The foreign ministry on Tuesday honored a South Korean nurse for her voluntary medical services and dedication to education in Malawi over the past 20 years. 

Baik Young-sim, 50, became the recipient of this year's "Lee Tae-seok Award," which Seoul's foreign ministry introduced last year to honor the late Catholic missionary and physician Lee Tae-seok. He devoted his life to helping people in South Sudan. 

Baik began her voluntary medical work in Kenya in 1990 and, after four years, moved to Malawi to set up a health care center and 200-bed hospital. 

"Beyond the medical services, she established a college of nursing in the African country to nurture medical staff there, which will serve as the basis for better services in the future.

She continues her work while struggling against thyroid cancer," a foreign ministry official said, explaining the reasons for the conferment.

The award aims to encourage South Koreans to expand overseas aid missions and pay tribute to the spirit of the late priest Lee, according to the ministry.

(Yonhap News)