ABOUT
Mission Statement
At Children of Korea, our mission is to enhance the quality of medical care for children and people across Korea by providing developmental and technical training, facilitating medical knowledge exchanges, and ensuring continuity of care. We are dedicated to expanding access to healthcare and improving health outcomes throughout the Korean Peninsula.
Vision Statement
Our vision is a future where every child and individual in Korea has access to high-quality medical care, regardless of geographical or political barriers. We strive to be a leading force in transforming healthcare delivery and fostering collaboration between North and South Korea, ultimately contributing to a healthier and more unified Korean Peninsula.
Board of Directors
Dr. David Hong is an active pediatric neurosurgeon with special research interests in global neurosurgery. He is the first pediatric neurosurgeon working in North Korea. Dr Hong has been traveling to Pyongyang regularly since 2015, working most frequently with the neurosurgeons at Okryu Children’s Hospital to improve the level of medical care. Dr. Hong’s organization, Children of Korea, will continue the ongoing work begun in 2007 to serve the medical needs of the children and people of North Korea. He has been featured on the BBC World Service, Radio Free Asia, Washington Post, and radio service of KBS for his expertise on North Korean health.
Yeri Im began her career as a Program Manager at the Korean-American Sharing Movement in 2003 and has visited North Korea frequently since 2005. She managed operations at World Vision North Korea and was posted in Pyongyang to implement an emergency food program in 2008 and 2009. She also serves on the Boards of Christian Friends of Korea, which provides life-giving support to TB, hepatitis, and pediatric care centers located throughout the country.
Dr. Heeje Lee is a dentist specializing in endodontics and prosthodontics. He has visited many developing countries, including North Korea, to serve patients and train local dentists and students. Since 2016, he has been teaching at the School of Dentistry at Pyongyang University of Science and Technology, where he focuses on enhancing dental education and healthcare. Dr. Lee has also been involved in various humanitarian missions, providing critical dental care and sharing his expertise in underserved regions. His commitment to improving global dental health is complemented by his academic achievements, having earned his Master of Public Health degree at the University of California, Berkeley.
Jihyeon Park, MD is a dedicated obstetrician-gynecologist with over two decades of clinical and academic experience. Trained in Korea, and now residing in the US, Dr. Park has held leadership roles at multiple women’s health clinics across Seoul and Gyeonggi-do. Her scholarly work spans critical topics such as prenatal diagnostics, peripartum cardiomyopathy, and obstetric imaging. Her expertise in prenatal genetic diagnostics, high-risk pregnancy management, and reproductive health has positioned her as a key member of several professional societies, including the Korean Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine and the Korean Society of Perinatology. In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Park has served as an adjunct professor at both Kyung Hee Medical Center and Korea University Anam Hospital