Bucheon, South Korea – November 12, 2025 – Bucheon St. Mary’s Hospital’s Hospice and Palliative Care Center is marking three decades of compassionate end-of-life care, offering a haven of dignity and support for patients and their families. The center, established in 1995, has become a regional leader in holistic hospice services, addressing not only physical needs but also the emotional, spiritual, and financial burdens faced during life’s final stages.
for 30 years, the center has pioneered a patient-centered approach, recognizing the importance of quality of life even as medical options diminish. This commitment extends beyond medical treatment to encompass programs designed to foster peace and connection, including music, art, and horticultural therapy, alongside personalized services like family photo sessions and the creation of ‘Joint Hands’ plaster keepsakes. Recognizing the financial strain often accompanying serious illness, the center also provides assistance wiht medical, nursing, and funeral expenses for patients in need.
Spiritual Vice Director Father kim Beom-jun (John the Baptist) emphasized the center’s enduring mission: “We will continue to strive to ensure that each patient can fulfill the meaning of life through love and care while protecting human dignity until the end.” This philosophy is reinforced through ongoing bereavement family meetings, a cornerstone of the center’s holistic treatment model.
Bucheon St. Mary’s Hospital, a Catholic institution, established the Hospice and Palliative Care Center in response to a growing need for specialized care for individuals facing terminal illnesses. The center’s services are available to patients nonetheless of religious affiliation. Reporter Park Joo-hyeon of Catholic Times contributed to this report. (ogoya@catimes.kr)
