(Health Korea News / Park Won-jin) Bogunyeokgwan (普救女館), located within Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital (Director Joo Woong), was recently selected as the ‘2024 9th Seoul Excellent Hanok’ announced by the Seoul Metropolitan Government (Mayor Oh Se-hoon).
The Seoul Metropolitan Government evaluated Bogunyeogwan as a ‘Hanok that embodies the charm and beauty of tradition.’
Bogunyeogwan was established in October 1887 by missionary Mary Scranton near Ewha Hakdang in Jeong-dong, Korea’s first modern women’s hospital and medical education institution for women. It is the predecessor of Ewha Womans University School of Medicine and Ewha Womans University Medical Center (Director Kyeong-ha Yoo).
Bogunyeogwan (普救女館) means ‘a place to widely protect and save women’ and is a name bestowed by Emperor Gojong.
Bogunyeogwan, located in Jeong-dong, was used as an annex to Ewha School since 1914, but disappeared into history with the construction of Ewha Kindergarten in 1921. Later, in 2019, when Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital opened in Magok-dong, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, the Bogunyeokgwan was also restored, continuing the founding spirit of ‘serving and sharing.’
The current Bogu Nyeo Gwan was built as a 128㎡ hanok based on the diary of Rosetta Hall, the 3rd hospital director. This place is decorated with exhibition rooms for Esther Park, successive female governors, and the nurse training school.
If you visit Bogunyeoggwan from 10am to 4pm on weekdays (lunch time 1-2pm, closed on weekends and public holidays), you can view the interior made up of old photos and memorabilia for free. A detailed explanation can be provided upon request to the archive manager. You can also hear it, making it easy to understand its origin and significance.
Ewha Medical Center Director Yoo Kyeong-ha said, “Bogunyeogwan is an elegant wooden building that creates a unique scenery in the city and is a Hanok with a beautiful exterior, but it is more meaningful in that it is the first women’s hospital for sick women.” He added, “It will continue to be a treasure trove of service and sharing. “We will strive to develop and carry forward the spirit of the establishment of the women’s museum,” he said.
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Source: www.hkn24.com
