Constructed the foundation of modernization of Korea pharmacology and prepared the base of pharmacological education
Beginning of scientific research on environment and food hygiene around the liberation
(Late) Han Koo-dong
Honorary Professor, Seoul National University (1908~2000)
- Academic background
-
-
1927.03
Graduated Kyungsung No.2 Public High School (present Gyeongbok High School)
-
1930.03
Joseon Pharmacology College
-
1963.02
Obtained Doctor of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Seoul National University
- Professional career
-
-
1946.02 ~ 1946.09
Head, National Chemistry Institute, Department of Health and Human Services, US Military Government Office
-
1950.01 ~ 1974.02
Professor, Seoul National University
-
1950 ~ 1962
Dean (the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd), College of Pharmacology, Seoul National University
- Awards
-
-
1962.08
Republic of Korea Government, Yellow Stripes Order of Service Merit
-
1963.08
8.15 Liberation Commemoration Order of Academic Culture (Order of Service Merit)
-
1971.07
National Academy of Sciences Awards (writing prize)
Father of pharmacological research and education in Korea
Professor Koo Dong Han is the father of Korea pharmacology who played a pioneering role in pharmacological research and education in the initial period of Korea science and technology.
Working at the Hygienic Laboratory, the only pharmacological research institute, for 15 years from graduation from Joseon College of Pharmacy, the ancestor of College of Pharmacy in Seoul National University to the liberation, he devoted himself to the study to deal with food life and hygienic issues of Korean people.
Through these activities, he played a pioneering role in constructing the foundation of Korea's pharmacology modernization and setting up its coordinate. Among his works at that time, 'Nutritional study of Korean food (4 articles)’ and ‘Study on hot spring ingredients (6 articles) were massive studies, which were evaluated as valuable literature even until now.
Formed the base of pharmacology modernization with a study on food life and hygiene of Korean people
His research article that studied a total of 155 types of Korean foods and a total of 161 nutritional ingredients of wild edible plants to identify their nutritional value became the base of Korea food and nutrition. In addition, his study that identified ingredients of a total of 41 hot springs scattered in the Korean Peninsula was very valuable research that identified their chemical properties and efficacies available as the scale of their therapeutic use.
His study on the distribution of taste blindness conducted with 1,088 Korean subjects also became an important milestone for follow-up studies. Besides, the published about 20 research articles on food hygiene and environmental hygiene and contributed greatly to the improvement of public health that had been very poor at that time. Like this, he made a great contribution to pharmacological study and education as a pioneer who prepared the cornerstone of Korea's pharmacological study both nominally and virtually.
Activated research on nutritional ingredients of medicinal plants
Professor Koo Dong Han managed the National Hygiene Laboratory after the liberation and was appointed as the first president of National Chemical Laboratories, the ancestor of the National Institute of Health when it was changed by the US military government in the next year. Then he moved to the processor of the college of pharmacy, Seoul National University, was appointed and served as the first dean for 11 years when the college was incorporated into the Seoul National University.
He prepared the base of pharmacological education by educating students hardly. He was appointed as the president of Annex Herbal Medicine Research Institute and made a great contribution to its development. Then he was selected as the first chairman of the Pharmaceutical Society of Korea and laded it for 15 years.
He published about 10 articles including a study on tannin of leaves of Acer ginnala, Korea’s aboriginal plant, during serving as the processor of Seoul National University. Especially as Polygagallin among the tannin of leaves of Acer ginnala he identified was the ingredient that A. G. Perkin in UK and Ueda in Japan predicted its existence but failed to identify it, its academic value was evaluated high.
After appointed as a professor of Annex Herbal Medicine Research Institute, the ancestor of Natural Products Research Institute, he reached the highest research force of natural materials and obtained valuable achievements. Especially the study on siegesbockia herb, a medicinal plant with excellent blood pressure decrease and anti-inflammatory efficacy was one of his achievements.
In recognition of its uniqueness and academic value, he was invited to and gave a lecture in the 9th Annual Meetings of American Society of Pharmacognosy in 1968. Then he was invited by Professor Tarabucchi, the president of the Pharmacology Institute in Milano University, Italy to cooperate with the best research group of organic chemistry institutes and perform a joint study with them and published the results in Tetrahedron Letters, an authoritative journal of organic chemistry published by the UK. In addition, he compiled this study and received a writing prize at the National Academy of Sciences Awards in 1971.