“In the Name of Life” Association, Korea Tourism Organization seal MoU

March 1, 2012

“In the Name of Life” National Breast Cancer Association signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) as part of the visit to South Korea by a group of Uzbek doctors that escorted a breast cancer patient for a charitable surgery at Hwasun Hopsital and familiarized themselves with medical practices of Korean doctors. The Memorandum seeks to help step up medical tourism through a strategic partnership between the two organizations.

The MoU signing ceremony took place in the KTO office in the center of Seoul, with the Korean party being represented by Charm Lee, the KTO President, and the Uzbek party – by Shakhnoza Umarova, the Director of “In the Name of Life” National Association. The mutual exchange of pleasantries and a presentation on the Fund Forum’s activities was followed by the actual ceremony to sign the cooperation memorandum.

The Memorandum will see patients from Uzbekistan with serious health conditions travel to South Korea for treatment. Uzbek patients will have the opportunity to go through diagnostics and take treatment and rehabilitation courses in local clinics. The KTO stepped forward as one of the main organizers of the charitable surgery and treatment that a breast cancer patient from Uzbekistan underwent on February 22 at Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, a top-notch medical institution in the country.

Charm Lee, the President of Korea Tourism Organization:

- “First off, I want to thank the Uzbek delegation for visiting our country. I’m sure that the signing of the Memorandum with the National Breast Cancer Association of Uzbekistan will provide more opportunities to cooperate in medicine, charity and medical tourism. This is very important for us, and one breast cancer patient from Uzbekistan has already received assistance here. This kind of exchange projects help to broaden opportunities for cooperation in medical tourism and other areas between the people of Korea and Uzbekistan. Last year around 450 people from Uzbekistan visited South Korea for medical tourism. This is not a big figure, but that’s twice as many in comparison with the year 2010. This means that Uzbek people’s trust in South Korean medical services is growing. Personally I also want to travel to Uzbekistan. I’ve heard that this country has an ancient history of medicine, hospitable people and beautiful traditions.”

Also, under the memorandum in the pipeline are a series of events to be organized in an effort to ramp up medical tourism. These will include presentations of the potential of contemporary Korean medicine in Uzbekistan, trips for medical personnel from Uzbekistan to Korea as well as collaborative projects in other areas.

Shakhnoza Umarova, the Director of “In the Name of Life” National Breast Cancer Association of Uzbekistan:

- “I’m sure that today’s meeting and the Memorandum will result in more useful projects in the future. And I believe that these projects will benefit not only our women and children but also their families and people around them. I believe that the charity Korean doctors have shown for one Uzbek woman will be continued and the kindness shown by the Korean side will be appreciated in Uzbekistan. We will do everything within our means to provide support back in Uzbekistan for your organization and I’m sure that the results of today’s MoU signing ceremony will give hope to many people in need of help. Moreover, during our trip we were given many invitations for young Uzbek oncologists, surgeons and other doctors to participate in internships, training courses and workshops in various medical establishments in Seoul and Gwangju.”

Jin Soo-Nam, the Executive Director of Medical Tourism Department, the Korea Tourism Organization:

- “It’s a great honor for us to welcome a big delegation from Uzbekistan. The history of our two countries’ ties started in the 7th century, since the foundation of the Silk Road, which was a route for caravans and travelers. Korea and Uzbekistan presently enjoy high-level bilateral visits. People in Korea love Uzbekistan. Our two countries have a lot in common in terms of traditions, respect for elderly people, arts and culture. We are convinced that the signing of this memorandum lays the groundwork for collaborative efforts not only in medicine; it boosts opportunities for exchange and other types of collaboration.”

Note. The Korea Tourism Organization, founded in 1962, is a statutory organization based in the Republic of Korea under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism which works to promote the country’s tourism industry. The KTO’s functions include promotion to attract international tourists; research and develop tourism technology to nurture the tourism industry as a new engine for the economic growth of Korea; regional and international cooperation.