Trust in YU Medical Center Grew Through Caring for a Foster Child

After Pledging Body Donation, She Keeps Her Promise Five Years Later with a KRW 10 Million Gift to YU

“Giving Has Always Been My Greatest Joy … I Hope YU Will Nurture People Who Truly Help Others”

[June 19, 2026]

<From fourth left, YU President CHOI Oe-chool and Rev. WON Soon-hee>

 “When I first came to YU Medical Center with a child in my care who was going through a difficult time and met Professor SEO Wan-seok, I found tremendous comfort and developed deep trust in the University. I hope my small donation can help nurture people who will make a real difference in the lives of others.”

 The trust she developed at a university hospital while supporting a struggling child eventually grew into an extraordinary act of lifelong giving. Rev. WON Soon-hee (81), who has devoted her life to ministry, missionary work, and service, has pledged to donate her body to YU (President CHOI Oe-chool) College of Medicine and has also contributed a development fund to support the education of future medical professionals, leaving a profound impression on the University community.

 Recently, Rev. Won visited YU to donate a development fund to the College of Medicine. About five years earlier, she had pledged to donate her body to the College to contribute to medical education and research. Her latest gift reflects her conviction to continue serving society until the end of her life and represents a meaningful example of philanthropy that combines body donation with financial support for future generations.

 The story dates back about nine years. Rev. WON’s connection with YU began through a foster child she was raising. At the time, the 14-year-old student visited Professor SEO Wan-seok of the Department of Psychiatry at YU Medical Center with Rev. WON. Through ongoing treatment and counseling, the student gradually regained emotional stability, while Rev. WON found comfort and developed deep trust in the hospital and its medical staff through their sincere care and dedication. According to Rev. WON, the student looked forward to visiting the hospital to see Professor SEO even more than going to school.

 That experience became much more than a memory of treatment. Witnessing firsthand the compassion and care extended not only to patients but also to their families, Rev. WON came to appreciate even more deeply the importance of educating medical professionals who save lives and serve society. This conviction eventually led her to decide that she wanted to contribute to medical education even after her passing, culminating in her noble pledge to donate her body to YU College of Medicine.

 Her generosity did not stop there. After deciding to donate his body, Rev. WON also began setting aside savings to establish a scholarship fund, hoping to contribute in some small way to the further development of the College of Medicine. Although she was not financially affluent, she faithfully saved through an installment savings account. Once she had accumulated the amount she had promised herself, she personally visited YU College of Medicine on April 9 and presented the development fund.

 Rev. WON worked as a civil servant for 20 years at the Bureau of Survey and Statistics under the former Economic Planning Board, the predecessor of today's Statistics Korea. In 1985, she entered Seoul Jangsin University and graduated in 1989 before beginning her ministry. Since then, she has devoted herself to missionary work, volunteer service, and charitable giving, continually supporting those in need both in Korea and abroad within her means. Her body donation pledge and development fund contribution to YU College of Medicine are natural extensions of this lifelong commitment to service.

 “I have never lived a wealthy life,” Rev. WON said. “But throughout my life, I have learned that giving brings greater happiness than keeping things for myself. Through my relationship with YU, I came to hope that I could contribute, even in a small way, to educating people who genuinely help others. Little by little, I gathered that hope, and it brought me back to YU. Though my contribution may be modest, I want to continue giving in whatever ways I can.”

 Professor SEO Wan-seok reflected on his long-standing relationship with Rev. WON with deep emotion. “Many years ago, when I first met Rev. WON as the guardian of a patient, she told me that one day she hoped to establish a scholarship fund and make a donation,” he recalled. “As time passed, those words faded into a distant memory. 

 But the moment I received a call from the College of Medicine administration office and heard the name ‘WON Soon-hee,’ everything came flooding back.” He added, “I was deeply moved to learn that she had returned to YU to fulfill the promise she made so many years ago. Her life of giving was a profound lesson to me then, and it continues to inspire my deepest respect today.”

 YU President CHOI Oe-chool said, “I was deeply touched when I learned about Rev. WON Soon-hee’s relationship with YU and how that bond led to both a body donation pledge and a development fund contribution. Her lifelong dedication to giving and serving others resonates deeply throughout our society.” He continued, “Her heartfelt trust in YU and the promise she has faithfully kept will become a foundation for educating future medical professionals who will save lives and serve humanity. YU’s educational philosophy of nurturing talent that contributes to the prosperity of humankind aligns closely with Rev. WON’s values. We will honor her noble intentions by educating our students with sincerity so that they may grow into professionals dedicated to life, humanity, and their communities.”

 Meanwhile, YU held an official ceremony on the morning of June 18 to recognize Rev. WON’s donation. The event was attended by President CHOI Oe-chool, Vice President for External Affairs SEO Bo-geon, KIM Yong-dae, President of YU Medical Center, WON Kyu-jang, Dean of the College of Medicine, Professor SEO Wan-seok, and other University officials.