appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Zoey Zhang

A 93-year-old school principal in South Korea who is known for her radiant skin, sharp mind and tireless passion for work, has shared tips for staying youthful.
A recent video from Gachon University in Seongnam, a city in the country’s most populous province of Gyeonggi, has gone viral for highlighting its president, Lee Gil-ya.
Born in 1932, Lee speaks confidently about artificial intelligence, showcasing both insight and energy.

Lee has often made headlines for her age-defying youthful appearance.
In 2023, she danced with students at a university festival, earning loud cheers from the crowd.
In an interview with Chosun Daily, Lee said her secret to staying young is “consistently doing very ordinary things”.
She sticks to a strict routine, avoids alcohol and smoking, drinks tea instead of coffee, and makes sure to stay hydrated by consuming 1.5 litres of water a day.
A humidifier runs constantly in her room.

“Avoid stimulants and do not stress too much,” said Lee.
She also receives regular laser treatments at a dermatology clinic.
As a child, Lee saw many poor people die without proper medical care, which inspired her to become a doctor.
Online sources show that she graduated from Seoul National University College of Medicine and later studied in the United States and Japan.
In 1958, she opened a gynaecology clinic and introduced a no-deposit policy to support patients who could not afford treatment.

Known for her care and attention, Lee would warm her stethoscope with body heat to avoid startling patients with cold metal.
She often reminded young doctors and students to “treat patients with your heart and practise medicine with compassion”.
One of South Korea’s first female doctors, Lee founded Gil Hospital in 1978 and later opened Gachon Medical School at the age of 65, offering free tuition and housing.
She went on to merge several schools into Gachon University, where she has served as president since 2012.
Now leading the country’s largest public interest foundation, Lee is known for her charitable work, including free heart surgery for 432 children from 17 countries and free uterine cancer examinations for women.

In 2013, Forbes named her one of Asia’s 48 “Heroes of Philanthropy”.
Lee has never married and has no children.
“My patients and students are my husband and children,” she said.
Lee’s story has resonated on social media.
One online observer said: “We should learn from Lee. Those who live selflessly stay forever young, both inside and out.”
Another person wrote: “Her real achievement is not just looking young. Born in a time when women were expected to marry, she chose education, built hospitals, and devoted herself to teaching. That is truly inspiring.”


Japan’s viral property agents get weird

Should heavy-duty drones be used to rescue China’s flood victims?

In Malaysia, viral shoe-sniffing video sparks stalking arrest

Singapore catches e-bike rider in viral ‘Superman’ stunt video

Viral stories

‘Secret to eternal youth’: Korean school principal, 93, shares tips for staying young

A 93-year-old South Korean school principal has shared  her tips for staying young and healthy. Photo: SCMP composite/Sohu/Naver


Lee Gil-ya, 93, could easily be mistaken for a woman half that age. Photo: 163.com

Lee as a young child. The now school principal and philanthropist was born in 1932. Photo: 163.com

Lee, second from left, pictured with colleagues when she was a young doctor. Photo: 163.com

As well as South Korea, Lee studied in Japan and in the United States. She has never married. Photo: 163.com

‘Age is just a number’: China grandma, 71, comes third in fitness contest, shares health tips

A 71-year-old Chinese grandmother has come third in a fitness contest after foll0wing a strict and demanding fitness regime.
Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin/Jimu

Sun Minghui, who won a bronze medal in the contest, was the oldest person taking part. Photo: ctdsb.net

Sun follows a strict training regime and pays close attention to what she eats to stay fit. Photo: ctdsb.net

Sun on her bicycle. The 71-year-old set a Guinness World Record with her teammates by cycling across China. Photo: ctdsb.net

8 million Chinese viewers moved by boy, 6, who operates crane for acrobat parents in rain

Eight million online viewers have been moved by a six-year-old boy in China who operates a crane for his acrobatic parents. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

Six-year-old Xie Yule prepares to lift his mother and father into the air so that their performance can begin. Photo: QQ.com

The youngster is a picture of concentration as he manipulates the controls of the hydraulic crane. Photo: QQ.com

Flying high: Yule’s parents perform their acrobatic routine in the pouring rain. Photo: QQ.com

Chinese fishing fan hangs big catch from car while driving, is slapped with fine

A Chinese fishing enthusiast has been slapped with a fine after he attached a huge fish he had caught from the back of his car as a trophy. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

The keen angler tied the huge fish to the back of his vehicle using rope. Photo: Baidu

The fisherman said his family ate the whole thing after making into fish balls. Photo: Shutterstock

China has strict rules when it comes to hanging objects outside vehicles. Photo: Shutterstock 

‘Shameless’ China couple arrested for printing fake banknotes, using them at local markets

A husband and wife in China have been arrested for printing counterfeit banknotes and passing them off to traders at local markets. Photo: SCMP composite/Sohu/CCTV

The police seized a printer, paper cutters, and ink when they raided the couple’s home. Photo: CCTV

Investigators also discovered piles of genuine banknotes when they searched the premises. Photo: CCTV

The scammers targeted local markets and disguised themselves in a bid to avoid detection. Photo: CCTV

China doctor tells lethargic, anaemic women to look at muscular men for mood boost

A doctor in China has suggested that women who suffer from lethargy or blood deficiencies should look at muscular men to boost their mood. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock

Gynaecologist He Zhenye offers advice on women’s health on social media, where he has more than 133,000 followers. Photo: 163.com

He says images like the one above can help women who suffer from insomnia and fatigue from overwork. Photo: 163.com

Women online have given the gynaecologist’s muscular men advice the thumbs up. Photo: Shutterstock

News

People & Culture

Clean-living, single nonagenarian with no kids stays forever young by ‘doing ordinary things’, says patients, students are her ‘husband and children’


Clean-living, single nonagenarian with no kids stays forever young by ‘doing ordinary things’, says patients, students are her ‘husband and children’.


South Korea

Beauty

Health & Fitness

‘Secret to eternal youth’: Korean school principal, 93, shares tips for staying young

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Clean-living, single nonagenarian with no kids stays forever young by ‘doing ordinary things’, says patients, students are her ‘husband and children’

Clean-living, single nonagenarian with no kids stays forever young by ‘doing ordinary things’, says patients, students are her ‘husband and children’