Lee Gil-ya was born in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, in May 1932. Her father ran a rice mill to support her family.

From 1951-1957, she attended the medical school of Seoul National University. In 1958, she opened an obstetrics and gynecology clinic, starting a life of social service.

After passing the U.S. medical license examination in 1964, she departed for the U.S. where she completed an internship at Mary Immaculate Hospital in 1965 and residency at Queen’s Hospital Center in 1968. From 1975 to 1977, she studied at Nihon University and received her doctorate in medicine.

In 1978, she founded the Gil Medical Foundation, becoming the first female doctor to establish a medical corporation. From 1982-84, she headed Korea’s association of female doctors.

In 1991, she established Gachon Cultural Foundation, which now runs Gachon Museum in Incheon and other cultural programs. Established in 1995, the museum exhibits some 18,000 medicine-related historic artifacts, books and other relics.

In 1992, she founded a “Find Life” campaign to help poor neighbors who suffer from curable illnesses but cannot receive proper treatment. As of February 2012, some 25,600 members of the campaign have helped some 4,300 people.

Lee has also paid attention to instilling compassion in young people. In 1993, she established the youth volunteering “Michuhol” corps. The corps runs a variety of charitable programs, through which students serve at nursing homes, orphanages and other facilities.

She founded Gachon Medical School and took over Kyungwon University in 1998. After merging the two schools, Gachon University was launched in March this year. In 1999, she took over the daily Kyeongin Ilbo.

For her lifelong social service, she received the first class of the Order of Civil Merit of Mugunghwa from the government in 2003. Last year, she was honored with the Women News’ award for “the person of the year.” In March, the U.S. magazine Newsweek put her on its list of the world’s 150 fearless women.

By Song Sang-ho (sshluck@heraldcorp.com)