February 20, 2026Feb 20, 2026
KCNA Pyongyang Times

Blind man works his way through college to become doctor

Date: 25/09/2020 | Source: Pyongyang Times | Read original version at source

There is a doctor who has special skills in treating the diseases in the nervous and digestive systems at the massage treatment department of the Nampho City Koryo Medicine Hospital.

His name is Choe Song Hyok, and he is blind.

“It will be probably hard to believe that a man with visual impairment has mastered the world of medical sciences. But Choe did it,” said Jin Yong Chol, director of the hospital.

Choe Song Hyok suffered from high myopia since his childhood and it got worse a year before he graduated from the middle school to nearly loss of his eyesight.

It was a despairing attack to him as he cherished a dream of becoming an artist.

But his teacher and classmates of the school gave him hope for the future.

His name was still on the list of roll book though he lost his eyesight and he could go on with his study with the help of them.

As he learned braille points at a factory for persons with visual impairment after graduating from the middle school, he came to have a firm conviction about his future.

Later, he attended a school under the Ministry of Public Health. The teaching staff and students paid special attention to him as it was the first time for the visually-impaired man to enter the school .

He came to know that he could give simple massage treatment with the help of finger sense and auditory sense. So he studied hard to graduate the course with top honour.

With fervour for learning, he went on with his study at Nampho College of Medical Sciences.

At the college he acquired the traditional therapy of his own style that can diagnose the patients’ disease symptoms by consultation, tapping and sense of finger and give rational treatment. He also learned acupuncture, moxibustion and massage.

“The most irritating thing was that I only had to listen to the explanations of lecturers without looking during lessons. Classmates explained the words written on the blackboard and lecturers held my hand and put my finger on the positions of muscles, the disposition of the human skeleton and acupoints one by one,” said Song Hyok.

He recalled that during his college days many lecturers and classmates served as his eyes.

Choe Song Hyok presented an essay titled “Clinical study for the treatment of haemorrhoidal bleeding by massaging” to the fourth national symposium on massage medical science and won high appreciation.

More From Pyongyang Times

Fifth-stage construction of Hwasong area begins with grand ceremony

Fifth-stage construction of Hwasong area begins with grand ceremony

A ceremony of great significance was held in the area of Hwasong in Pyongyang, well known as an epitome representing socialist

February 19, 2026

A ceremony of great significance was held in the area of Hwasong in Pyongyang, well known as an epitome representing socialist

Ceremony of presenting 600mm-calibre multiple rocket launchers held

Ceremony of presenting 600mm-calibre multiple rocket launchers held

The workers in the munitions industry of the DPRK are providing a sure guarantee for a continuous development and radical dramatic

February 19, 2026

The workers in the munitions industry of the DPRK are providing a sure guarantee for a continuous development and radical dramatic

Soldier-builders and youth shock brigade members tour Pyongyang

Soldier-builders and youth shock brigade members tour Pyongyang

Soldier-builders and youth shock brigade members, who are spending significant days in Pyongyang after building an ideal farm town

February 19, 2026

Soldier-builders and youth shock brigade members, who are spending significant days in Pyongyang after building an ideal farm town

Performances of participants in People's Art Festival given

Performances of participants in People's Art Festival given

Performances of participants in the Third People's Art Festival were given in different parts of the country on February 16 to

February 19, 2026

Performances of participants in the Third People's Art Festival were given in different parts of the country on February 16 to

Delegates to Ninth WPK Congress visit Kumsusan Palace of Sun

Delegates to Ninth WPK Congress visit Kumsusan Palace of Sun

Delegates to the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun where President Kim Il Sung

February 19, 2026

Delegates to the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun where President Kim Il Sung

Russian representative censures West for misusing UNSC as tool

Russian representative censures West for misusing UNSC as tool

The Russian permanent representative to the United Nations criticized Western countries for abusing the UNSC in putting pressure

February 18, 2026

The Russian permanent representative to the United Nations criticized Western countries for abusing the UNSC in putting pressure

Chinese FM demands Japan's soul-searching

Chinese FM demands Japan's soul-searching

A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry denounced Japan for not honestly and sincerely approaching its history of aggression,

February 18, 2026

A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry denounced Japan for not honestly and sincerely approaching its history of aggression,

Russian FM refers to orientation of diplomacy

Russian FM refers to orientation of diplomacy

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov mentioned the orientation of the country’s diplomatic work in a video speech on February

February 17, 2026

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov mentioned the orientation of the country’s diplomatic work in a video speech on February

Hungary demands EU enforce sanctions against Ukraine

Hungary demands EU enforce sanctions against Ukraine

The Hungarian minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade criticized the forced army recruitment which is being enforced in Ukraine with

February 17, 2026

The Hungarian minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade criticized the forced army recruitment which is being enforced in Ukraine with

Lunar New Year holiday custom of Korean people

Lunar New Year holiday custom of Korean people

Lunar New Year’s Day is one of the greatest national folk holidays of the Korean people. From ancient times, each family cleaned

February 17, 2026

Lunar New Year’s Day is one of the greatest national folk holidays of the Korean people. From ancient times, each family cleaned

Saeppyol Street inaugurated with splendour

Saeppyol Street inaugurated with splendour

Saeppyol Street has made an imposing appearance in an excellent location in the Hwasong area of Pyongyang, the capital of the

February 16, 2026

Saeppyol Street has made an imposing appearance in an excellent location in the Hwasong area of Pyongyang, the capital of the

Congratulatory group of Koreans in Japan arrives in Pyongyang

Congratulatory group of Koreans in Japan arrives in Pyongyang

A congratulatory group of Koreans in Japan led by Ko Tok U, chairman of the Tokyo Metropolitan Headquarters of the General

February 16, 2026

A congratulatory group of Koreans in Japan led by Ko Tok U, chairman of the Tokyo Metropolitan Headquarters of the General

Chinese FM rejects reckless remarks of Japanese prime minister

Chinese FM rejects reckless remarks of Japanese prime minister

A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry rejected the reckless remarks of the Japanese prime minister at a press conference on

February 16, 2026

A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry rejected the reckless remarks of the Japanese prime minister at a press conference on

More Articles