金学汎：“我在中国学中医，还要在中国当中医”

Introduction to the Character

Jin Xuefan, male, 32 years old, from Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. He is a master's student majoring in TCM Pediatrics at Hunan University of Chinese Medicine.

What he said
Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) is extensive and profound. I want to learn it with an exploratory attitude to contribute to children's health.

"Xiao Jin, come and try pulse diagnosis." At around 3 p.m. on July 16, in the consulting room of Professor Xie Jing, a TCM pediatric expert at the First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, there were many students observing and learning, and Jin Xuefan was among them. As a Korean, his East Asian features made him blend in well with the other students. Most of the time, he quietly observed the teacher's techniques, and only "stepped in" when instructed.

"The Wonderful Power of TCM Completely Conquered Me"

"I came to Beijing, China from Gyeonggi-do, South Korea when I was 14 years old to study, and now I'm a master's student majoring in TCM Pediatrics at Hunan University of Chinese Medicine," said Jin Xuefan, 32, who wears glasses and speaks in a soft voice.
"When I was a child, I was in poor health. The experience of hopping from one hospital to another with my parents planted a seed in my heart to explore life sciences," Jin Xuefan said. He has experienced pulse diagnosis, tuina, moxibustion, and cupping, all of which aroused his strong interest in TCM.
The key moment that made him determined to study TCM came in high school – under the treatment of a TCM practitioner, many symptoms of his congenital strabismus improved significantly. "After the college entrance examination, I resolutely applied for Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine," Jin said.
After starting to study TCM, Jin Xuefan realized that it was much more difficult than he had imagined. To keep up with his studies, he studied late every day. Faced with classic works like Huangdi Neijing(Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon) and Shanghan Zabing Lun(Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Diseases), he would record the class content with a recorder, then review it, look up words in the dictionary, and copy them repeatedly when encountering professional TCM terms related to acupoints, medicinal materials, and pathology. When learning techniques like acupuncture and tuina, he practiced on himself. To distinguish Chinese medicinal materials, he bought them and kept them in his dormitory to observe, record their characteristics, take notes, and watch related knowledge videos to deepen his impression.

His Love for Children Led Him to Choose TCM Pediatrics

With his passion for TCM, Jin Xuefan completed a 5-year undergraduate program at Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. In 2023, he came to Hunan University of Chinese Medicine to pursue a master's degree, choosing TCM Pediatrics as his major.

"Hunan has a profound cultural heritage in traditional Chinese medicine. I'm really lucky to be able to study authentic TCM in Changsha and research TCM pediatrics under famous Hunan TCM experts," Jin Xuefan said. He loves children very much, and when he sees them suffering from illness, he always wants to do something for them.

Jin Xuefan focuses not only on academic research but also on practice. He is currently undergoing rotational training at the First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine.

After arriving in Changsha, Jin Xuefan immediately fell in love with the city. "Changsha, a city of mountains, rivers and islands, has a profound historical heritage, stunning natural scenery, and mouthwatering cuisine," he said. He finds the people of Changsha very friendly, and it didn't take him long to integrate into the city. He also met several music-loving locals online and formed a band with them.

Want to Be a TCM Doctor in China
During his study of TCM, Jin Xuefan met a gentle and virtuous girl from Guizhou. In August 2023, they started a small family in Guiyang. In June 2025, they welcomed a beautiful "little princess".

"I live a happy life in China. My wife and child are my strongest support. I will continue on the path of learning TCM," Jin Xuefan said. After graduating from the master's program next year, he will take China's national TCM licensing examination. He plans to continue his studies here and hopes to become a TCM doctor in China in the future, exploring more possibilities for promoting children's health.