Born in 1884 as a Joseon dynasty subject, Lee Kwan Young (LKY, 1884~1944) would eventually become the first American educated pharmacist in Korea. Although his story clearly has significance in the history of the modernization of Korea medico-pharmaceutical science, relatively little is known about this courageous, clever and active early path-breaker. LKY traveled to the USA in early 1905 where a few month later he was joined by his uncle Lee Hee Kyung (LHK, 1890~1941). They settled in Denver, Colorado in the Fall of that year and became involved with other Koreans in the community. By Japan-Korea treaty of 1905 depriving the diplomatic authority of Korea, LKY became active in the Korean independent movement and play a prominent role in establishing the Korean National Congress (Daehan Kookmin Hoe). Both LKY and LHK had participated in basic military training at the Kearney Military Academy led by Korean patriots in Nebraska. Both moved to Chicago, where LKY was admitted to the University of Illinois, College of Pharmacy in 1913, which one of oldest pharmacy schools in the USA, while LHK studied medicine at the same University (1911~1916). After completing a three-year course of study in 1916, LKY was awarded a Pharmacy· Chemistry degree and became an American pharmacist. By early 1918, after about a year of research work at Hawaii sugar company, LKY returned to his homeland, Joseon which had then become a Japanese colony. LKY obtained a pharmacist license (No. 13) from the Japanese Government of Korea, which earned him the distinction of becoming the first and the time only ethnic Korean licensed pharmacist. By late 1918, his uncle (LHK) who opened a clinic in Gyeongseong (Seoul) shortly after his return to Korea a year ago, again left his homeland and defected to the Korean Provisional Government in Shanghai. By the Fall of 1923, LKY was appointed Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry, Pharmacology, Materials & Medicine at Severance Medical School. In this role, he was responsible for teaching pharmacology and chemistry to medical students. His skill and efforts were soon rewarded by becoming the chairman of the department and also the director of the pharmacy bureau of Severance Hospital. In addition to holding a professorship at the Severance, he was appointed as representative of Pharmaceutical Sales company, affiliated with Severance in 1936. Nevertheless, the record does not suggest LKY played an active public role in fostering the development of Korean pharmacists. Perhaps it was because of his association with Korean Independent activist and life history in the USA, which would have been delicate situation with Japanese-run Pharmacy School of Korea colonized by Japan. In Modern times, the role of LKY in the early establishment of formal academic pharmaceutical science in Korea is not often acknowledged. Some of that indifference likely relates to LKY’s education and life in the USA which were not well revealed and documented. However, with the passage of 100 years since LKY’s appointment as Professor at Severance, it is important to recall his contribution which included the first modern pharmacology book edited by Koreans, “Chemistry-based Korean Pharmacology”.
서 론(Introduction)
본 론(Body)
결 론(Conclusion)
감사의 글
Conflict of Interest
References