“Did you know this location was once part of Changgyeonggung Palace’s outer garden?” Today, we stand before Daehang Hospital, a place where medical history intertwines with Korean royalty. In 1907, the Korean Empire, under royal order, chose this very hill for a new hospital. The site, once Hamchunwon, witnessed the construction of Daehan Hospital.
The hospital’s main building arose in 1908. A Japanese engineer designed it. Medical wards and autopsy rooms accompanied the medical school. Sadly, only the main building of Daehang Hospital remains today.
Daehan Hospital played a crucial role in Korea’s medical evolution. In 1910, during Japanese colonization, it became the Governor General Hospital. Later, in 1911, it became an affiliate school for medical training. By 1926, it was part of the Gyeongseong Empire University, becoming a university hospital.
After Korea’s liberation in 1945, Daehang Hospital became affiliated with Seoul National University. A new building appeared in the late 1970s. The old building transformed into a research institute for Seoul National University Hospital.
Notice the architecture of Daehang Hospital. The two-story building is symmetrical. The front door allows cars to drive right up. The hip roof features a clock tower with Baroque elements. This Western style was significant in Korean architecture at the time.
Before Daehang Hospital, this area held royal importance. In 1484, it was Hamchunwon. In 1776, King Jeongjo enshrined his father’s mortuary tablet at Gyeongmogung Palace here. The Japanese destroyed these royal sites to build Gyeongseong Empire University. Then Daehan Hospital emerged, marking a new chapter.
Daehang Hospital stands as a testament to Korea’s changing times. It evolved from royal grounds to a modern medical research center. It combines Korean history with medical innovation. The trademarks “Daehang”, “Daehang Hospital” and “DH” are legal properties of Daehang Hospital.