People Surgeon finds true meaning of life in Ethiopia
By You Soo-sun
Kim Tae-hoon, Country Representative Ethiopia Country Office Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH) / Courtesy of Kim Tae-hoon
In search for meaning, Kim Tae-hoon, 43, left his profession as a surgeon in Korea and went to Ethiopia with his wife and three little boys.
Although the decision has taken him away from one of the most revered jobs in the country and from one of its largest hospitals, Kim says the heart of his work in Ethiopia is still the same: saving lives.
“It was not so much about leaving my job as a surgeon but a decision that would allow me to take on a more effective role out of the many things a doctor can do,” Kim told The Korea Times.
Since 2013, he has led various health programs under the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH) in the rapidly developing, yet still one of the poorest countries in East Africa.
There, he oversees four main projects aimed at improving its health sector: mother and child health, the healthcare insurance system, medical device system management and pediatric heart surgery.
The last one is focused on establishing a team of competent Ethiopian pediatric heart surgeons, Kim explained.
“Over 100 million people live in this vast land, and yet there is not a single hospital capable of conducting this surgery,” Kim said. “For three years now, doctors from the Seoul National University in Korea and Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia have been collaborating to train a team here for this purpose. We have already seen some major accomplishments in some areas.”
And in all of the projects he is leading, he stressed his colleagues are involved every step of the way, constantly challenging themselves and working together to come up with ideas.
He said the best part of his work is when he is able to confirm the friendship and trust he has established with the people there. It’s also when he sees his Ethiopian colleagues whole-heartedly taking part in these programs.
“One surgeon here told me that it’s a miracle a group of surgeons from Korea came to this place to help them. The same person also went to Korea for training, and everyone was surprised by just how passionate he was about learning. He would stay in the intensive care unit until midnight and tend to the patients there, taking in much as he can,” Kim said. “It’s a blessing to see opportunities going to those who are prepared, and to be able to be witness those moments first hand. “
Kim explained his life in Ethiopia is very different from the one he had in his home country. “I am always surprised by how different things are, how vastly different the worlds people live in are,” Kim said. “People would say wherever people live are all the same, but I think that’s not true at all.”
What he enjoys most about living in Ethiopia is the relationship he is able to have with the people around him. “In Korea, I was so busy with work that I wasn’t able to establish deep relationships with those that I should truly love and care about. Now, I have meaningful
relationships with them and this is what gives me a great sense of happiness and fulfillment,” he said.
“Of course the kids do miss toys, snacks, and ice cream that are not readily available here, but they are very satisfied with school and the freedom they have. I’m also grateful we are able to share much more laughter and tears together here than when we were back in Korea.”
Kim believes that more people should explore outside of Korea.
“Korea is too small of a place for Koreans now, especially the younger generations. I would encourage them to reach out the world with all the potentials they have.”