Lee Gil-ya
Overview
Lee Gil-ya (이길여, 1931– ) is a South Korean doctor, educator, entrepreneur, and social activist. As the founder of Gachon University and the Gachon Gil Foundation, she has engaged in wide-ranging activities in medicine, education, culture, and social welfare. She is particularly regarded as a pioneering figure who, as a female medical professional, established a general hospital and a university for the first time. She has lived her entire life with the spirit of 'sharing and service,' and through the Gachon Gil Foundation, she continues to support medically vulnerable groups both domestically and internationally.
Main Content
Early Life and Education
Lee Gil-ya was born in 1931 in Gaeseong, Gyeonggi Province (now in North Korea). She defected to South Korea during the Korean War and continued her studies under difficult circumstances. She graduated from Seoul National University College of Medicine in 1956 and obtained a medical license. She later became an obstetrician-gynecologist, dedicating herself to women's health and maternal-child health.
Medical Business and Establishment of the Gachon Gil Foundation
In the early 1960s, she began her medical career by opening 'Gil Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic' in Jongno, Seoul. She later expanded by establishing 'Gil Hospital' (now Gachon University Gil Medical Center) in Incheon in 1978. In the 1990s, she founded the Gachon Gil Foundation to systematize medical, educational, and social welfare projects. Today, Gachon University Gil Medical Center has grown into a leading tertiary general hospital representing the Incheon region.
Educational Ventures and Establishment of Gachon University
Alongside her medical work, Lee Gil-ya took a keen interest in education. In 1995, she acquired Kyungwon University (now Gachon University) to realize her educational philosophy. In 2012, she merged Kyungwon University and Gachon University of Medicine and Science to launch 'Gachon University.' Gachon University has now established itself as a prestigious private university with over 25,000 students, particularly excelling in medicine, engineering, and IT.
Social Contribution and Volunteer Activities
Known as the 'Doctor of Sharing,' Lee Gil-ya has led medical volunteer efforts both domestically and internationally. Since the 1990s, she has supported tuberculosis treatment for North Korean children and medical aid projects in Africa and Southeast Asia. In 2010, she established the 'Gachon Gil Foundation Sharing House,' operating welfare facilities for the elderly, disabled, and children. She also continues to provide free medical checkups and scholarship programs for medically vulnerable groups every year.
Awards and Honors
In recognition of her contributions, Lee Gil-ya received the Order of Civil Merit (Mugunghwa Medal) in 2005, the Ramon Magsaysay Award (Public Service category) in 2012, and a special award from the UN Commission on the Status of Women in 2015. In 2023, she received the 'Proud Korean Award' for her contributions to the development of South Korean medicine and social welfare.
Recent Developments
As of 2024, Lee Gil-ya continues her active role as Chairperson of Gachon University and President of the Gachon Gil Foundation. In early 2024, Gachon University Gil Medical Center introduced an AI-based diagnostic system and a telemedicine platform to build a 'smart hospital.' Additionally, the Gachon Gil Foundation announced plans to establish additional 'Lee Gil-ya Medical Centers' in five African countries by 2025. In June 2024, she hosted the 'Lee Gil-ya Sharing International Symposium' to discuss ways to address global healthcare disparities. Recently, she has expanded research support for climate change and infectious disease response, with a particular focus on strengthening programs for training female medical professionals.
Related Topics
- [[Gachon University]]
- [[Gachon Gil Foundation]]
- [[Gil Medical Center]]
- [[Ramon Magsaysay Award]]
- [[Doctors in South Korea]]