The recipient of the 20th Korean Women’s Leadership Award is author Kim Joong-mi. She is a children’s literature writer and a local activist who has reflected her perspective on regional movements in her works, contributing to public understanding and the dissemination of values related to local activism. For the Young Leader Award, Professor Ro Young-sun from Seoul National University Hospital was selected for her continuous research and efforts to expand academic expertise into the public domain, contributing to the establishment of an effective emergency response system.
The Operating Committee of the Korean Women’s Leadership Award, organized by the National YWCA of Korea, announced this year’s results, encouraging and acknowledging the contributions of awardees who have enhanced the human rights of socially vulnerable groups through their professional activities. The Korean Women’s Leadership Award, co-sponsored by the YWCA Korea and Korea City Bank, was established in 2003 to discover and recognize the leadership of women in various fields, aiming to inspire a sense of challenge and hope among the next generation of female leaders.
Kim Joong-mi, who received the Grand Prize at the 20th Korea Women’s Leadership Awards, published the novel “Children of Gwaeng-i Buri Village” in 2000, set in Manseok-dong, Dong-gu, Incheon. This novel won the grand prize in the Children’s Book Contest that same year. Taking place in Incheon’s “Gwaeng-i Buri Village,” the novel portrays children neglected by schools and families in indifference, depicting their experiences, growth, and coming-of-age. Kim Joong-mi’s works often shed light on social minorities and marginalized individuals.
Born in Incheon, Kim spent her teenage years in Dongducheon, returned to Incheon, and has been actively engaging in local activities and literary work set in Incheon. During highschool, after reading “A Dwarf Launches a Little Ball,” she began contemplating on ‘how to live’ and her concern for marginalized individuals started during her early work in a hospital after graduating from high school.The experience of meeting people from various backgrounds and facing the reality of wealth disparity deepened her contemplation and became catalyst for reflecting on life.
The author opened study rooms in the local community, joining hands with laborers, the urban poor, and youths to explore ways to live together in solidarity. She made efforts to find hope alongside impoverished children and teenagers becoming an aunt, teacher and friend for them at a small school near the railroad tracks. Now, the children who grew up in the study room have returned to continue the role of a teacher, illuminating the world for other children. They have also become parents, allowing their children to share memories similar to their own in the study room.
Since 2001, she has settled in Ganghwado Yangdo-myeon through rural resettlement, establishing a rural community around the “small school next to the railroad tracks.” There, she continues to operate a study room for high school students. Kim shuttles between Ganghwado and Manseok-dong, remaining an essential member of the community as a “big aunt” at the study room. She conducts creative activities and lectures for children and teenagers, addressing issues related to women, human rights, labor, and gender equality in her works. Through her writings, she contemplates ways to live a meaningful life in the face of discrimination and hatred, promoting solidarity.
Professor Ro Young-sun, the recipient of the Young Leader Award, has led the establishment of the first “Seoul Mobile Intensive Care Unit (SMICU)” in South Korea, large-sized ambulances equipped with advanced-patient-care systems moving intensive care unit in an ambulance, using her expertise to engage in continuous research and various initiatives aimed at changing the world.
Prof. Ro Young-sun graduated from Seoul National University College of Medicine, pursued her master’s degree at Kangwon National University, and completed her Ph.D. at Seoul National University Graduate School of Public Health. During her time in medical school, she served as the student president for two years, demonstrating a consistent interest not only in medical studies but also in social and political issues.
The “Seoul Mobile Intensive Care Unit” is a moving ICU equipped with more than 30 medical devices found in large hospital ICUs. Despite the operating cost of approximately 1 billion won per unit, Prof. Ro’s unwavering belief and conviction that it is not a significant budget, considering the lives saved and the families helped, led her to persistently persuade members of the National Assembly and city council members to achieve this result.
Beyond her fundamental role as a medical professional, Prof. Ro has dedicated herself to research on her days off, believing that through research, she can contribute to social change. One of her notable contributions includes a research paper that played a significant role in the implementation of mandatory seatbelt regulations for all passengers on expressways in 2018.
The 20th Korea Women’s Leadership Awards, celebrating two decades, recognizes women leaders who have demonstrated creativity and service in enhancing women’s leadership, offering the Grand Prize to such leaders. The Young Leader Award is presented to women under the age of 50 who are opening the future role of women. Additionally, a Special Award is bestowed upon women or organizations actively practicing social integration activities based on cultural diversity, peace, and sharing values. The award ceremony for the 20th Korean Women’s Leadership Awards, which has encouraged and recognized 46 women leaders to date, is scheduled for November 23rd.
