This blog post reflects on the meaning of being a true doctor through the story of a physician who cared not only for his patients’ bodies but also their hearts, living his life with faith and love.
I was recommended and read the book ‘That Young Foolish Doctor’. This book contains the deeply moving story of a young doctor who lived his life sincerely loving people. He was a person of outstanding Christian character, and even now, long after his passing, he lives warmly in the memories of many people. Reading the book, I too felt the desire to live a life like his, sincerely loving people and finding even greater fulfillment and reward through that love.
Dr. Ahn Soo-hyun was born on January 17, 1972, and passed away unexpectedly at the young age of 33 on January 5, 2006. He is described as a tall man, standing 178cm (5’10”), with a sturdy build and a neat, well-groomed appearance. To those meeting him for the first time, he might have seemed overly polite, but once you got to know him a little better, he was a warm-hearted person whom anyone could approach comfortably.
Even amidst his busy medical life, he willingly gave his time to patients and would sometimes gift them books or cassettes. By ordinary standards, one might say he was excessively ‘nosy,’ but that was because he genuinely loved people. He was a doctor who didn’t just treat patients’ bodies; he also tended to their hearts. For instance, he was the kind of person who would sternly scold an elderly man in terminal cancer pain who was ready to give up on life, then embrace him and say, “I understand you.”
Patients trusted and relied on him. They waited for his clinic days and drew strength from his warm words. Dr. Ahn Soo-hyun treated his fellow nurses and fellow doctors warmly as well. If someone asked for help, he was always willing to assist. For instance, when a nurse accidentally dropped an expensive medication and was panicking, he didn’t ignore her; he personally checked other wards to see if they had the medicine and saved the day. During his internship, he even visited a young patient’s home bearing a cake and a hat to celebrate the child’s birthday. He was someone who genuinely comforted others and shared joy.
Having grown up in a family that wasn’t financially well-off himself, he deeply understood the struggles of those facing hardship. As a Christian, he naturally shared about Jesus, his hope, conveying hope and the gospel to patients weary of life. Many people encountered God through his prayers.
But to be honest, reading about this doctor initially felt a bit burdensome. His life seemed so different from mine. I wondered, ‘Can a person really live like this?’ or ‘Isn’t this just a glorified story?’ Though I’m also a Christian, seeing his life made me feel profoundly inadequate.
He always lived a life of sharing and giving. I, however, was the complete opposite. While I craved people’s attention, I never thought about sharing. After entering university, I even approached relationships with others calculatingly, thinking ‘nothing is free.’ I focused solely on what I could get rather than what I could give first. It was during this busy, self-centered life that I encountered this book. And in that moment, my heart began to slowly melt.
Dr. Ahn Soo-hyun’s example—loving and accepting others just as they are, without pretense to gain attention—deeply moved me. I dream of becoming a doctor like him, one who comforts not only the body but also the heart, and who shares true hope through the gospel of Jesus.
The values I hold most dear in life are to sincerely believe in Jesus and to live loving my neighbors. Dr. Ahn Soo-hyun was someone who embodied those values in his life, and for that, I deeply respect him. His life resonated profoundly with me and continues to give me strength and hope. I too hope to live like him and choose to live that way.
