—Events Include Symposium, Concert, and Art Show
—Granddaughters of Dr. Allen and Dr. Avison Donate Memorabilia
To commemorate the 130th anniversary of the founding of Jejungwon—the first western medical institution in Korea and the forerunner of Severance Hospital—a variety of events were held April 10. Highlighting the proud history of high-quality medical care at research at Yonsei, the events included a symposium, concert, and special art show called Media Façade.
Taking part in the festivities were descendants of Dr. Horace N. Allen, Jejungwon’s founder, Dr. Oliver R. Avison, the founder of Severance Hospital, and Louis H. Severance, the philanthropist whose generous donations paid for the establishment of the hospital that bears his name. A number of other dignitaries were in attendance, including Chairman Kim Seok-su, Yonsei University Health System (YUHS) President and CEO Dr. Chung Nam-sik, Park Sam-gu, president of the Alumni Association, Kim Chun-jin, president of the Health and Welfare Committee, Park Sang-geun, CEO of the Korean Hospitals Association, Choo Moo-jin, president of the Korean Medical Association, Hong Young-jae, president of the College of Medicine Alumni Association, as well as representatives from the Eighth United States Army.
At the opening ceremony, Dr. Jung Nam-sik said: “We would like to contribute to the enhancement of humankind’s health through this medical institution, which shares the values of its founders. Their pioneering spirit will continue to allow us to produce excellent doctors and remain a leader of cutting-edge medical research.” United States Ambassador to South Korea Mark Lippert sent his congratulations through a video message. In it, he stated: “Severance Hospital has a close relationship with the U.S. and the Eighth U.S. Army. Because of this, I am delighted that Severance Hospital has established itself as a world class medical institution.” And in their remarks, Kim Chun-jin and Choo Moo-jin expressed their appreciation for Severance’s crucial role in the evolution of high-quality medical care and research in Korea.
Dr. Allen’s granddaughter, Katherine Harman, and Dr. Avison’s granddaughter, Sheila Horine, also donated personal memorabilia to Severance Hospital. Ms. Harman gave her grandfather’s Taegeuk medal and a teakettle, while Ms. Horine offered her grandfather’s eyeglasses.
Academic Symposium Reflects on 130-Year Legacy
The “Jejungwon 130th Anniversary Academic Symposium,” which reflected on the 130 years of Jejungwon’s and Severance’s history, was held at the College of Medicine with over 200 participants and guests in attendance. The first session was chaired by Yonsei Professor Yeo In-sok (Medical History). In it, Yonsei Professor Choi Jae-gun (Theology) gave a talk entitled “Establishment of Jejungwon and the Role of Missionaries,” while Professor Lee Man-yeol of Sookmyung Women’s University presented “Jejungwon and Avison.”
The second session was chaired by Yonsei Professor Emeritus Yu Seung-hum. The first presentation, “The Roots of Jejungwon,” was given by Yonsei Professor Shin Kyu-hwan (Medical History). This was followed by Yonsei History Professor Kim Do-hyung’s “Illusion of Succession for National Hospitals.” Chung-Ang University Professor Chang Kyu-sik (History) spoke last, presenting “Jejungwon, the Nation, and Public Society.”
The final event of the symposium was a roundtable discussion with all the presenters. The symposium also provided an opportunity for the Department of Medical History and the Institute for the History of Medicine to showcase the four books they have published to celebrate the 130th anniversary of Jejungwon.
Anniversary Concert, Media Façade Art Show, Dong-eun Medical Museum Reopening
On this day, a number of cultural events were also held. A special anniversary concert was arranged by College of Music Dean Kim Guan-dong. Yonsei Sinfonietta performed, which is directed by Lee Taek-ju and includes violinist Kim Hyun-ah, tenor Kang Mu-rim, and pianist Han Youn-ran.
The art project Media Façade, conceived under the direction of Kim Hyung-su, dean of the Graduate School of Communication and Arts,was also unveiled. By projecting stereoscopic images onto the exterior of a building, Media Façade creates the illusion of three-dimensional depth. For the show, three-dimensional images of Jejungwon and Severance Hospital were beamed from Centennial Hall onto the wall of Gwanghyewon, providing an engaging history of medicine at Yonsei.
At the same time, the Dong-eun Medical Museum, known as the first medical museum in Korea, was reopened to commemorate Jejungwon’s 130th anniversary. During its renovation, the museum space was reorganized and several new exhibits were installed.