Foreigners rise to the challenge in Wuhan

Taste of home

On Lunar New Year's Eve in Wuhan, Lee Sang-ki, a plastic surgeon from South Korea, decided to cook fried chicken, as his favorite restaurant serving this dish was closed for the holiday. The crispy and appetizing delicacy, along with a can of beer, made his night.

Not as experienced with a spatula as with a scalpel, he overcooked some of the chicken, but despite this, he was happy to spend the night alone, because the food gave him a taste of home.

During the lockdown, Lee ordered fried chicken and beer online nearly every day.

"Lunar New Year is also an important festival in South Korea, and we normally celebrate it by sharing glutinous rice cakes and worshipping ancestors with family members," he said.

However, due to the pandemic, Lee was unable to fly home this year.

He began working as a plastic surgeon in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, in 2014. A year later, he arrived in Wuhan, encouraged by a friend who said the city had developed rapidly and offered numerous opportunities.

"At the time, I knew nothing about the city, and I was not fluent in Chinese. Initially, I ate hot dry noodles (a favorite dish in Wuhan) three times a day, because they taste good and are convenient," he said.

At the height of the pandemic in the city, Lee had three opportunities to return to South Korea on charter flights, but he chose to stay after learning that more than 100 of his compatriots in Wuhan had also decided against going home.

"I wanted to take care of my compatriots and Chinese in need," he said.

During the lockdown, he gave consultations and treatment to patients by video link or phone. He also sent requests for drugs to the South Korean consulate in Wuhan, which delivered them door to door by car.

"I was afraid at the start, but the spirit shown by people uniting to fight the virus gave me courage and confidence. My mother, who is 75, said she could not sleep. She called me several times a day, asking me to return home to South Korea, but I said that as a doctor, I wanted to contribute in Wuhan."

The hospital Lee works for was closed in January last year and reopened in May. He worked from home during this period.

"However, I did get time to take out my guitar, which was covered in dust, to learn some new chords," he said.

The hospital is now running smoothly, and all staff members are required to have nucleic acid tests before starting work.

Lee said he is worried about family members in South Korea, but he will remain working in Wuhan for the time being.

"The decisiveness of the Chinese government and the solidarity of the Chinese people are admirable, and everyone who has lived through this difficult time is a hero," he said.