Detail

At the low hill within the premises of Seoul National University Hospital located Yeongeon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul city, is an antique building with a clock tower. This building that looks quite old even at first glance serves as the main building of the “Daehan Hospital” established 100 years ago and designated as Historic Site No. 248. While pursuing modernization at the end of the 19th century, the Daehan Empire felt the need to establish a western-style medical system and set up Kwangjewon, a public medical university with an affiliated hospital and Red Cross Korea Hospital. In 1907, these 3 hospitals were integrated into Daehan Hospital by the Office of the Resident-General (1906-1910, the former Joseon Government-General, established by Japan to facilitate its colonial rule of Korea during 1910-1945). After Japanese occupation of Korea, the name of Daehan Hospital was changed to the Hospital of the Joseon Government-General and then into the affiliated hospital of Kyungsung Imperial University Medical School. During this process, Daehan Hospital came to leave a lamentable history of contributing to Japanese colonial rule of Korea. After Korea’s liberalization from Japanese occupation, Seoul National University was created and Daehan Hospital became an affiliated hospital of Seoul National University Medical School. In 1978, it was reorganized into the Seoul National University Hospital, a special corporation. Since its creation, the Seoul National University Hospital has led Korea’s medical sphere, producing numerous brilliant achievements. Ranked No.1 both in evaluation of medical institutions and in brand power, it has possessed the special love of the Korean people. As of 2007, the Seoul National University Hospital, under its core values of Best Care, Excellence, Innovation, Contribution and Partnership, is seeking to achieve a leap toward becoming a world-leading institution for education, research and patient care. We anticipate a bright future full of hope, as shown by Seoul National University Hospital’s slogan of “science of medicine that has been refined over 100 years and the hope of happily living together for the next 1,000 years.”