Allen’s Ophthalmoscope

This is an ophthalmoscope (an ophthalmic instrument used to examine the interior of the eye) used by Allen, who was in charge of Jejungwon, Korea's first modern hospital. It was made by Gall & Lembke Opticians, a model developed and commercially sold in New York in the 1870s, and it was donated to Yonsei University by Allen's descendants between 1984 and 1985. As a medical artefact connected to Allen, who played an important role in the history of modern medicine and diplomacy in Korea, it has great value as a historical source for the introduction of modern Western medicine to Korea. Allen (H. N. Allen, 1858–1932) arrived in Korea in September 1884 as a missionary of the American Northern Presbyterian Church and served as a contracted physician at the American legation, where he proposed the establishment of Jejungwon. He was in charge of Jejungwon from April 1885 until the end of September 1887, after which he moved into a diplomatic career, serving as secretary at the Korean legation in the United States and later as United States Minister to Korea.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Seodaemun-gu, Seoul

Designation

Registered Cultural Heritage · 국가등록문화유산