A doctor examines a child at the “Everyday Pediatric Clinic” in the Gokseong County Public Health Center in South Jeolla Province on May 7. Reporter Go Gui-han

In Gokseong County, South Jeolla Province, a peaceful rural village with a population of about 27,000, over half of whom are farmers, children’s sickness has long been a major source of concern for residents. With no pediatric specialists in the area, parents faced anxiety and fear every time a child fell ill, not knowing what to do.

Until recently, they had no choice but to make long trips to downtown Gwangju, over an hour away by car, for pediatric care. Factoring in transportation, registration, and waiting times, each visit would take an average of three hours.

But change has finally arrived in Gokseong. On May 2, the county saw the opening of its first pediatric clinic staffed by a pediatric specialist. This was made possible through the collective support of over 2,000 people across the country who participated in the “Hometown Love Donation Program.”

On the morning of May 14, the waiting area in front of the “Everyday Pediatric Clinic” inside the Gokseong County Health Center was bustling with more than a dozen children and their guardians. Children, held in the arms of their parents or grandparents, waited calmly in line while wearing masks. “My child suddenly developed a fever, so I came here,” said resident Park Hee-yeon, who brought her two-year-old to the clinic. “I’m so relieved that there’s now a pediatric clinic close to home.”

Parents and children left the clinic with visible smiles of relief. Kim Mi-kyung, 37, who visited with her two children, said, “We live in Incheon, but we came to visit my parents. When one of my kids showed symptoms of enteritis, we rushed here. The doctor was so kind and attentive. I’m less worried now and feel more comfortable visiting my parents more often.”

Until now, the county residents had to travel over 50 kilometers to cities like Gwangju or Suncheon for pediatric care. Among Gokseong’s 27,000 residents, about 2,400, or roughly 10 percent, are children and adolescents. Establishing a pediatric clinic had long been a dream of the residents. According to a survey of 1,000 county residents in 2023, one in four cited “medical facilities” as the most urgently needed public service.

The driving force behind the clinic was the “Hometown Love Donation Program.” On July 24 of last year, Gokseong County launched a fundraising campaign titled “Please Give Gokseong a Pediatric Clinic.” In just five months, by the end of December, 2,114 people had contributed a total of 340.1 million won.

Because of this, local residents call the clinic the “Miracle Pediatric Clinic,” and joy is spreading throughout the community. On the “Support the Pediatric Clinic” social media page run by Gokseong county, dozens of posts, which are apparently from local residents, express gratitude and joy, with messages like “It feels like a dream,” and “Thank you for giving us hope.” Comments cheering on the children also appear, including “Don’t get sick, stay healthy!” and “I hope you always smile.”

The pediatrician now treating children at the clinic is Dr. Choi Yong-jun, 42, a graduate of Inha University Medical School. He completed his residency at Seoul Asan Medical Center and previously worked at Ansan Hospital and Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital. Though he has no personal ties to Gokseong, he came across a news report about the lack of pediatric care in the region and reached out to the county himself, saying he felt compelled to help.

The county is now focused on ensuring the clinic's long-term sustainability. A follow-up program is being planned to provide scholarships to medical students who agree to work in Gokseong for five years after graduation.

“We were able to overcome the challenges of our underdeveloped medical infrastructure thanks to the generous support and donations from so many people,” said a Gokseong County official. “We will continue working to make Gokseong a great place to give birth and raise children.”