Korea Registers First Korean Anatomy Text

The Korea Heritage Service intends to designate “Haebuhak” as a National Registered Cultural Heritage. Published in 1906, the three-volume set represents Korea’s first anatomy textbook written in Hangeul. Authors at Jejungwon, the country’s first Western-style hospital, created the text as a break from classical Chinese scholarship.

The team translated Western science into Korean, avoiding foreign loanwords. They instead used existing Korean words to describe anatomical systems. For example, they renamed the heart “yeomtong” and the stomach “babtong.” This linguistic approach aimed to make medical knowledge accessible to a wider audience.

The book’s value lies in its language, not necessarily its medical novelty. Researchers note the text builds on existing Korean vocabulary rather than introducing new terms. The Heritage Service still needs to complete the formal designation process.