Soo Woong Hong M.D.

Soo Woong Hong, MD (홍수웅), surgeon specializing in plastic, reconstructive and hand surgery, passed away on Monday, February 1, 2021, a few days before his 85th birthday. He battled COVID-19 for two weeks while receiving the best of care at Emory Johns Creek Hospital while under the care of their exceptional team of medical professionals. Dr. Hong is remembered for his microvascular finger replantations and facial reconstructive surgery helping thousands of patients recovering from traumatic accidents, skin cancer extractions and birth defects in the New York Capital District where he practiced for over 30 years.

The youngest of seven children, he was born in South Korea. He received his medical degree on a full academic scholarship from The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine in Seoul. Upon emigrating to the US on a professional visa, he received his surgical training which included residency at NYU and Louisville's Kleinert Kutz Hand Care Center. He established a private practice at St. Mary's Hospital in Troy, NY where he served as chief of plastic surgery in the 1980s. He received awards in recognition of his contributions to the upstate New York community from the Seton Health System and The Korean Association of Albany. He retired in 2008 to enjoy traveling with his wife and friends, to spend time with his children and grandchildren, with his church congregation and to enjoy the outdoors playing golf.

He passed loving his wife of 55 years, Young Sook Hong, MD, whom he met while serving as a senior resident in her surgical rotation internship in Seoul. He was a proud father of his four daughters and sons-in-law: Tina and Chris Wunderlich, MD, Louisville, KY; Mia and Michael Cha, Scarsdale, NY; Jeana and John Oh, New York, NY; and Alex and Chris Stein, Brooklyn, NY. In Heaven, he joins his twin sons, Joseph and Tony, born prematurely in 1970. He cherished his six beautiful grandchildren: Bryce, Otto, Madeline, Samantha, Hugo and Teddy Juntak.

He is survived in the US and South Korea by his sister Eun Ok Kim, her daughters, Terri Chong, Mimi Sugai, Gina Carey and her son Steve Kim; his sister Danette Lee and her sons Allen Lee and Brian Lee; his nephew, nieces and cousins: Seong Lee, MD and his wife HaeYoung Kim, Sul Lee, SangMin Park, leean Park, Hwon Lee, Deuk Kyoung Oum, Eden Lee Oum, JongRye Lee, DaeJin Hong, SunOk Noh, SeonYoung Hong, Seona Song, YuKyung Hong; his brother-in-law Young Chul Lee and his wife Seung Ok, their children Ann and Albert Lim, Hannah Lee, their grandchildren Dongjoon and Juha; and his extended family in Albany, NY, the Castle family: Susan Salisbury, Davia Mancini, Mildred Ann Rarick and William Castle.

Dr. Hong was cremated on February 9 in a private ceremony. Once the pandemic subsides, his family will celebrate his life in New York City on a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made on his memorial website:

https://everloved.com/life-of/soo-woong-hong-md/