Korea's oldest doctor dies at 94

By Bahk Eun-ji

Han Won-joo, director of internal medicine at Magnus Rehabilitation and Nursing Hospital, who was 94 years old and cared for patients until the last minute, died of chronic disease on Sept. 30, according to her bereaved family, Thursday.

Han Won-ju /Yonhap

Han was the oldest active-duty doctor in Korea who treated patients at the Magnus Rehabilitation and Nursing Hospital in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, until April.

In her mid-80s, Han began working at a nursing hospital and took care of about 10 patients daily until this April as her own health deteriorated.

“It seems like my shoulders all of a sudden collapsed when Han, who was the spiritual support of all the staff, passed away,” an official at Magnus Nursing Hospital said. “Our patients were also sad and regretful.”

The staff at the hospital called her “President,” as a mark of respect for her ceaseless efforts as a doctor.

Born to parents who were both doctors and Korean independence activists, Han Gyu-sang and Park Deok-sil, she graduated from Kyungsung Women's School of Medicine, the predecessor of Korea University's medical school, in 1949 and became a specialist in obstetrics and gynecology.

Later, she went to the United States with her husband to study, obtained qualifications as an internal medicine specialist, and returned to Korea to work as a medical practitioner. Han ran a hospital, but in the wake of her husband's death about 40 years ago, she closed the hospital and turned her interest to working as a medical missionary.

“Han treated patients with love, attention and consideration,” the official said. “She also continued to communicate with patients and gave health lectures to them.”

In a video call with her children shortly before her passing, she left these parting words, “Be strong. It's autumn. I love you.”