The Story of Ahn Jihyung

One night in October, about ten years ago, a high-schooler was hit by a speeding car when he was walking at a cross walk. With a thump, he flew 37 meters. He was seriously wounded and was taken to the hospital immediately. He went into a coma for three months, and the doctors said that even if he came out alive, he would remain in a vegetative state.     

However, he was robed in a ceremonial gown for his commencement at Hannam University on February 11, 2011. His name is Ahn Jihyung. He received his bachelor’s degree in social work. Behind this miraculous drama, we find the great maternal love of his mother.

Although Jihyung was diagnosed with a brain lesion after several operations and two brain surgeries, his mother did not give up on her son and helped him to start studying. The fact that he was not able to go back to school -- as he was chair-bound and inarticulate in his speech, and was unable to use his arm freely -- made his life hopeless. But, his mom gave him books and a laptop computer to encourage him to continue studying and communicating with others when he was still in the hospital. She thought that was the real rehabilitation.

He could finally leave the hospital in a wheel chair after four years of hospitalization. However, he could not go back to high school, since the facilities for the disabled were not fully equipped. Eventually, he took qualification examinations for high school graduation and college entrance and passed them. After he visited several universities in Daejeon to find a well-equipped place for the handicapped with his mother, he entered Hannam University in March 2007.   

From then on, the mother and the son always went to school together for four years. They used the van that Daejeon city offers for the disabled when they went to school.

Even though he was in a motorized wheelchair, his mother was needed to help seat him in a chair in the classroom. Sometimes, she took notes on a lecture or other important things instead of her son, who is slower in writing than other students.   

At first, it was hard for him to make friends, and sometimes he felt lonely because he thought he was left out. But, soon he became friends with his classmates, participating in a camp and having lunch with them. His friends lent their arms to him and also helped him in his studies.

Jonyun Kim, a professor at the Department of Social Welfare said, “Being with Ahn would make his classmates learn and feel a lot of things. I am so happy to see him graduating, who has overcome many difficulties.”  

Moreover, Ahn not only studied hard, but also challenged himself to get certified. He now has a level-two social worker certification, word processor certification, and geriatric care helper certification, and is still trying for more certifications. His dream is to become a social worker who is helping others at a social welfare organization. This is why he majored in social work. Also, he likes writing, and he wants to write a novel or game scenarios.

He said, “Sometimes I did not consider that I can help others, but I’ve realized that there are people who suffer more than I do. I cannot help them physically, but mentally I can.”

Ahn, who has achieved the miracle that is graduating college, now dreams of the second miracle. That is walking by himself without his mother’s help. “If I had no physical disability, it would be comfortable. But, I’d better accept it and want to do my best in my life,” said Ahn.

His mother also advises for the youth handicapped. “It is too bad to see handicapped young people who give up efforts for rehabilitation and studies. They might be slower than others, but as long as you don't give up hope, you can do anything."

To surprise his mother, Mrs. Yoon, Hannam University gave her a ‘Great Mother’ prize as well as an honorary diploma at the 2010 graduation ceremony. It was a gift from the department of social work to her who has almost attended university for four years with her son. 


-- Translated by Yeseul Park