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Yonsei News

[YONSEI NEWS] Former Missionary Donald Mattson Donates 200,000 USD to Yonsei Wonju Christian Hospital

연세대학교 홍보팀 / news@yonsei.ac.kr
2012-06-22

Missionary Donald Mattson who took on medical services in Korean around 50 years ago made a donation of 200,000 USD to Yonsei Wonju Christian Hospital. Missionary Mattson left a special will to his family when he passed away at the age of 81 on December 29th last year in Willmar, Minnesota. It was to donate 200,000 USD to the hospital in Korea that he had done medical services 53 years ago. As a missionary of the American Methodist Missionary Society, missionary Mattson started his volunteer medical service at the age of 29 in 1959 at Wonju United Christian Hospital (now Yonsei Wonju Christian Hospital). At that time, Korea was scarred with the remains of the Korean War and filled with poverty and famine. In the mountain villages of Wonju, the situation was even harsher. As an internal medicine doctor, missionary Mattson took care of his patients like family and was called ‘Dr. Madoseon’ by the local people. His medical services continued for eight years until 1967. Even after his return, he did not forget his life and work in Korea. In 2001, he donated 5,000 USD to Yonsei Wonju Christian Hospital. His donation was used for purchasing medical vans for visiting treatment. These ‘Family Care Visiting Vans’ that were bought by missionary Madison’s donation still take care of patients in Wonju.