The Life and Thought of Dr. Suh Jae-Phil(Philip Jaison) : Propagating Modern Ideas of Public Health and Sanitarian Hygiene

Abstract

The paper explores the life and thought of Dr. Suh Jae-Phil, an enlightened reformer of the late Yi dynasty, in terms of modern concepts and theories on public hygiene. He had never been involved in medical practices in Korea. Rather he actively participated in achieving national independence and disseminating enlightenment thought. This first Western medical doctor in Korea had struggled to propagate modern thought of public health and sanitarian hygiene in the editorials of The Independent(Tongnip Sinmun), one of the most active newspapers to spread Western ideas of civilization in that period. The editorials were strategically used as a vehicle for spreading Western liberal ideas in general and ideas of public hygiene in particular. Dr. Suh asserted modern ideas of public hygiene to be prerequisites for the establishment of modern state. His strong committment to them included the control of infectious diseases, small pox vaccination, clean water, population growth, and personal hygiene.