A story interested me very much in the Yonhap News recently - Don't ask me what I was doing reading a South Korean newspaper, the web really is a wonderful place. I thought that I might bring it to the attention of an audience outside of Asia.

Anyway, I tried to summarise the story but they seem to have done a good job of making a concise and interesting article themselves so I have just copied it below.

Enjoy.

SEOUL, Dec. 11 (Yonhap) -- Two children from Inner Mongolia were recent recipients of free open-heart surgery in South Korea, a nonprofit organization based in Seoul said Monday.

The group Save the Children said doctors from Sejong General Hospital successfully completed surgical operations on the children, who had congenital heart disease.

One-year-old Du Jiale and 4-year-old Zhang Xinying, both from small villages in Wengniute County, Chifeng City, were born in impoverished families and were chosen for the free heart surgery.

"I cannot express how thankful I am. I will do my best bringing up the child," said Wang Chunxia, the mother of the year-old girl.

Zhang also gained a healthy color in her face and can now walk farther.

Their peasant families live in secluded villages in Inner Mongolia, which has a population of 400,000 and where more than half of the region is covered with sand dunes.

The families earn an average yearly income of US$500 and could not afford the surgery.

Children with congenital heart diseases can normally be cured by early surgery, but do not live long if not operated on at a proper time, the organization said.

After about a three-week stay in South Korea, Du and Zhang are expected to go back to their country on Tuesday.

Organizer Kim Young-il said, "They are perfectly cured. We will keep in touch with them and informed on how they are doing."
The Save the Child organization has provided free surgery for 42 children with congenital disease this year. It is also planning to assist five more children from Russia before the end of the year. The costs have been defrayed by fund raising and donations to the organization from local and overseas organizations.

The organization is registered as a nongovernmental organization with special consultative status with the United Nations' Economic and Social Council.