"Seventy years of history is our pride. But the next 100 years is our responsibility."
Eulji Foundation Chairman Park Jun-young made the remarks Thursday at a ceremony held at Daejeon Eulji University Hospital to mark the foundation's 70th anniversary, expressing determination to build on seven decades of achievement through change and innovation.
Park outlined a guiding principle of "holding firmly to the values worth keeping, and boldly changing the methods that must change." Park said the foundation must uphold its core values of "love for humanity" and "respect for life" while strengthening its competitiveness amid a rapidly shifting healthcare and education landscape. To that end, Park identified four priorities: pioneering new paths, raising standards of care, preparing for the future through AI and innovation, and fostering shared growth among all members of the organization.
"We must not settle for existing ways, but open new possibilities in medicine and education through constant challenge and innovation," Park said. "We must strengthen a patient-centered care system and raise the standard of healing through research and technological innovation." Park also called on members to build a collaborative Eulji "so that the next generation can be proud of the new 100 years we prepare together."
The foundation held simultaneous 70th-anniversary ceremonies Thursday at Daejeon Eulji University Hospital, Nowon Eulji University Hospital and Uijeongbu Eulji University Hospital. The events offered thanks to members and associates who helped shape the foundation's history over the past seven decades and reaffirmed its commitment to the next century.
The Eulji Foundation traces its origins to 1956, when its late founder, Dr. Park Young-ha — known by his pen name Beomseok — opened a small obstetrics and gynecology clinic on Euljiro in Seoul. The foundation has since expanded into healthcare and education, growing into the educational and medical foundation it is today. The 70th-anniversary slogan — "Thanks to you, 70 years; together, 100 years" — reflects gratitude to all who have contributed to Eulji's history and a commitment to carrying that spirit forward into the next century.
To mark the anniversary, the foundation unveiled a new slogan and emblem and carried out a range of commemorative projects, including an AI-produced anniversary video. It also held events to reconnect with former Eulji community members, a memorial day, and the compilation of a 70-year institutional history. Several major events remain ahead: a medical symposium on the theme "Future Medicine with AI" is scheduled for Friday; a commemorative concert will follow on Nov. 8; and an international nursing academic conference will run Nov. 12-13 to explore scholarly exchange and the future direction of nursing.
The foundation is also strengthening its patient-centered care model. Following the opening of the Beomseok Memorial Cancer Hospital at Uijeongbu Eulji University Hospital in September, it has been expanding specialized cancer care by tumor type, deepening multidisciplinary collaboration, and building an integrated care pathway from diagnosis through treatment. Next year will mark both the centennial of founder Dr. Park Young-ha's birth and the 60th anniversary of Eulji University. The foundation plans to use its 70th anniversary as a springboard for the next era — carrying forward the founder's vision and continuing to innovate in medicine and education, grounded in the values of love for humanity and respect for life.
kty@heraldcorp.com
