History of Yonsei

Yonhi·Severance
History of Yonhi·Severance(1885-1956)

The history of Yonsei University began on April 10th, 1885, as Korea’s first modern hospital "Gwanghyewon." Two weeks after opening, King Kojong gave Gwanghyewon a new name - "Chejungwon." Gwanghyewon was established by a medical missionary, Horace N. Allen. Prior to opening, missionary Horace G. Underwood visited Korea, assisting in medical treatment at Chejungwon while starting his work in education and missionary activities. These two missionaries' work that is based in Chejungwon has become the foundation of Yonsei.
Since then, works related to medicine were institutionalized to become what was initially the Severance Medical College and later Severance Hospital and Severance Medical School. Meanwhile, in education, what was initially known as Underwood School, Gyeongsin School, and later Yonhi College became Yonhi University. Yonhi and Severance supported the independence and modernization of Korea during Japanese colonization and at times of crises. As a university, it also bore the responsibility to democratize and modernize the country after the Korean War.
1. 1885 April 10 Gwanghyewon, Korea’s first western hospital, is
  established as a royal medical institution
  Left: GwangHyewon, the beginning of Yonsei Medical School
  and the first modern medical institution
  Right: Dr. Horace Newton Allen, founder of Gwanghyewon
  (1858-1932)
2. 1899 April Chejungwon, the first formal medical school,
  with Dr. Oliver R. Avison as its first head
  Above: Dr. Oliver R. Avison, the founder of Severance Hospital.
  (1860-1956)
3. 1904 September 3 Severance Hospital was reconstructed through a donation from Mr. L.H Severance.
  Above: Severance Hospital
4. 1915 March 5 Chosen Christian College was established in Y.M.C.A with
  Won Do Woo as its first principal, and Avison as the vice-principal.
  Above: Commemorative photograph on the founding day of
  Chosen Christian College(1915)
5. 1942 June Severance Medical School was forced to change its name to "Asahi Medical School."
6. 1942 August 17 The Japanese designated Yonhi College of being an "enemy property" and appointed the first Japanese principal after overtaking it.
  Above: Ordeal of the Underwood Statue
  - The Japanese forcefullly extorted the Underwood Statue
  and erected a statute for "Asian Prosperity."
7. 1944 April Yonhi College forced to change its name to
  "Gyeong Seong College of Administration."
8. 1946 August Yonhi College was officially recognized as a university,
  with four colleges and 11 departments.
9. 1955 March 23 Yonhi College and Severance Medical School
  merged.
Yonsei
History of Yonsei(1957-2009)

In 1957, Yonhi University and Severance Medical School merged to become Yonsei University. After the merging, Yonsei University grew to become one of the best universities in Korea. It became the driving force behind Korea’s economic and political growth, and it also continues to spearhead university education and research.
This Yonsei spirit and academic tradition also took roots in Wonju. First opened as the Wonju Campus Medical School in 1978, it expanded to establish itself as a university, and it grew into one of Gangwon region’s leading campuses since moving to Maeji-ri in 1984.
The opening of an international campus in Songdo, Incheon, in 2010 was the first step for Yonsei University to become a world-class education and research powerhouse. Through decentralization and collaboration among its campuses (Sinchon, Health System, Wonju, International), Yonsei is committed to contributing to the development of mankind and society by leading creative changes and to build a new history.
1. 1957 January 5 Reconfiguration into a
  Modern University and Innovative Restructuring
  (1957 - 1979)
2. 1957 March 25 Dr. Nak Jun Baek was appointed as the president and
  Dr. HyunBae Choi, Dr. Myung Sun Kim were appointed
  as vice-presidents of Yonsei University.
  Left: Dr. Nak Jun Baek, The first president of
  Yonsei University (1895-1985)
  Right: President Baek’s inauguration
3. 1962 June 5 Dedication of the College of Medicine and Nursing faculty and students’ dormitories and Severance Hospital after moving to Sinchon Campus from Seoul Railway Station area.
  (Courtesy of China Medical Board of USA and
  the 8th corps of US forces in Korea)
  
  Severance at Sinchon in 1960s
4. 1978 October Wonju Campus of Yonsei University was established and
  the Department of Public Health was founded.
5. 1981 January 8 Wonju campus was elevated to Wonju College
  with 10 departments.
  (Department of Medicine (Pre-med, Med), Public Health,
  English Literature, Economics, Business Administration,
  Mathematics, Physics, Biology)
6. 1985 May 11 100th Anniversary Commemoration
7. 2005 May 4 Dedication of new Severance Hospital.
8. 2010 March 3 Opening of the International Campus
9. 2011 September 28 Return of Yonhi College flag after 61 years
10. 2015 May 9 130th Anniversary Commemoration
11. 2015 October 7 Completion of Baekyangro Re-creation Project

SINCHON·INT′l

About Yonsei

History of Yonsei