April 2026 Young Planet Leader Eunchan Hwang

Eunchan Hwang is a bioengineering innovator and founder of 3D CURE, a healthcare initiative based in Addis Ababa that designs 3D printed prosthetics, braces, and casts for underserved communities in Ethiopia. Having grown up in East Africa as a Korean, he witnessed firsthand the barriers many patients face in accessing orthopedic care, leading him to build practical and affordable solutions for amputees, war victims, and others in need of rehabilitative support.

Through 3D CURE, Eunchan uses 3D scanning and printing technologies to create biodegradable, personalized medical devices at a fraction of the cost of traditional methods. To date, the initiative has served more than 120 families through cost-free devices, reducing costs by roughly 60% compared to conventional alternatives. He is currently working with five major hospitals and two medical firms to advance his vision.

Eunchan’s work has earned international recognition and support. He was named a Conrad Innovator by NASA’s Johnson Space Center and is supported by the NVIDIA Inception Program as he develops AI automation for orthopedic device design. He has also collaborated with the NGO Dumari and international companies to organize a 5K run raising awareness and support for prosthetic care. 3D CURE has been nominated through UNICEF’s P2P program and is now working towards collaboration with the World Bank to scale its reach across Ethiopian hospitals.