Choi Young-deok retired from his pharmacy business in 2015, passing it on to his children. However, eight years later, upon learning that Korea’s westernmost island with around 5,000 residents lacked a pharmacy, he felt compelled to return to his profession.
Driven by a clear goal, he donned his old white lab coat and set out for Baengnyeong Island.
Now, at 75, Choi finds fulfillment in more than just personal satisfaction. He plans to continue serving as a local pharmacist on the island for as long as his health allows, viewing it as his true vocation.
“I didn’t start this business for financial gain. My goal was simply to help the people of Baengnyeong Island. Seeing them take the medicine I provide and recover brings me immense satisfaction,” said Choi, who now operates the island’s sole drug store called Jongno Pharmacy.
The island’s last pharmacy closed in April 2022. Originally opened in 2004, it had several changes in ownership over the years before closing permanently without a buyer.
Without a functioning pharmacy, islanders with minor ailments had to travel to Baengnyeong Hospital or a national public health center for simple medications. This process was 커뮤니티 cumbersome and time-consuming compared to the convenience of a local pharmacist who would provide both medication and personal advice, especially to the elderly residents.
Choi opened Jongno Pharmacy on the island in April 2023, and it has since thrived, with 20 to 30 visitors daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., excluding Sunday afternoons. Given the island’s aging population, most visitors come with neuralgia and gastrointestinal issues.
He wasn’t immune to age-related risks. Acute pneumonia struck him in March after enduring a cold island winter without adequate heating in the pharmacy. He closed the store for a month for surgery and reopened in May, subsequently hiring an employee.
“I’ll stay with the people of this island as long as my health allows me to run this pharmacy,” he said.