Asia Hope Tree Provides Medical Volunteer Services to Over 200 Cambodian Residents

Volunteer Group Dispatched for Gwangju Clinic's 12th Anniversary
Custom Medical and Community Services in Ophthalmology, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics & Adolescents, and Dentistry
"A Hub Bringing Hope to the Entire Local Community, Beyond Medical Facilities"

The Asia Hope Tree announced on the 21st that it dispatched a volunteer group to Cambodia to mark the 12th anniversary of the opening of the Gwangju Clinic in Kampong Speu Province.

The volunteer medical team included Seo Jungseong, Chairman (Ophthalmology), Kim Sanghoon, Director of Gwangju Hospital (Internal Medicine), Kang Juoh, Chairman of the Gwangju Migrant Health Center (Internal Medicine), Jeong Hyunkyung, Director of Dodam Pediatrics & Adolescents Clinic (Pediatrics), and Yoon Heonsik, Director of the Gwangju Migrant Health Center (Dentistry), among others.

The Asia Hope Tree dispatched a volunteer group to commemorate the 12th anniversary of the opening of the Gwangju Clinic in Kampong Speu Province, Cambodia. Provided by Asia Hope Tree

A total of over 70 people also participated, including members of the Gwangju Golden Rotary Club of Rotary International District 3710, Gwangju Nam-gu Family Center, the first Together Care Center branch, Bando Medics Co., Ltd., faculty and students from the Department of Emergency Medical Technology at Honam University, and the College of Veterinary Medicine at Chonnam National University.

The medical volunteer team provided care in ophthalmology, internal medicine, pediatrics & adolescents medicine, and dentistry, treating 203 local residents over a three-day period. Newly donated X-ray equipment was introduced during this visit, enabling more precise diagnoses such as chest imaging. The ophthalmology consultation room was crowded all day with residents who traveled from distant rural villages upon hearing the news. During the volunteer period, seven successful cataract surgeries were also performed.

Seo Jungseong, the Chairman, said, "There are many people here who endure eye diseases because there are no ophthalmologists in the area. Whenever word spreads that medical staff are coming from Gwangju, people come a long way without hesitation. The hospital utilization rate in this area, which was only 2.5% twelve years ago, has now increased to 20-30%."

Kang Juoh, who was in charge of internal medicine, explained, "Cambodia lacks a proper health insurance system, so a single injection for a cold costs over 100,000 won. For local residents whose monthly minimum wage is about 300,000 won, this is a significant burden," describing the challenging medical situation on site.

Jeong Hyunkyung, who has been volunteering since 2013, shared, "The most touching moments are when people ask 'When will you come again?' I actually receive even more from them than I give." Public health physician Ahn Jeongmin also commented, "Although the environment is poor, I feel fulfilled being able to help neighbors."

In addition to medical volunteering, tailored talent donations for the local community also took place. Professor Lee Hyochul and his students from the Department of Emergency Medical Technology at Honam University educated 130 local students on CPR and how to use automated external defibrillators (AEDs) through hands-on training sessions.

Yang Hayoung, Chief Director of Noah Animal Medical Center, along with Professor Emeritus Seo Kukhyun and students from Chonnam National University's College of Veterinary Medicine, visited village pens and homes to check the health of livestock and pets. They administered 30 rabies vaccinations, 20 canine influenza vaccinations, 32 dewormings, and five cat neutering surgeries, and provided treatment for 16 cows and six pigs.

Director Yang Hayoung emphasized, "True volunteering is creating an environment where people and animals can live healthily together." Professor Emeritus Seo Kukhyun added, "By identifying the cause of death in the donated cows, we will strengthen follow-up management to ensure our contributions are not just a one-time event."

The 'Cambodia Gwangju Clinic Attached Cultural Center & Guesthouse,' which opened in August last year, served as a retreat for this volunteer group and helped support their activities smoothly. On a regular basis, this space also serves as a venue for cultural exchange, where local students and residents enjoy a range of cultural and educational activities focused on K-culture.

Established in 2014, the Cambodia Gwangju Clinic was founded on the spirit of sharing and solidarity embodied by the 5·18 Democratization Movement. Over the past twelve years, it has grown into a reliable medical safety net for tens of thousands of patients.

Chung Seunguk, CEO of The Asia Hope Tree, said, "Everyone felt deeply moved as a large-scale volunteer group was able to visit locally again for the first time in a while. To mark the 12th anniversary of the opening of the clinic, we will continue to ensure the Gwangju Clinic goes beyond simply offering medical services to become a hub that brings hope to the entire local community."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.