Main ClinicAbout Hoechundang
HISTORY
Hoechundang History
Hoechundang, founded in Andong in 1904 and carried on for four generations
Through each generation, we have always kept patients at the center. Our medical team, all from Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital, provides care together.
01OUR STORY
Reaching even the fingertips of a child in a grandmother’s arms
The history of Hoechundang, which began in 1904, continues to the fingertips of a child held in a grandmother’s arms. The husband-and-wife team of Dr. Hansung Ryu, Chief Director, and Dr. Seungwon Baek, Director, who are carrying on the family practice in its fourth generation, provide care together with Dr. Bongha Ryu, Honorary Director, who served as Director of Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital and as the President’s Korean medicine physician.
02HISTORY
Hoechundang Across Four Generations
Hoechundang has been carried forward through generations while preserving the values of “tradition,” “professionalism,” and “family.”
- 1904
1st generation: Jongwoo Ryu (1885–1958) · Opened Hoechundang in Pungsan, Andong
Although he was a scholar of classical Chinese studies, he developed an interest in medicine in his youth and read many medical texts. The beginning of Hoechundang was when he began providing care in Hahoe Village in Andong, the clan village of the Pungsan Ryu (柳) family. To help people suffering under Japanese oppression, he opened Hoechundang in Pungsan-myeon, Andong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, in 1904.
1st generation: great-grandfather Jongwoo Ryu - 1945
2nd generation: Sicheol Ryu (1914–1994) · Expanded Hoechundang to Pohang
He moved Hoechundang to Pohang and operated a herbal medicine wholesale business, supplying herbal ingredients to Korean medicine clinics, herbal medicine shops, and pharmacies throughout Gyeongbuk. Patients came to Hoechundang Korean Medicine Clinic not only from Pohang but also from many other regions.
2nd generation: grandfather Sicheol Ryu - 1984
3rd generation: Bongha Ryu (1949– ) · Director of Kyung Hee University Medical Center Korean Medicine Hospital and the President’s Korean medicine physician
He carried on the family practice and became a Korean medicine doctor. In 1984, he became a full professor in the Department of Digestive Medicine at Kyung Hee University Medical Center and established a Korean medicine care system for digestive diseases. He served twice as Director of Kyung Hee University Medical Center Korean Medicine Hospital and served as the Korean medicine physician to the 17th President. He also dedicated himself to training future practitioners, research, and exchange with the international medical community.
3rd generation: Dr. Bongha Ryu, Honorary Director - Present
4th generation: Hansung Ryu (1982– ) and Seungwon Baek · Bringing tradition into modern Korean medicine
Dr. Hansung Ryu, Chief Director, graduated from Korea University’s Department of Architectural Engineering and worked at a construction company before becoming a Korean medicine doctor to carry on the family practice. He trained at Joslin Diabetes Center, affiliated with Harvard Medical School, and presented research on Korean medicine cancer treatment from the Korean Medicine Cancer Center at Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong at domestic and international academic conferences. He married Dr. Seungwon Baek, Director, who trained at the same hospital, and together with the 3rd generation, they opened Hoechundang Kyunghee Ryu Korean Medicine Clinic.
The husband-and-wife team of Dr. Hansung Ryu, Chief Director, and Dr. Seungwon Baek, Director, carrying on the family practice in its fourth generation
03GALLERY
Hoechundang In Photos
A family photo of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generations together for the great-grandfather’s birthday, 1952. The child seated in the chair on the far right is Dr. Bongha Ryu, Honorary Director, of the 3rd generation.
Hoechundang Herbal Medicine Wholesale Shop in Pohang, 1954. At the time, a state-of-the-art building was constructed, and herbal ingredients were managed cleanly and hygienically.
Grandmother, who oversaw herbal medicine preparation as the lady of Hoechundang, 1954
In front of Hoechundang in Pohang, Dr. Bongha Ryu, Honorary Director, in childhood (first from the left), 1957. He used the herbal medicine storage room as a playground, helping his father trim herbal ingredients and learning preparation.
The Hoechundang family gathered for grandmother’s 60th birthday, 1972. Hoechundang Herbal Medicine Wholesale Shop, run together by the family, supplied herbal ingredients based on the principle of honesty.
Celebrating the appointment as the President’s physician, together with the President and First Lady and the Blue House medical office team, 2011
Attending the 2nd Nuclear Security Summit (Seoul) as the President’s physician, 2012
Dr. Bongha Ryu, Honorary Director, who served as the 12th and 15th Director of Kyung Hee University Medical Center Korean Medicine Hospital, giving a speech at the 15th Director’s transition and inauguration ceremony, 2013
Dr. Hansung Ryu, Chief Director, during training at Joslin Diabetes Center, affiliated with Harvard Medical School
Dr. Hansung Ryu, Chief Director, receiving a certificate of completion as a Korean internal medicine specialist at the Korean Medicine Cancer Center, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong
Dr. Seungwon Baek, Director, receiving a certificate of completion at the resident completion ceremony of Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong
04HISTORY
Timeline
Major milestones of Hoechundang organized by year.
- 1904
Founding of the 1st generation Hoechundang
Pungsan-myeon, Andong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
- 1930
Development of the Korean medicine digestive remedy “Hoechundang Sohabwon”
- 1945
Establishment of the 2nd generation Hoechundang and Hoechundang Herbal Medicine Wholesale Shop
Moved to Pohang, Gyeongsangbuk-do
- 1960
Development of Hoechundang Musk Gongjindan
- 1973
Commendation from the Korea Herbal Medicine Association
For contributions to the development of the Korean medicine doctor system and community health
- 1984
3rd generation Bongha Ryu appointed full professor in the Department of Digestive Medicine at Kyung Hee University Medical Center
Established a Korean medicine care and treatment system for digestive diseases
- 2000
Commendation from the Minister of Health and Welfare
- 2003
Appointed as the 12th Director of Kyung Hee University Medical Center Korean Medicine Hospital
Served as a Korean medicine advisory committee member for the 16th President (Roh Moo-hyun) · Publication of the College of Korean Medicine textbook “Internal Medicine of the Spleen System,” which includes Hoechundang’s care for gastrointestinal diseases
- 2006
Appointed Director of the Herbal Medicine Research Institute at Kyung Hee University Medical Center
- 2008
Appointed as the 15th Director of Kyung Hee University Medical Center Korean Medicine Hospital (second term as Director, 2008–2013)
Appointed medical advisor to the Ministry of National Defense (2008–2009)
- 2010
Clinical research and development of prescriptions for gastrointestinal diseases
Chiwi-san (formerly Naesohwajung-tang), Bowi Gongjindan (formerly Yanguigongjindan), and others
- 2011
Appointed Korean medicine physician to the 17th President (Lee Myung-bak)
- 2013
Signed medical MOUs with overseas universities
United States, Russia, Japan, China, Taiwan, France, and others
- 2013
Research on herbal medicine treatment for functional dyspepsia published in an SCI(E)-level international journal
Banhasasim-tang study, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
- 2014
Awarded the Order of Service Merit, Geunjeong Medal
For contributions to the development of education (President Park Geun-hye)
- 2015
4th generation Hansung Ryu trains at a Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospital
Department of Digestive Medicine and Diabetes Center (Joslin Diabetes Center)
- 2017
Joint research by the 3rd and 4th generations; publication of a paper on Korean medicine treatment in cancer care
- 2018
Presented research on the effects of Jaungo ointment for radiation dermatitis
The 18th International Congress of Oriental Medicine (Okinawa, Japan)
- 2018
Training at Block Center, an integrative cancer treatment institution in the United States
Presented a clinical study on treatment of sleep disturbance in patients with gastric cancer at the 14th International Conference of the Society for Integrative Oncology (Chicago, USA)
- 2018
Research on tongue diagnosis and body temperature in patients in Korean medicine gynecology published in an SCI(E)-level international journal
Dr. Seungwon Baek, Director, first author, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
- 2021
Expansion of Hoechundang Kyunghee Ryu Korean Medicine Clinic
Dr. Bongha Ryu, Honorary Director, receives the 2021 Korean Medicine Hyemin Grand Prize hosted by the Korean Medicine Newspaper of the Association of Korean Medicine
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