Yonsei Social Volunteer Award Given to Jo Byung Gook, Former Director of Holt's Affiliated Hospital The former director of Holt's Affiliated Hospital, Jo Byung Gook, also known as the 'Godmother of 60,000 adoptees,' won the Social Volunteer Award at Yonsei University's 126th Anniversary Ceremony last May. Director Jo made visits to Ilsan all the way from Boondang despite the two-hour distance. Although there are several nurses working on shifts, there is always a shortage of help because many disabled kids need individual care and must be accompanied to hospitals outside in times of emergency. This is why director Jo cannot let go of her stethoscope even after publishing a book titled "Old Lady Doctor Puts Down Her Stethoscope." What motivated her lifetime dedication to orphans and the disabled for more than 50 years? "I wanted to become a doctor since I was young. Having experienced the War and witnessing two of my younger siblings die, the desire to protect young life grew inside me. I applied for pediatrics from the beginning because I wanted to lower children mortality rates. After graduating, I worked at a municipal children's hospital for 15 years and it was there that I learned how terrible the circumstances of orphans were. Seeing children abandoned by their parents and dying, I once doubted and resented God. After working at a municipal children's hospital for 15 years, Director Jo moved to Holt's affiliated hospital and started working for adopted children. She did her best every moment in the hopes of helping the abandoned kids meet good adoptive parents and a loving family. "Molly's House" is also located in this welfare town, where people from all over the world make a visit. Even on the day of our visit, a family of four children belonging to an overseas adoptee was making a visit to the place. Many visitors came to find their roots or to pay back the love they received as adoptees by becoming adoptive parents themselves. “People who have been loved can give love. It is a rewarding experience to see those who have been adopted once revisit Holt as volunteers." The sense of fulfillment is unlike any other for Director Jo when she sees adopted kids who were once abandoned receive love and give back later on. "There was a six-month old baby who was adopted overseas and he was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 24. Before death, he left a letter to a friend worrying how sad his parents would feel. The university he attended heard the news and awarded his graduation diploma at his bed. The adoptive parents recently held a funeral with his cremated remains. It was sad when seeing photos of his childhood and a letter he wrote as a kid." Director Jo took care of many orphans and even took them to the United States herself so that they can be adopted. Her devotion and effort are incomparable. We were able to meet several members of "With the Sound of the Soul," a choir of disabled kids at Holt. They were humming their favorite song as they just got out of practice. They approached Molly Holt and we were surprised to see them call her "Molly unni" and "Molly noona." “The kids here are so joyful all day long. I stay young and healthy by living a simple life and giving and receiving love with them. I hope many young people visit this place at least once and feel something. It hurts to see college students commit suicide. The point of studying so hard is to contribute to society. Rather than just sitting on their desks, they should visit this place to see and feel what they can do for society." Courtesy of Yonsei Alumni Newsletter, This article and photos are originally published in Yonsei Alumni Newsletter, and rewritten & reedited with the permission of Yonsei Alumni association