Hallym University Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital Burn Center awarded the 15th Ilsong Award

□ Hallym University President Choi Yanghee presided over the 15th Ilsong Award Ceremony hosted by the Ilsong Memorial Project in Hallym International Conference Hall on March 10th, 2022.

□ The 15th Ilsong Award was awarded to Hallym University Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital Burn Center.

□ The Ilsong Award was established in 2006 to commemorate the educational philosophy of the late Dr. Ilsong Yoon Duck-Sun (1921~1996), who dedicated his life to university education, medical education, and medical service as the founder of Hallym University. 

This academic award has been awarded annually to experts who have made outstanding achievements in the fields of medicine, education, and community service.

□ The burn center of Hallym University Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, the recipient of the Ilsong Award, was established in March 1986 as the first burn treatment institution in Korea. 

The center served as the last bulwark for burn victims in major disasters such as the 1997 Guam Korean Airplane crash, the 1999 Hwaseong Sealand Youth Training Center fire, the 2002 Gimhae International Airport crash, and the 2018 Gunsan Karaoke incident. 

□ The burn center has grown into the best burn treatment institution as a result of continuous efforts, sacrifice and passion by everyone at Hallym University Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, leading to its world-class reputation.

Since its establishment in 1986, it has successfully performed tens of thousands of burn surgeries for over 35 years and developed and applied new treatment techniques. 

In recognition of this achievement, in 2006, it was designated as the only 'emergency medical center specializing in burns' in Korea by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and in 2008, it was selected as a health care R&D project by the Ministry of Health and Welfare to carry out the ' research project specializing in burn treatment technology development’. 

□ Besides treating burn victims, the center took the lead in caring for burn patients aftercare and family support. It formed support programs including    'Stepping Stone', a rehabilitation group for burn patients and 'Children's Burn Patient Camp’, and opened the first burn hospital school in Korea to actively help student patients return to school. 

In addition, with the Central 119 Rescue Team, various projects are being carried out for relief and education for burn patients.

□ The Burn Center also actively supports medical care both home and abroad, conducting overseas medical training (especially in Asia) in cooperation with various social organizations including the Hallym Burn Foundation.

Since 2009, the 'free treatment and invitation surgery support project’ for burn patients in low - income countries in Asia ' has been promoted by the Hallym Burn Foundation.

97 patients were operated on in country and 54 patients were invited to Korea for surgery. In addition, 40 burn medical staff from seven countries in Asia were invited and trained to spread medical technology and provided with equipment, so that the medical spirit of love and service was realized through burn treatment.

□ Hallym University President Choi Yanghee said in his congratulatory address, "Hallym University’s Hangang Sacred Heart Center inherited the will of Dr. Ilsong Yoon Duck-Sun, receiving this Ilsong Award for its contribution to bridging the social gap by providing the best medical services for burn patients, especially the underprivileged in society.

In these footsteps, Hallym will be reborn as an 'open university' that serves as a foundation for students to go out into the world by demolishing barriers and providing high-level educational services to the community and society.”

□ Dr. Chun Wook, Director of Hallym University's Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, said, “The characteristics of burns are that they are serious traumas that cause sequelae (mental illness, depression, etc.) It is an area that most hospitals avoid,” he said. “There would be no glory today without the sacrificial leadership and support of Ilsong Foundation Chairman Dr. Yoon Dae-Won. In the future, we will continue to develop technologies in various medical fields to support our efforts.”

The original article can be viewed here in Korean.