Prior to 1993, the concept of a hospice was unknown in Korea, but that year Won Ju-hee initiated the country’s first independent hospice facility program, which has now served 10,000 terminal cancer patients over 24 years to promote a well-dying culture.

Well-dying began in the 1980s to give terminal cancer patients a sense of freedom and happiness and overcome their fear of dying. President Won prepared hospice activities and established Korea’s first independent hospice facility program in 1993, continuing these activities for terminal cancer patients into its 25th year.

He founded Saemmul Hospice, the largest and most comfortable hospice in the world, through the combined efforts of church sponsors and volunteers in Yongin and minimizes patient costs regulated by the National Health and Welfare Act and Medical Care Act, providing all services including family room and board and funerals.

Saemmul Hospice recently decided to incorporate as a medical corporation as a basis for continuous operation and also opened a hospice rest center in Gumi, Gyeongbuk in December, 2017. It also began operating a hospice in Nepal in 2007 and supports a hospice ward in Cambodia along with other activities to expand well-dying culture worldwide.