On December 18, Professor Ahn Gyu-ri, Professor Emeritus of the Seoul National University College of Medicine, received the Asia Philanthropy Awards (APA) at the Raphael Center in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. Professor Ahn founded the Raphael Clinic, the recipient organization of the 2016 POSCO TJ Park Award for Social Service, and currently serves as Chair of the Raphael Nanum Foundation as well as a Board Member of the POSCO TJ Park Foundation. The term philanthropy originates from the Greek word philo, meaning “friend,” and refers to activities that contribute to society through service and sharing, grounded in love for humanity.

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The Asia Philanthropy Awards is a citizen-driven award initiative that began in 2015 through the voluntary efforts of more than 100 practitioners in the nonprofit sector. It was established to identify and highlight philanthropists across Asia who have dedicated themselves to addressing social issues and advancing community values. In particular, the 2025 Asia Philanthropy Awards consolidated its previous five categories—Philanthropy of the Year, Public Merit, NPO, Social Innovation, and Fundraiser—into a single category, “Philanthropist,” thereby placing an even deeper focus on the values of sharing and dedication.

 

 

Professor Ahn, a specialist in nephrology, has devoted the past 28 years to serving communities marginalized from access to healthcare. Guided by the belief that “healthcare is a fundamental human right,” she has consistently worked to ensure essential health rights for those with limited access to medical services. Founded during the 1997 IMF financial crisis, the Raphael Clinic began as a small free clinic in the hallway of a high school in Seoul. Since then, it has grown into a leading private medical sharing platform, providing basic healthcare services to more than 350,000 migrants and multicultural families.

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In addition, through Raphael International, established in 2007, Professor Ahn has continuously led initiatives to strengthen the capacity of medical professionals in low-income Asian countries such as Mongolia and Myanmar. Based on partnerships with local public hospitals and medical schools, these efforts have trained more than 220 key healthcare professionals to date, laying the foundation for sustainable medical self-reliance in vulnerable regions. Capacity-building programs in the field of organ transplantation, driven by Professor Ahn’s expertise, have fostered the growth of local medical professionals and are now recognized as a representative success case of international medical cooperation in Asia.

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, in response to gaps in medical care caused by the designation of public hospitals as dedicated COVID-19 facilities, Professor Ahn established the “Raphael Nanum Homeless Clinic” at Myeongdong Cathedral. Through this clinic, primary care services, vaccinations, and health checkups were continuously provided to homeless individuals and low-income populations. She also founded the “Raphael Academy,” contributing to the creation of a sustainable ecosystem for medical sharing by nurturing healthcare professionals with strong expertise and a sense of responsibility.

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In her acceptance remarks, Professor Ahn stated, “Raphael Sharing is a collective effort made possible by the hearts and commitment of many people. I believe this award is an encouragement not only to the medical staff and volunteers who have walked this path together for the past 28 years, but also to the neighbors in need whom we serve.” She added, “I will continue to do my utmost to ensure that the true meaning of medical sharing reaches even more people.”