Virus-beating Chinese donates W1.2 million in thank-you gift to Korean medical workers

The handwritten letter and cash that the Chinese woman left at her treatment room in a show of appreciation to medical workers who treated her. Courtesy of NHIS

By Park Si-soo

A Chinese national has donated 1.2 million won ($985) to the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) in a show of appreciation to South Korean medical workers who helped her fight the coronavirus.

The woman, 35, also promised to make an additional donation of 10 million won in coming days to help other affected people.

She was released from a NHIS-run quarantine/treatment center in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, on April 5, ending an 11-day coronavirus treatment, the cost of which the South Korean government fully covered. Seven doctors and four nurses committed themselves to treating her in rotation, according to the institute.

The woman lives in Seoul with her Korean husband and two children and runs an online cosmetics shopping mall.

She decided to make the donation after talking with a health worker who consoled her, saying: "We have to help each other with the entire nation in trouble."

"I was scared when I got quarantined for treatment in the first place," the woman said. "But I became relieved and relaxed and was able to concentrate on treatment thanks to the kindness and dedication they showed me."

She said the donation is "nothing" compared with what she received during treatment.



Park Si-soo pss@koreatimes.co.kr

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