Korean hospitals are expanding their medical outreach in Mongolia, increasingly combining direct patient care with medical training, technology transfer and long-term partnerships aimed at strengthening local healthcare capacity.

Ewha Womans University Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs and EUMC Director Ryu Kyung-ha (seventh from right) poses for a photo with hospital officials during the launch ceremony for the 13th EUMC medical volunteer mission to Mongolia in 2026. (Credit: EUMC)
Ewha Womans University Medical Center (EUMC) recently completed its 13th medical volunteer mission to Mongolia, while Asan Medical Center (AMC) carried out a separate program in the country's northern region focused on cancer care and training local medical professionals.

EUMC dispatched a 14-member team to Mongolia from July 27 to Aug. 2, providing medical care to 1,168 people across five areas, including Darkhan, Sharyngol, Orkhon and Khongor in Darkhan-Uul Province and Bayangol in Ulaanbaatar.

The team was led by Kang Kyung-ho, head of EUMC's International Healthcare Business Division and professor of surgery at Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital.

Other participating physicians included Kang Duk-hee, dean of Ewha Womans University College of Medicine and professor of nephrology at Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital; pediatrician Kim Hae-soon; Lee Hui-song, deputy head of EUMC's International Healthcare Business Division and professor of surgery at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital; and Kim Yun-hwan, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital.

This year's mission also included a visit to Mongolia's National Center for Maternal and Child Health, which has worked with EUMC since a telemedicine project began in 2016.

EUMC's medical outreach in Mongolia dates back to 2011. Except for the Covid-19 pandemic period from 2020 to 2022, it has sent a medical team to the country every year, treating about 15,000 people over the past 15 years.

"We are proud to have continued meaningful activities in Mongolia for 15 years," Kang said. "Through this overseas medical volunteer mission, we were once again reminded of the values of brotherhood and humanitarianism."

Asan targets long-term medical self-sufficiency

Asan Medical Center's latest program placed greater emphasis on helping local medical professionals diagnose and treat patients independently.

A 16-member team led by Lee Sei-won, professor of pulmonology and critical care medicine, visited the Northern Regional Cancer Center in Erdenet from Aug. 3 to 6.

The team treated about 750 patients over four days and performed about 150 breast ultrasound examinations, 80 abdominal and thyroid ultrasound examinations and six breast biopsies.

Beyond patient care, Asan doctors worked alongside Mongolian physicians on ultrasound examinations, provided advice on breast cancer surgery and conducted biopsies that are difficult to perform locally because of a shortage of specialists.

The team also provided lectures on cancer treatment and nursing, advised on intensive care unit operations and inspected aging medical equipment.

Asan described the group as an "overseas medical cooperation team," rather than a volunteer medical team, to emphasize its focus on sustained exchanges and medical technology transfer.

Published Date:2026-08-13