’ Week, my hope is to find an opportunity there
to discuss and mobilize global Korean physicians on providing medical
assistance to North Koreans and figure out realistic cooperation and support
plans for North Korea’s underdeveloped health care facilities. With this in
mind, this convention will become the cornerstone for the growth of
inter-Korean reconciliation and cooperation.
- Also, I see the convention as an outlet to
promote thought leadership on Korea’s unification worldwide and convey our
effort to avoid conflict and enhance mutual understanding for our nation’s
better future.
6. Could you share your future vision for the
Republic of Korea with our readers from more than 10 countries around the
world?
-I am the 19th Chairman of the National
Assembly in Republic of Korea, serving now close to 100 days for the second
half in that capacity since being appointed. During this time period, I have
worked hard to restore our people’s trust through progressive parliamentary
reform and to improve the relationship between the South and North Koreas and
the regional security and unity.
- Although my appointment is relatively
recent, I am committed to keep the promises I have made to my people and the
nation. I would be thrilled to get to know all of your readers and earn their
support and trust through their encouragement and advice. Without a doubt, my
future vision for Korea is to see it becoming a united nation at peace with its
neighbors and in strong partnerships with its allies for making the world a
better place. Overcoming the regional conflict in Northeast Asia and taking
bold yet careful steps toward unifying the South and North Koreas remain the
top priority, which I consider as one of the most important and urgent task we
have. .
- I firmly believe that the unified Korea will
become an open and peace-loving, non-nuclear nation, contributing to the peace
and harmony of the mankind.
- I would like to ask all of your readers to keep an eye on the Republic of Korea and its hopes and dreams, and the future transformation.