▲ 19th Speaker of the National Assembly Uihwa Chung

Chung was born, bread and buttered in Busan. He served as director of Bongseng Hospital Dongnae and Gim Won Muk, Busan. He is a full member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and has worked as an executive adviser of the People Power Party. 

 

After his father in law Wonmuk Gim passed away, Chung devoted his life to turning the hospital as renowned as today. Gim was a respected man who made a contribution to the Korean Neurosurgical Society and became the founder of the society’s Busan office. He lost his life to  Daewang Corner fire which affected Chung greatly and made him engage in social contribution activities ever since.

 

Chung made his presence in politics by winning the general election for his constituency Dong District, Busan. He put up his political agenda solidarity of east and west of Busan, unification of the two Koreas and building a sound society. 

 

He was strict on himself not to compromise with injustice, not to pursue his own gain, not to mix public and private matters, and always be honest. Taking the role of the 18th Vice Speaker of the National Assembly, he became the 19th Speaker on which he left political world for good at the end of his term.

 

He was deeply touched by the ancient wisdom ‘Jibulgaman’ that made him let his political ambition go: it means “do not be too greedy to gratify your desire”. He pointed out materialism and unjust to make people unhappy. 

 

He says that we do not even have time to think why we should win the competition and be an enemy of others and pursue only of one’s own gain. And we still do not know whether the gain is beneficial to oneself and to the society. During his medical university years, it was regretful to see increasing number of students chose the medical career for money rather than a sense of vocation which also was the reason students avoid emergency units or physically demanding units.

He pointed out familyship, friendship and colleagueship to make people happy but not the money and fame. Feeling happiness not only make relationship better but also our mind and body healthier. It is important that wealth is not to keep but to share. 

 

Chung has witnessed many deaths throughout his life. He witnessed his father in law passed away and a patient and the two family members lost their life to gas from briquette at the hospital. This led him to meet his wife. “Living a day is equal to dying a day” says him “We all have to die when time comes but we avoid talking of it but busy living the day.” 

 

Borrowing the saying of professor Jintak Oh, Chung says “Avoiding the dying subject on our talking table does not help us raise quality of life in present because the two things are closely related.” 

 

It is alarming that South Korea has the highest suicide rate among the OECD. While around 300,000 people meet their final moment a year, Chung emphasizes the importance of well dying, as only 10% terminal cancer patients want hospice care. Hospice care helps patients reach the moment by minimizing the mental and physical pains. 

 

One reason for this is expensive cost and Chung points out the need of including it into the national medical insurance. He says that life itself is the preparation for the death and it is meaningful for us to think about the final moment. 

 

Closing his saying, Chung delivers his message of harmony and balance, forgiveness and reconciliation, and thanks and love, of which the thanks and love most beautiful. <PowerKorea> 

송방원 기자  songbw69@naver.com