China Medical Board ; Severance Hospital ; Yonsei Medical College ; Korean War
Abstract
After the Korean war, every effort was made to reconstruct Korean society, which had been totally destroyed during the conflict. Severance Hospital, which was located in front of Seoul Railway Station, suffered almost complete destruction. The U.S. Army, United Board, and other missionary boards and individuals participated in the rebuilding of Severance Hospital. Perhaps the most imp011ant supporting group was the China Medical B03rd (CMS). The CMB was organized in 1914 to help with the modernization of medicine in China. In order to achieve their goal, the CMS had chosen Peking Union Medical College to be its "Johns Hopkins" in China. However, because the Communist Patty took over the Chinese mainland, the CMB could not continue their work in China. As a result, other Asian countries, including Korea, received the organization``s support. In Korea, Severance Hospital and Yonsei Medical College were its main beneficiaries. Thanks to the CMB``s generous financial support, the new medical college was built in Sinchon. In addition, the CME annually provided research funds for about 20 years TO the faculties of Yonsei Medical College. The CME purchased research and educational apparatuses. It also provided invisible support in various ways: Scholarships for students and fellowships for faculties contributed to the development of human resources. Further financial support provided consulting for medical education and hospital administration In summation, the CMB played a crucial role in the reconstruction of Korean medicine through its contributions to Severance Hospital and Yonsei Medical College after the Korean War.