보건복지부 영문홈페이지

Toward a Country Without the Fear of Cancer

 

- In Commemoration of the 17th Cancer Prevention Day,

98 Contributors Honored for their Efforts in Cancer Prevention -

- Hosting of the 2024 National Cancer Control Program Best Practice Competition-

 

The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW, Minister Cho, KyooHong) held a ceremony to celebrate the 17th Cancer Prevention Day at the Grand Ballroom of Westin Chosun Seoul at 10 a.m. on March 21, 2024 (Thursday). The event was attended by around 300 guests including contributors to cancer prevention, cancer-related organizations, and local government officials.

 

？(Background of Cancer Prevention Day) According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a third of all cancer occurrences can be prevented by prevention activities, another third are fully treatable with early diagnosis and treatment, and the other third are manageable with appropriate treatments. Korea distilled this idea into the ‘3-2-1’ concept, thereby officially designating March 21 (3.21) as Cancer Prevention Day ※ Article 4 of the Cancer Control Act (newly enacted on October 27, 2006)

 

Thirteen regional cancer centers across the country are also planning to organize campaigns to celebrate the occasion in their respective regions, which will include honoring contributors, practicing cancer prevention rules, and promoting national cancer screening.

 

At the ceremony, a total of 98 contributors received awards including 11 government awards* for cancer prevention and cancer control projects and 87 Minister of Health and Welfare citations.

 

* 1 Order of Civil Merit, 2 Medals of Honour, 3 Presidential Citations, 5 Prime Minister’s Citations

 

Eulji University Professor Kim Dong-wook received the Red Stripes Order of Service Merit for his world-class research achievements in the field of blood cancer over the past 31 years. He was the first to successfully transplant non-relative and genetically mismatched allogeneic hematopoietic stem cells in Korea, and greatly improved patients’ quality of life by localizing the targeted cancer drug radotinib, which reduced treatment costs for chronic leukemia patients.

 

A Service Merit Medal was awarded to Professor Kwak Cheol of Seoul National University, a urological oncologist who has made significant contributions to the treatment and diagnosis of urological tumors through various basic research on prostate, kidney, and bladder cancers in Korea. Sister Lee Young-suk from the Sisters of the Blessed Korean Martyrs was conferred a Civil Merit Medal. She looked after more than 2,000 dying patients over the last 20 years at St. Mary's Hospital (currently Incheon St. Mary's Hospital) and currently serves as a board member of the Mater Cancer Foundation, which provides free shelter for cancer patients and their caregivers.

 

Presidential Citations were given to Professor Baek Jeong-heum of Gachon University, Professor Song Byung-Joo of Uijeongbu Eulji University Hospital, and President Chung Sung-woon of Pusan National University Hospital. These recipients were lauded for their contributions to cancer prevention and the development of the ROK’s cancer control programs.

 

In addition, the Prime Minister's Citations were awarded to Professor Kim Hye-ry of Seoul Asan Medical Center, Ms. Ma Yoo-jung, an administrative nurse working in Busan Metropolitan City, Mr. Lee Jin-soo, a director at the National Cancer Center, Professor Jeon Sung-woo of Chilgok Kyungpook National University Hospital, and Mr. Jung Hae-min, Head of the Department of Drug Management at the National Health Insurance Service. The accolades recognized their active efforts in cancer prevention and treatment at their respective hospitals and local governments.

The five-year relative survival rate of Korean cancer patients has improved significantly from 45.2% in 2000 to 72.1% in 2021, which is one of the fastest growth rates in the world.

 

Korea's high cancer survival rate seems to be attributable to cancer prevention activities, advancements in cancer diagnosis and treatment technologies, early cancer detection thanks to improved participation rate in national cancer screenings, and the national cancer control programs, which are based on high-quality cancer statistics.

 

It is also the result of the combined efforts of healthcare professionals committed to treating cancer patients and researching cancer, as well as the staff members behind national cancer control programs, and all citizens who have actively participated in cancer prevention activities including national cancer screenings.

 

In his speech, 2nd Vice Minister Park Min-soo expressed his respect and gratitude saying, "Because of those who diligently dedicated themselves to the national cancer control programs on the healthcare frontlines and in their daily work, the ROK's cancer management system has become one of the best in the world.

 

He also stressed the need to practice cancer prevention, saying "Cancer is preventable, and curable if detected early, and needs healthy lifestyles and regular checkups."

 

The ceremony was a followed by 2024 National Cancer Control Program Best Practice Competition to boost the morale of those in charge of the national cancer control programs.

 

At the competition, the Minister of Health and Welfare Awards were given to ten institutions including the Busan Ulsan Gyeongnam Regional Office of the National Health Insurance Service, whose projects were selected as the best practices. During the ceremony, the winners presented and shared their experiences.

 

The selected best practices will be published as the “National Cancer Control Program Best Practice Collection" and will be posted on the National Cancer Center’s National Cancer Information Center website (www.cancer.go.kr). ///