Professor Yoon Moo-boo, Famed 'Bird Doctor,' Passes Away at 84

Professor Yoon Moo-boo, widely known as the 'Bird Doctor' for his role in introducing bird ecology to the public, has passed away at the age of 84.

According to his family, Professor Yoon died at 12:01 a.m. on August 15 at Kyung Hee Medical Center. He had suffered a stroke in 2006 but recovered through rehabilitation. Unfortunately, his illness recurred in June this year, leading to a prolonged battle that ultimately ended with his passing.

Born in Jangseungpo-eup, Tongyeong County, Gyeongnam Province (now Jangseungpo-dong, Geoje City), Yoon Moo-boo graduated from Hanyoung High School and completed his undergraduate and graduate studies in the Department of Biology at Kyung Hee University. In 1995, he earned his doctorate from Korea National University of Education with a dissertation on the “Geographical Variation in the Song of the Whistling Thrushes in Korea.”

From 1979 to 2006, Professor Yoon taught in the Department of Biology at Kyung Hee University and later served as an emeritus professor until 2014. He held prominent roles such as director of the Korean Society of Zoology and the Ecological Society of Korea, was an advisory member of the Korea National Park Service, and served as a specialist on the Cultural Heritage Committee of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. In 2001, he was appointed as a United Nations Peace Ambassador.

Professor Yoon became a household name as an expert commentator on KBS’s show “Quiz Adventure: The Mysterious World,” as well as through numerous television appearances and commercials. He was celebrated for his ability to explain the feeding and breeding behaviors of birds in an accessible manner, earning him the nickname ‘Bird Doctor.’ His published works include “Birds of Korea,” “Resident Birds of Korea,” “Migratory Birds of Korea,” “Nature Exploration in Korea,” “WILD BIRDS OF KOREA,” “Why Is the Bald Eagle Bald?” and “Frog, Frog: Nature Observation.”

During his graduate studies in 1967, Yoon survived a near-fatal flash flood while on a birdwatching trip at the Gwangneung Arboretum. In 1971, he played a crucial part in preserving the last male stork discovered in Eumseong, North Chungcheong Province, as a specimen after it was killed by poachers. His commitment to the conservation and study of storks was influential, and he continued to be involved in projects related to the restoration of the species.

Note “This article was translated from the original Korean version using AI assistance, and subsequently edited by a native-speaking journalist.”

Photo=Yonhap News Agency