보건복지부 영문홈페이지

Tan Hui-Linn, a Malaysian girl with burn injuries on face, has her face and dream restored in Korea

- The girl visited Korea and is receiving cosmetic surgery for burns as part of the medical service share project, called “Medical Korea”-

Ministry of Health and Welfare (Minister Rim, Chae Min) reported that a 19-year-old girl named Tan Hui-Linn who was all over the Malaysian media for serious burn injuries on her face had been invited to Korea to receive plastic surgery at a Korean medical institution (JK Plastic Surgery Center located in Sinsa-dong, Kangnam-gu, Seoul)..

The life of this Malaysian girl full of dreams for the future was turned upside down by a terrible incident that happened on 24 Oct. 09.

On that day, her father who had mental illness sprinkled hydrochloric acid on his wife who was sleeping, which caused her to die. Tan Hui-Linn who was sleeping next to her mother was also greatly damaged by it that in an instant she lost one of her eyes and suffered serious burns on her face, which made her face almost unrecognizable, as well as on her chest, belly, legs, etc.

Two years after this terrible incident, Tan Hui-Linn finally forgave her father who is currently in prison and is preparing to step into the society by resuming her study. She has even been admitted to Sunway College that offers pre-university courses for Australian universities as a scholarship student.    

Although the scars were healed, she was still in distress because of her deformed face, not being able to avoid the attention and curious look from others.   

YB Jeff Ooi, a parliament member in the district where Tan Hui-Linn lives, held a fundraising campaign to help her out and was searching for a medical institution where she could receive cosmetic surgery in Malaysia.

Then, he found out about a charity program carried out by JK Plastic Surgery Center in Korea, “New Face New Dream” and contacted the center. After having several video meetings and reviewing its medical records, he decided to have the girl receive surgery at JK Plastic Surgery Center.

Tan Hui-Linn and six more people including YB Jeff Ooi came to Korea on 13 Dec. 2011 and they will stay until 3 Jan. 2012. 

Tan Hui-Linn will be receiving the first surgery around her eyebrows and eyes as well as lower lips and chin with several more rounds of surgery to follow.

- She will stay behind in Korea for a good period of time to check progress after surgery even after the other people go back to their home country. (Her departure date will be determined after surgery)

The visitors are traveling and staying in Korea at their own expenses and JK Plastic Surgery Center will cover the expenses required for surgeries and the girl’s stay in Korea afterwards. Other expenses including medical care, tour, etc will be aided by Medical Korea Share Project.

An official from Ministry of Health and Welfare said, “It is such a great delight to be able to give this young Malaysian girl “new face and new hope” with Korea’s excellent plastic surgery skills.”  

He also emphasized that as Korea was able to grow with help and support from other countries, now, the nation should be sharing its highly developed medical skills and technology with the underprivileged in other countries, which would serve the true purpose of Medical Korea project and the “spirit of sharing.”