Korea officially opened its doors to the outside world in 1882 through the Treaty of Peace, Amity, Commerce and Navigation with the United States. Since then, diplomats, merchants, researchers, missionaries and medical doctors have made significant contributions to Korean society, particularly in culture and education. Among these, the impact of missionary and medical services stands out for its profound influence.

My interest in the history of foreign missionary medical doctors inspired me to read the book “I Still Love Korea: A Collective Biography of Missionary Doctors in early Korea,” authored by Professor Son Young-kyu, director of the Somang Otolaryngology Clinic in Gyeongju. Himself a distinguished medical missionary, Son provides a compelling exploration of Korea’s medical missionary history.

The book highlights the sacrifices and enduring contributions of early medical missionaries, who not only introduced Western medicine to Korea but also helped shape the foundations of its modern health care and education systems.

Approximately a century and a........

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