South Sudanese Doctors Continue Father Lee's Mission

[From the Archives: Lives Lost on This Day] Inspired by Father Lee, South Sudanese Doctors Pass Exams, Honouring His Legacy in Education and Healthcare

In October 2006, Father Lee Tae-seok (1962–2010) spoke to the Chosun Ilbo about his life in Tonj, South Sudan. It was his fifth year serving there, about three years before his passing.

“In Sudan, you have to give everything from the moment you open your eyes in the morning until you go to sleep. There have been countless times when I felt completely drained. Yet, thinking that these people are the ‘least of these’ whom Jesus spoke of, I start another day.”

The article introduced Father Lee’s unique career path as a doctor who became a priest.

“After completing his internship at a medical school (Inje University) and serving as a military doctor, he chose the path of a priest. His connection to Sudan began during a visit to Kenya on a break while studying at the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome.” (October 26, 2006, page A23)

Father Lee Tae-seok, who stayed in Kenya and later visited South Sudan, decided to remain in the region after witnessing people living in misery due to a civil war that had lasted over 20 years. He treated patients dying from lack of proper medical care, formed a brass band with local youth, taught mathematics, and played soccer together. In an interview, he said, “I feel a sense of fulfillment and inspiration seeing their eagerness to learn.”

In May 2009, he published a book titled *Would You Be My Friend?* (Sungsil Christian Life), documenting his life in South Sudan. He said, “When I face hardships, I think, ‘If Jesus were born in Sudan in this era, what miracles would He perform?’ I believe persistent patience is the best weapon.”

“Through this process, Father Lee himself grew in spirituality. The book is filled with proverbs. ‘Unlike worldly math, where dividing one thing into ten reduces it to a tenth, heavenly math multiplies it into “thousands” or “ten thousands.” “Troublemakers are like sandbags athletes tie to their legs. Though running with them is tiring, just as sandbags build calf muscles, they build our patience.” (May 22, 2009, page A19)

Father Lee was already diagnosed with colon cancer at this time. He passed away at 5:35 a.m. on January 14, 2010, seven months after publishing the book. A documentary film about his life in Tonj, *Don’t Cry, Tonj*, was released in September. The film was watched by 350,000 people within five months and was screened at the Vatican, later dubbed into English, French, Spanish, German, and Portuguese.

The seeds Father Lee sowed bore fruit. Thomas Taban Yacco and John Mayen Ruben, who came to Korea at his urging and studied at Inje University School of Medicine, passed the 67th specialist qualification exam in 2024. Thomas became a surgeon, and John an internal medicine specialist.

“Thomas even placed a graduation cap on Father Lee’s bust at Inje University. He said, ‘After placing the cap and kneeling before the bust, tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. I also thought, how happy Father Lee would have been.’” (February 24, 2024, page A1)

Father Lee’s life was included in South Sudan’s primary and secondary school textbooks in 2018. The South Sudanese government posthumously awarded him the Presidential Medal, the first time the honor was given to a foreigner.

• This article has been translated by Upstage Solar AI. 원문보기 (View Original Korean Article)

Source: https://www.chosun.com/english/travel-food-en/2026/01/14/DE2PBUAU7NGC5BJ2I3RJYA7XGA/