Chosun University Hospital Establishes Healthy Relations Between Korea and Saudi Arabia

By Kim Mira

We were full of excitement and anticipation as we set off for Saudi Arabia on November 30, 2022. Our first impression of Saudi Arabia – the land of mystery, the land of God – was a mixture of excitement and fear. When we arrived at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport after a long 12-hour journey, we were flooded with unfamiliar yet unforgettable feelings. We were nervous while going through the airport entry procedures, but the cool breeze blowing in the sweet and pleasant scent relieved our fatigue and tension for a while.

Saudi Arabia smelled good wherever we went, including the airport, the hospital, the restaurants, the hotel, and the shopping centers. After taking the first step in Saudi Arabia, we met Saudi doctors returning from training at Chosun University Hospital. It was a huge pleasure to meet them at the airport, as they welcomed us with a Saudi Arabian breakfast. They said that Saudi Arabians use restaurants a lot to have breakfast, even at dawn. The breakfast was more than generous and wonderful.

Freshly baked using charcoal brazier bread, various jams, and vegetables including hummus, things were delicious, and just looking at the table setting was like a picture. It was a very good breakfast that tasted new but not unfamiliar.

People from various cultures and nationalities lived together in Saudi Arabia. The food was as diverse as that, and it could be seen that they were developing and upgrading into another culture in harmony with their traditional culture. On the way from Riyadh to Al-Qassim, the vast desert and magnificent architecture showed off their harmonious beauty.

The traditional and modern buildings exuded an exotic feel, and their aesthetic sense, which maximized the beauty of the buildings using colors and lights, was admirable. Looking at religion and culture, they all seemed similar in neat and consistent appearance, but the design of the buildings, lighting, hues, and scents, in addition to the colors and designs of the abaya (Saudi women’s traditional robe-like outfit), were differentiated as symbols of splendor and individuality. We thought that change in Saudi Arabia was in the beginning stages, and it was just starting. So, we drove about four hours from Riyadh to Al-Qassim, an agricultural center located in the middle of Saudi Arabia and the Arabian Peninsula.

The state of Al-Qassim was very vast. It was a city where we felt relaxed for some reason. We visited Qassim University Hospital and Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Hospital, where our doctor trainees were working, and had a meeting with the hospitals’ medical staff. In addition, while conducting seminars with doctors who were working at Qassim University and King Fahad Hospital, we felt proud of Korea’s medical technology and service level.

Based on the Saudi Arabian government’s interest in and support for medical care, the system, and physical environment, as well as the kindness and professionalism of the medical staff, we predict remarkable development of medical care in the future. Many Saudi Arabians asked us to take a picture with bright smiles but also some shyness so we could not forget this memory. Through this experience, we were able to enter their culture, breathe, interact, and feel the real Saudi Arabia.

Another unforgettable experience was the Ghada Festival and desert camping, which takes place in winter. We participated in the event to see, hear, and feel the traditional culture of Saudi Arabia. In the evening, we also experienced desert camping as locals enjoy it. Dr. Ibrahim prepared a lot to welcome our team by making several arrangements with his friends secretly. On that day, many people gathered there and ate food in their tents. Also, there was a soccer game featuring Korea vs. Portugal, and their thoughtful consideration of welcoming their guests to the desert with a TV to watch the game comfortably was seriously admirable and considerate. Korea won the match, so everyone cheered and liked it. We were spacing out while staring at the campfire, and enjoyed traditional boiled lamb, Saudi coffee, desserts, and desert tours covering vast areas. What are the odds of experiencing this in our lifetime? We were a lucky team, right?

We moved to Riyadh with a lot of memories after finishing the Al-Qassim events. In Riyadh, we visited Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health, the Korean Embassy, KOTRA, hospitals, and held meetings while working hard. More places welcomed us on our visit and wanted to have meetings with our team, but due to our busy schedule, we regrettably had to decline, promising to do so next time. Riyadh was fabulous. Various lights highlighted the splendor. Riyadh’s fashion was unique, and many women wore colorful clothes, not only black types, which we usually saw. There was a famous theme park in Riyadh which was Boulevard City. It was so grand that it caught our eyes at a glance, and we wondered, “Why is this place so big?” It was enormous enough to feel like a representative place of Saudi Arabia’s big investments and efforts to develop the tourism industry. It was a popular attraction not only for Saudi Arabians but also for people from Europe and nearby Middle Eastern countries.

Riyadh’s night was a light that did not turn off. Many people wanted to enjoy the good weather of this season until dawn. As for our official business in Riyadh, we had the pleasure of visiting KOTRA and the Korean Embassy. We felt that it was our pride as a global platform connecting the future of Korea and Saudi Arabia and a hub for diplomatic activities that further strengthened the relationship between the two countries. We would like to thank Ambassador Park Joon-yong, Minister Counselor Geon Gyu-suk, Commercial Section Officer Waleed, Riyadh KOTRA Director Kim Do-sik, Riyadh KOTRA Deputy Director Jun Seung-yul, and Riyadh KOTRA Manager Kim Tae-min for helping our team keep schedules and do business smoothly in Saudi Arabia.

There were many difficulties while preparing for our business trip to Saudi Arabia. Nevertheless, we were able to finish our first successful visit to Saudi Arabia thanks to Dr. Haytham, our driver Kabir, Dr. Ibrahim, Dr. Sultan, Dr. Michal, and Dr. Mohammed, all of whom helped us finish our journey, which was full of challenges and unexpected events, safely and on schedule. Chosun University Hospital will serve as a private medical diplomatic mission to promote the excellence of Korean medicine through Saudi Arabia’s medical staff training project and the Arabic Clinic, all in an effort to grow and develop with Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia is a must-visit place in your life. We recommend everyone go there.

The Author

Mira Kim was born and raised in Gwangju. She is currently working at the International Healthcare Center of Chosun University Hospital’s External Cooperation Team. She has a master’s degree in medical tourism management from Chosun University, and is pursuing a doctorate degree. She actively interacts with people from various countries and cultures. As a person living in Gwangju, a global human rights city, she wants to play a role in protecting human rights and creating a beautiful society that can be respected.