Keep Korea’s ALS(Lou Gehrig’s disease / 루게릭병)-Dedicated Hospital Running
This campaign is a joint initiative of Gfoundation and 승일희망재단 (the Seungil Hope Foundation).
A Message of Hope
Park Seung-il, once Korea’s youngest professional basketball coach, was diagnosed with ALS at just 31.
Though he lost the ability to move and speak, he declared:
His vision—to build a hospital for ALS patients—was carried forward by many, including his close partner Sean(션), who promised to continue this mission.
In 2025, that dream became reality with the opening of the first and only hospital in Korea dedicated to ALS and rare neuromuscular disease patients. And Gfoundation is honored to stand alongside this mission, ensuring patients and families receive the dignity and care they deserve.
Watch video to learn more about the Seungil Hope Foundation.
The Struggles of ALS Patients and Families
ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) and other severe neuromuscular disorders slowly strip away the ability to speak, move, and even breathe. Most patients in Korea depend on tracheostomy ventilators, feeding tubes, and constant infection control — care that requires trained hands around the clock.
Yet the reality is harsh:
💰 Caregiving costs: Private caregivers for long-term patients cost 4–5 million KRW ($3,000–$3,800) per month.
⚠️ Limited public aid: A pilot program offers up to 770,000 KRW ($590) to only 1,200 severe patients nationwide — far from covering the real cost.
🏥 No specialized facilities: With only one hospital in the entire country equipped for this care, many families search endlessly for help.
“I quit my job to care for my husband. The bills are more than we can handle.” — Caregiver in Korea
For many, even a simple cold can become life-threatening. Without access to specialized, continuous care, patients and their families face overwhelming despair.
A Hospital Built for Hope
In 2025, the first and only hospital in Korea dedicated to ALS opened its doors.
The Seungil Hope Nursing Hospital is the first and only long-term care facility in Korea dedicated 100% to ALS and severe neuromuscular disorder patients.
Here, patients receive:
- Comprehensive treatment from early consultation to long-term care
- 24-hour specialized nursing and caregiving
- Programs that restore dignity and daily life
- A community built on respect, trust, recovery, and empathy
More than a hospital—it is a beacon of hope.
The Systemic Challenges
Running such a hospital is a constant challenge because of Korea’s healthcare payment structure and limited public support:
Flat-rate daily reimbursement:
The national insurance system pays the same amount per day, regardless of the patient’s complexity or the intensity of medical services required. This makes it financially unsustainable to provide costly medical supplies, specialized nurses, and emergency response 24/7.
No public coverage for caregiving costs:
Families must cover 100% of caregiver wages, and when admitted to a long-term facility, government-funded home care services (vouchers) are discontinued. For most, this means paying for essential one-on-one care entirely out of pocket.
These are not optional services—they are matters of survival. But the current system leaves families with costs they cannot bear alone.
Why Your Help is Urgently Needed
The Seungil Hope Nursing Hospital — the first and only facility in Korea dedicated 100% to ALS and severe neuromuscular patients — was built to meet this urgent need.
But providing integrated 24/7 medical and caregiving services is both complex and costly.
Your gift directly helps to:
- Pay the salaries of trained caregivers and nurses
- Maintain ventilators, feeding systems, and other life-support equipment
- Fund rehabilitation, therapy, and emotional support programs
- Respond quickly to medical emergencies
This is not a burden patients and families can carry alone.
With your support, the hospital can remain a safe haven — where dignity, care, and hope never stop.
How To Take Part
Your gift sustains life-changing care for ALS patients and their families.
| Donate
- Become a Monthly Donor – Ensure 24/7 professional care never stops
- Make a One-Time Gift – Provide immediate relief to families in need
- Partner as a Church – Unite your congregation to live out Christ’s love
| Other Ways to Donate
- Zelle
ID: give@gfus.org
Name: Gfoundation
Memo: ALS
- Check
Pay to: Gfoundation
Address: 347 5th Ave. #807 New York, NY 10016
Memo: ALS Support
Join the Movement
Every day of care matters.
For some, it means the courage to face tomorrow.
For others, it means the chance to spend one more day with loved ones.
Together, we can turn faith into action and hope into reality—bringing dignity and care to ALS patients across Korea.
This campaign is a joint initiative of Gfoundation and the Seungil Hope Foundation (승일희망재단).
