Family of Doctors

Ri Myong Gwon, chief of the CT scan section at the Kim Man Yu Hospital, and his family are called the family for medicine. His family members are medical workers for three generations, who are devoting themselves to the health promotion of the people.

Ri’s father Yong Gyom distinguished himself as one of the leading pioneers of radiology in Korea, and is listed in the Great Korean Encyclopaedia for his meritorious service in promoting the people’s health and developing the medical science of the country.

From the 1950s he conducted his researches into radiology, one of the cutting-edge sciences in the medical world. He thus contributed to establishing a general tomographical system in medical science to ensure accuracy, quickness, reliability and effectiveness in the diagnosis and treatment of the diseases.

He also made contributions to setting up radiotherapy and other branches of radiology and published more than 150 study papers and books worthy of attention.

His career has been the example to his descendants, who have followed suit and become medical workers.

Myong Gwon, second son, made researches into radiology in succession to his father.

In Juche 51 (1962), while studying at the then Pyongyang University of Medicine, he presented the study paper, titled “Experimental study on radioprotection effect of the nonspecial immunizing action,” and others. And in his 50-odd-year career he developed imaging technologies for hypophysoma and other surgeries and made scores of inventions to provide accuracy in X-ray diagnosis of the patients.

For his distinguished service in the development of medical science and the promotion of the people’s health, he had the honour of having photographs taken with Generalissimos Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il in national meetings, such as the National Conference of Health Workers and the Conference of Korean Intellectuals. He received a birthday table sent by

Kim Jong Il in Juche 98 (2009), and a wrist watch bearing the august name of Kim Il Sung and official commendations.

Ri’s three sons are also medical workers.

They have achieved many successes in the medical sector. Among them are CT-based measurement of fat distribution and water amount in human body, surgical techniques of acute aortic dissection, and advanced technology in the surgery of hypophysoma.

The Ri family are exerting their patriotic devotion to developing the country’s medical science and technology and making the people receive more benefits of the socialist healthcare system.