Seoul National University Children's Hospital said on the 7th that actor Kim Ji-won donated 100 million won to improve the ward environment and help cover treatment costs for low-income patients.
Seoul National University Children's Hospital, opened in 1985 as Asia's first children's specialty university hospital, has led pediatric care in and outside Korea for more than 40 years.
Because it treats complex pediatric conditions such as severe rare intractable diseases and childhood cancers and leukemia, repeated treatments and surgeries are unavoidable, placing a heavy medical cost burden on patient families. There have also been steady calls to improve facilities and the environment of aging wards for children who make long trips to the hospital over extended periods. The hospital said this donation will be a major boost for a large-scale ward environment improvement project.
Kim Ji-won said, "While filming the drama 'Doctor X,' I came into close contact with the stories of hard-working medical staff and sick children and decided to make this donation," and added, "I want to sincerely extend my gratitude and support to the medical staff who are still striving, and to the young patients and their families."
Director Chae Jong-hee expressed appreciation for the donation, saying, "We will use the funds carefully to help families of young patients struggling with treatment costs and to ensure that children who come to the hospital can focus on treatment in a safe and friendly space."