Korean Lepr Bull.  2022 Dec;55(1):.

Microhistorical Approach of the Self-respect of Hansen’s Disease patient through Testament of Mr. Kim Jeong-hee in National Sorokdo Hospital

• Chae GT

Abstract

This work explores how Mr. Kim Jeong-hee who is a person affected by leprosy[(Hansen’s Disease)] established self-respect and self-esteem, self-actualization, and self-love during 1935 to present 2021 with text of his oral documents published by Sorokdo Hospital 2019. Ten years old boy Kim Jeong-hee born in Yeongheung, Hamkyungnamdo, northern Korea in year of 1925 fight against leprosy without loss of self-respect. He kept and developed his self-respect and self-esteem during three years of vagabond beggar in South Korea, and compulsory admission to Sorokdo Leprosarium, and settlement villages started in 1953. Two times of slanders and accusation against him proved not guilty in the settlement villages Seonghaewon, Meongjinwon, and Seongsimwon, but it resulted in sending him and his wife by compulsory transfer to Sorokdo Hospital by staff of Seongsimwon at Sancheong county in 1970. As a farmer he harvested garlic more than double of other farmer’s yield at Sorokdo. Other villagers including protestant headman accused him to denial of having 70 briquets which they insisted to offer him, later it turned out Mr. Kim was not guilty. Village court judged that they bore false witness against Mr. Kim. He and his wife were famous of happy together. Mrs. Kim worked as a teacher of elementary school at Sorokdo and a nurse-aid. After he lost his wife and got worse of vision, he was sent to ward of Sorokdo Hospital. He stated his life and experiences in life cycle of PALS in Korea. His witness gave us a deep insight on an accident of homicide of 84 persons after the Independence Day at Sorokdo Hospital 1945, and during Korean War, and other troubles which happened at Sorokdo Hospital.

Keyword

Leprosy; Hansen’s Disease; PALs; microhistory; National Sorokdo Hospital; Self- esteem; Self-respect; Self-love; Oral history