Amid unfamiliar surroundings and with tireless dedication, Jang Chang-hyun (Department of Nursing, Evening Program, 3rd year) has made his mark in the field of global health. He was recently honored with the ‘KOICA President’s Award’ at the 17th Korea Overseas Volunteer Award Ceremony for his contributions as a KOICA nursing volunteer in Peru, where he participated in public health campaigns and emergency medical system improvement projects.

Currently employed at Soonchunhyang University Medical Center’s International Business Team, Jang recently completed a healthcare project in Bolivia. In March, he will be dispatched to El Salvador to lead KOICA’s development cooperation project for 400 days. We sat down with him to hear about his journey in global health.

From a young age, Jang was interested in helping people. Although he initially dreamed of becoming a firefighter, his red-green colorblindness made studying emergency rescue impractical. “I looked for a path where I could help people regardless of my innate characteristics, and nursing seemed to be the best fit,” he explained.

He added, “Nursing allows you to help people in a broad range of medical fields, and I also thought it opened doors to becoming a firefighter through a Grade 9 special recruitment track,” reflecting on his long-held desire to lead a meaningful life.

After passing t토토사이트 샌즈 national nursing exam and before starting work at a hospital, Jang traveled to Egypt. T토토사이트 샌즈re, 토토사이트 샌즈 met a student from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies majoring in Arabic interpretation and translation, who was volunteering as a Korean language instructor. This encounter greatly inspired him.

“While serving in the military, I met friends in the Defense Security Command who spoke various languages, which opened my eyes to new possibilities. Meeting that student in Egypt made me realize I could contribute as a nurse and led me to apply for KOICA,” he said.

After being selected as a KOICA volunteer, Jang was dispatched to Peru, where he underwent eight weeks of Spanish training to adapt to the local environment. “In Peru, I conducted public health campaigns, teaching residents about hygiene and health management. I also participated in the Korea-Peru Hospital Emergency Medical System Enhancement Project, helping to build emergency room infrastructure and donating medical equipment,” he said.

The COVID-19 pandemic posed unexpected challenges to his volunteer work. “While working on the emergency room project, the Peruvian government declared a national emergency due to COVID-19, forcing me to return to Korea. Initially, I was very disappointed, but I eventually completed the donation ceremony by coordinating remotely with Peruvian government officials via videoconference,” he recalled. This experience underscored the importance of crisis management and international cooperation.

In recognition of his contributions, Jang received the Korea Overseas Volunteer Award in 2022. He shared his future plans, saying, “I want to continue working in the field of international health development and will be leading a 400-day development project in El Salvador starting in March.” Ultimately, he aspires to join international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) to improve global healthcare.

When asked if he had a message for fellow Hanyang students, Jang emphasized, “I want Korean nurses, who often pursue overseas jobs in the U.S. or Australia, to know that KOICA offers another valuable path.”

Based on his experiences, Jang won the grand prize at a national overseas employment competition and currently delivers lectures on overseas nursing job opportunities at regional nursing colleges. “There isn’t much information available about working as a nurse abroad, so I feel a strong sense of responsibility to share the various paths I’ve explored,” he said.

To future KOICA nursing volunteers, Jang advised keeping an open mind. “If you apply with the sole intention of going abroad, you may struggle to adapt. Overseas volunteering provides full support for airfare and living expenses, but you must be prepared for the challenging conditions on-site and approach it with a sense of mission,” he emphasized.

Currently, Jang continues his work on international health development projects at Soonchunhyang University Medical Center. He also remains committed to medical volunteering. Reflecting on his time at Hanyang, he said, “The course ‘Practice of Love’ helped me shape my mindset toward volunteering. What started as a mandatory class ended up playing a crucial role in determining my life direction.” He concluded with a heartfelt message: “I hope more Hanyang students experience the joy of giving and find even greater happiness in the process.”