The Professor, Shin Hyo-keun
● Do you have any special reason for your long dedication in Vietnam?
The reason behind my dedication in Vietnam can be traced back to when I was a dentistry student. Before I became a professor, I volunteered for the first time in Vietnam with my senior professor. My professor was the first person who gave medical service in the Vietnam War as an army surgeon. After that he kept volunteering in Vietnam. His teaching influenced me greatly. The feeling when I saw my professor trying his best to treat the patients was so intense and motivating to me, and then it helped me to keep on doing medical service year after year in Vietnam.
● Is there any special reason for volunteering in the summer?
There aren’t any special reasons for that. It’s because I have to go with my students, and the best time for that is during summer vacation. But, let’s assume that we go to Vietnam in the winter. The guardians of each patient who have to sleep outdoors will be freezing. In addition, the number of the patients that come to us will shorten since it’s rather cold for the patients to arrive at the volunteering location. For these reasons, we go whenever the temperature hits 40 degrees Celsius in the summer.
● You have the special nick name of “Korean Schweitzer.” What do you think about it?
Actually, I am too grateful for the nickname. I honestly think that it is undeserved for me to be compared with Dr. Schweitzer. However, when I hear that nickname, it accelerates me to do volunteering enthusiastically.
● Can you explain: why are so many people suffering from cleft lip and cleft palate in Vietnam?
During the Vietnam War, Americans used defoliant to attack. Defoliant is a very toxic chemical that can be hazardous to humans. By spraying the defoliant on many of the Vietnamese, they were severely damaged on their health. This is the very reason why there are a lot of Vietnamese people who have “cleft lip and cleft palate.” What is worse, this after effect is so strong that it can be passed on from their parents to their children. In consequence, there are still so many people suffering from cleft lip and cleft palate.
● What are the things that troubled you during volunteering?
Since I feel happy when I am volunteering, there is no hard work for me to do. If I have to choose one, it was difficult for me to get along with natives at first. Because of the Vietnam War, native’s perception of Koreans was bad. However, we made efforts to lessen Vietnamese’s hostility to my volunteering group and treat patients as much as possible.
● Is there any special story from when you volunteered?
An old man having a cleft lip and cleft palate had to participate in his daughter’s marriage. Before the marriage, we operated on his lip and treated him. He could participate in her marriage with a nice condition, and we felt rewarded since we gave him a precious memory.
Also, a child had extremely deformed lips and palate. We operated on that child five times. Then, last year, I could see that child goes to kindergarten and feel rewarded.
● What is your “real meaning of volunteering”?
Volunteering is all about consideration and sharing. Also, there would be no condition in volunteering. If you feel satisfaction and rather get something special, it is certain that you accomplish the real meaning of volunteering.
● Please, tell your volunteering plans to readers.
Next year, I will retire as professor. My honorable professor was in Vietnam until he was 77 years old. Even though I will retire next year, I want to volunteer there as much as possible if I can solve my health and financial problem. I hope CBNU will support the volunteering team more and help accomplish my future plan.
Even though he is old enough to retire next year, his passion for volunteering is much stronger than the young. Most of the students are just volunteering for their grades and getting some profit. However, “the real meaning of volunteering” could not be accomplished well if volunteers worked to get something. It could be accomplished by real passion for volunteering, Dr. Schweitzer’s spirit!