Dr. Kang Young-woo is a well-known person, partly because he is the first blind to got a doctorate degree and partly because he has been actively in public service internationally.
He graduated from Yonsei University in 1972 and flew to the U.S. with his wife, Suk Eun-ok. In 1976, he became the first blind doctor in Korea, and from 1979 to 1993 he worked as an adjunct Professor of Special Education in Northeastern Illinois University.
Currently, his name is found in "Who's Who in the World" in 2001.
The Argus interviewed Dr. Kang to introduce his academic works and find out information which hasn't been reported in public.

Reporter: Dr. Kang, you were taught with much care from your parents and they educated all of their children in a christian way.
From a specialist's point of view, how would you characterize their education?
Kang Young-woo: I would say that my parents taught me in a very sensible way. Especially, my mother always taught me "The Ten Commandments" and the correct formation of character. It helped my character-building a lot and I applied her way of teaching to my two sons.
R: Your eye-sight started to be weakend during the adolescence and you lived with amblyopia for about 5 years.
What did you feel and think during the period?
K: Postnatal blind people suffer more psychologically than congenital blind people. In my case, it was a little bit complicated because the problem with the eyes started in the adolescence. The eye-sight got worse very slowly and it gave me sadness.

R: I have heard that you take an active part in the Special Education. It might be not very well-known to the ordinary people.
Would you explain briefly what the Special Esucation is and what have you been carrying out in the academic field?
K: The Special Education is about an unique education to students who deserve the fulfillment of their own needs. For example, any disabled child may have an unusual way to learning things because he or she is handicapped. Also, it is designed to educate gifted children.
We may subdivide the Education into three parts, - intellectual sector, righteousness sector and psychological sector. The academic field may serve as a tool for cultivating intellectual sphere, rightness sphere and psychological sphere. I focus on the rightness sphere, especially on the education of behavior and one's values.

R: Also, you focus on political measures of disabled people in the U.S.
Would you explain about what you do in that field?
K: My responsibility is to improve policies of disabled people, in National Council on Disability. As an appointee of President of the U.S., George W. Bush, I evaluate whether present laws are well carried out or not and if there is a problem I give advice and try to solve the problem.

R: Lastly, what would you like to say to students?
K: There exists a close relation between personal ambition and success. Please, do not forget that winners are the people who do not give up during the hard times. Set an example to yourself and in any circumstances do not give up your beautiful dream.