Description
It consists of four branches: Except SNUH Healthcare System Gangnam Center, all branches have an emergency department (ED). SNUH is owned and operated by SNUH Special Corporation, independent from Seoul National University. The South Korean government's Ministry of Education and Human Resources partly supervises management of the hospital.History
Modernization in Joseon (1885–1920): Jejung Hospital and Daehan Hospital
After opening its doors in 1876, Joseon began pursuing modernization, including in medicine. In 1884, a U.S. missionary proposed a Western-style hospital, and after Dr. Allen saved a government official during the Gapsin Coup, momentum grew. This led to the founding of Korea’s first Western-style national hospital. In April 1885, King Gojong and the Joseon government established Jejung Hospital, Korea’s first Western-style national hospital. Fully funded and managed by the government, the hospital employed American doctors but remained under state control. As such, it was widely recognized as a “government hospital” even by foreign missionaries. King Gojong and the Joseon government assigned Jejung Hospital two key missions: to train future medical professionals in Western medicine and to provide free treatment to the poor. These goals reflected a broader vision of medicine as a public responsibility. After the establishment of the Korean Empire in 1897, the government upheld this mission by founding Gyeongseong Medical School in 1899 and opening Gwangje Hospital to serve vulnerable populations and promote vaccination. In 1907, the Korean Empire established Daehan Hospital by merging Gyeongseong Medical School, Gwangje Hospital, and the Korean Red Cross Hospital. As a comprehensive institution, it played roles in education, research, treatment, and public health administration. Although Japan’s annexation of Korea in 1910 halted medical modernization efforts, the legacy of Jejung and Daehan Hospitals had a lasting impact on the development of modern medical services in Korea.Hospitals in Colonial Korea (1910–1945): Gyeongseong Imperial University and Medical College Affiliates
Japan’s annexation of Korea in 1910 had a devastating impact on all sectors, including medicine. Korea’s efforts to develop its own modern medical system were halted as Daehan Hospital was reorganized into Jung'ang Hospital, then into the Government-General of Korea (GGK) Hospital. The affiliated medical school was likewise converted into a Japanese-run institution, with nearly all leadership and staff—directors, doctors, professors, and administrators—replaced by Japanese personnel. In 1916, the school became Gyeongseong Medical College, and GGK Hospital functioned as its teaching hospital. After the Medical School of Gyeongseong Imperial University was established in 1926, GGK Hospital became its affiliated hospital in 1928, while Gyeongseong Medical College opened its own hospital in Seoul. Despite systemic discrimination and limited opportunities, many ethnic Korean students and physicians trained at these institutions. Their perseverance laid the foundation for Korea’s post-Liberation medical leadership and development.The SNU College of Medicine Hospital Leads the Advancement of Medical Care in South Korea(1945–1978)
After Liberation in 1945, the former Gyeongseong Imperial University Medical School and Gyeongseong Medical College were merged to form the SNU College of Medicine, and its affiliated hospital became the Hospital affiliated with the College of Medicine of Seoul National University. Despite political upheaval, war, and limited resources, the hospital actively engaged in education, research, treatment, and public service. During the Korean War, it continued medical education in Busan through the Wartime United University and provided care to refugees via relief hospitals in Busan and Jeju Island. From 1954 to 1961, the Minnesota Project helped rebuild facilities and modernize medical education through U.S. faculty training. As a result, key departments like Thoracic Surgery, Neurosurgery, Anesthesiology, and Clinical Pathology were established, and the internship/residency system was introduced. Major milestones included Korea’s first open-heart surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass (1963) and the world’s first successful isolation and commercialization of the hepatitis B virus antigen in the 1970s. Throughout this period, the hospital led the development of modern medicine in South Korea, training generations of medical professionals and serving as the nation’s central base for advanced medical care and education.Establishment of SNUH as a Special Corporation(1978–2002)
Since becoming a special corporation in 1978, Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) has led numerous medical breakthroughs in Korea. These include the country’s first test tube baby, liver transplantation, partial liver transplantation, and transplantation using non-heart-beating donors. SNUH also developed the world’s smallest artificial heart and achieved global firsts in isolating the hepatitis C virus serum and developing a new liver cancer diagnostic method. It became the first single institution worldwide to perform over 20,000 gastric cancer surgeries and 10,000 thyroid cancer surgeries. In research, SNUH published over 1,000 SCI-indexed papers in 2005 and reached 1,620 by 2010, demonstrating rapid academic growth. In 2006, it established the Public Health Medical Services division to expand care for medically underserved groups both domestically and internationally. SNUH continues to fulfill its role as Korea’s leading national hospital while advancing toward global excellence in medical care and research.Building a Global Network to Advance Medical Excellence(2002–Present)
Since 2002, Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) has pioneered a new medical paradigm through both domestic and international networks. It has achieved numerous medical firsts in Korea, including the first test tube baby, liver transplantation, partial liver transplantation, and non-heart-beating donor liver transplantation. SNUH also developed the world’s smallest artificial heart and became the first in the world to isolate the hepatitis C virus serum and develop a new diagnostic method for liver cancer. SNUH was the world’s first single institution to perform over 20,000 gastric cancer surgeries and 10,000 thyroid cancer surgeries. In research, SNUH and the SNU College of Medicine reached a milestone by publishing over 1,000 SCI-indexed papers in 2005, increasing to 1,620 by 2010. In 2006, the hospital established the Public Health Medical Services division to expand outreach and volunteer care for underserved communities in Korea and abroad. Today, SNUH continues to fulfill its role as Korea’s leading national hospital, striving to elevate the country’s medical services to a globally competitive level.See also
* List of hospitals in South Korea * Seoul National University Hospital MassacreReferences
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