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
Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to the foreign policy line of his country in a diplomatic meeting on January 15. He
January 22, 2026
Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to the foreign policy line of his country in a diplomatic meeting on January 15. He
With contagious diseases breaking out one after another across the world, a flu epidemic is rapidly spreading. The World Health
January 22, 2026
With contagious diseases breaking out one after another across the world, a flu epidemic is rapidly spreading. The World Health
Mountain villages in Jagang Province are turning into a fairyland. House-moving in Puji-ri of Songgan County, Ryongmun-ri of
January 22, 2026
Mountain villages in Jagang Province are turning into a fairyland. House-moving in Puji-ri of Songgan County, Ryongmun-ri of
A new catalyst production base has been built at the Namhung Youth Chemical Complex. The catalyst production base is another
January 22, 2026
A new catalyst production base has been built at the Namhung Youth Chemical Complex. The catalyst production base is another
With the implementation of the Regional Development 20x10 Policy of the Workers’ Party of Korea, regional-industry factories are
January 22, 2026
With the implementation of the Regional Development 20x10 Policy of the Workers’ Party of Korea, regional-industry factories are
The Youth Movement Museum marked the tenth anniversary of its founding. The respected fatherly Marshal Kim Jong Un personally
January 22, 2026
The Youth Movement Museum marked the tenth anniversary of its founding. The respected fatherly Marshal Kim Jong Un personally
It has been ten years since the Youth Movement Museum was opened to public to convey the Workers' Party of Korea's idea of
January 22, 2026
It has been ten years since the Youth Movement Museum was opened to public to convey the Workers' Party of Korea's idea of
Dmitri Medvedev, vice-chairman of the Security Council of Russia, posted an article on an SNS on January 12 to deride the US’ atte
January 21, 2026
Dmitri Medvedev, vice-chairman of the Security Council of Russia, posted an article on an SNS on January 12 to deride the US’ atte
Russia decided to deport a diplomat of the British embassy in the country. On January 15, the Russian Foreign Ministry called the
January 21, 2026
Russia decided to deport a diplomat of the British embassy in the country. On January 15, the Russian Foreign Ministry called the
Spectacular scenes of rural development have unfolded at several farms in Kangwon Province. Newly-built public and production
January 21, 2026
Spectacular scenes of rural development have unfolded at several farms in Kangwon Province. Newly-built public and production
The Academy of Forest Science has been built on a modern basis. The academy has all facilities and conditions, including an office
January 21, 2026
The Academy of Forest Science has been built on a modern basis. The academy has all facilities and conditions, including an office
The case of poisoning of Emperor Kojong is recorded as one of the violations of the sovereignty of Korea committed by the Japanese
January 21, 2026
The case of poisoning of Emperor Kojong is recorded as one of the violations of the sovereignty of Korea committed by the Japanese
Over the past five years since the Eighth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea, a new era of overall development has been
January 21, 2026
Over the past five years since the Eighth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea, a new era of overall development has been
A croaker pedigree farm has been built at the Ongjin West Sea Fish Farm. The pedigree farm has an office building, welfare
January 21, 2026
A croaker pedigree farm has been built at the Ongjin West Sea Fish Farm. The pedigree farm has an office building, welfare
The Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea sent a congratulatory message to the 14th Congress of the Communist Party of
January 21, 2026
The Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea sent a congratulatory message to the 14th Congress of the Communist Party of
The Ryongsong Machine Complex, where a flaming torch was lit to create the Chollima spirit in the new era, has turned into a
January 20, 2026
The Ryongsong Machine Complex, where a flaming torch was lit to create the Chollima spirit in the new era, has turned into a
Comrades,I express gratitude to the workers of Ryongsong, teachers and researchers from Kim Chaek University of Technology and Pyo
January 20, 2026
Comrades,I express gratitude to the workers of Ryongsong, teachers and researchers from Kim Chaek University of Technology and Pyo
The Mexican President said in a press conference on January 13 that her country would maintain a foreign policy based on equality
January 20, 2026
The Mexican President said in a press conference on January 13 that her country would maintain a foreign policy based on equality
The ideal socialist villages indicative of the Korean-style civilization of the countryside sprang up at the Chollisong Farm in
January 20, 2026
The ideal socialist villages indicative of the Korean-style civilization of the countryside sprang up at the Chollisong Farm in
The participants in the celebrations of the 80th founding anniversary of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League toured Pyongyang.
January 20, 2026
The participants in the celebrations of the 80th founding anniversary of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League toured Pyongyang.
More Articles