The Ministry of Health and Welfare awarded government commendations to 248 healthcare professionals who have dedicated themselves to protecting public health and sustaining essential medical services, marking Public Health Day.
Recipients included those who served in fields directly linked to saving lives, such as emergency medicine, high-risk deliveries, community primary care, and medical treatment for vulnerable populations.
The ministry and the Korea Health Promotion Institute held the 54th Public Health Day ceremony at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Jung-gu, Seoul, on Wednesday. This year's event was held under the theme "A society where health is fundamental, a Korea enjoyed by all."
A total of 248 individuals were honored at the ceremony, including five with medals of merit, five with badges of honor, 12 with presidential citations, 16 with prime ministerial citations, and 210 with ministerial citations. The government said the awards recognized contributions to protecting citizens' lives and advancing public healthcare.
Seo Gil-jun, president of the National Medical Center, received the Moran Medal, the highest class of the Order of Civil Merit. Seo was recognized for more than 20 years of contributions to modernizing the emergency medical system and establishing a severe trauma care framework in the fields of emergency medicine and trauma surgery.
The Hwangjo Geunjeong Medal went to Park Jung-shin, a professor at Seoul National University Hospital. Park has devoted 27 years to treating high-risk mothers and critically ill fetuses, working to create a safe delivery environment and strengthen the maternal and infant healthcare safety net.
The Dongbaek Medal of the Order of Civil Merit was awarded to Kim Tae-bin, vice chairman of the Korean Association of Internal Medicine, who has provided primary care in local communities for more than 30 years. The Mongnyeon Medal went to Jeong Heung-tae, chairman of Bumin Hospital, who established a spine and joint specialty hospital in a regional area, building a foundation for specialized local medical care. The Seongyu Medal was given to Kim Jeong-sik, dental director of Yosep Clinic, who has provided free dental treatment to homeless individuals and residents of urban slum neighborhoods for 38 years.
Recipients of badges of honor also included figures in regional and public healthcare. Lim Seon-taek, director of Gwangju Parangsae Eye Clinic; Kim Sang-gyu, director of Pureun Hospital; Kang Byeong-jik, CEO of Deoksan Medical Foundation; Choi Do-young, president of the Korean Medical Association of Oriental Medicine; and Lee Young-seong, a professor at Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, were recognized for contributions to promoting public health and advancing the healthcare system.
Presidential and prime ministerial citation recipients also spanned a wide range of fields, including public healthcare, essential medical services, rehabilitation, dementia care, radiation safety, oral health, and regional health administration. Observers noted that the awards reflected contributions that went beyond clinical achievements to encompass institutional reform, policy support, and protection of vulnerable groups.
"Korea's world-class healthcare system was built thanks to the efforts of healthcare professionals," Jeong Gyeong-sil, director general of health and medical policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, said in a commemorative address. "The government will also work to create an environment where healthcare professionals can take pride in their work."