Kwang ju Christian Hospital

Kwang ju, Korea

The Kwang ju Christian Hospital was started as a small clinic by Presbyterian missionaries from the Southern Presbyterian Church, U.S. in 1905.  The first building was built in 1909 and was called the Ella Lavine Graham Memorial Hospital.  That building was destroyed by fire and rebuilt in 1933.  The hospital had to be closed in 1940 due to pressure from Japanese authorities, and did not open again until 1951.  It was reopened as a tuberculosis sanatorium by Dr. Herbert A. Codington.

In the early 1960's it was expanded into a general hospital with a special emphasis on both medical and evangelical outreach. In 1965 Kwang ju Christian Hospital was approved as an Intern-and-Resident Training Institution by the government.  An independent Juridical Person was established under the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs of the Korean Government with the agreement of the Presbyterian Church, U.S., in 1970.

In 1981 the remnants of the earlier building were demolished for extensive new construction that was completed in 1983, and as a result the bed capacity was extended to 350.  This construction was made possible with the assistance of EZE of West Germany and Medical Benevolence Foundation (MBF) of U.S.A.  Another construction for expansion and renovation of the existing building was completed in 1988 in order to meet the ever increasing medical needs of the people in this part of the Korean peninsula.

The Kwang ju Christian Hospital is located in the city of Kwang ju, 200 miles south of Seoul, which has a population of approximately 1,500,000.  It is recognized as one of the leading Christian medical institutions in Korea. The hospital has about 650 beds and 860 employees and sees an average of 1,500 out-patients daily.  Employees of the hospital hold morning chapel every day, Monday through Saturday.

Among other things, Kwang ju Christian Hospital focuses on: the work of evangelism through medical care and service; operation of its Medico-Scientific Research Institute; Public Health Service, sanitation programs and anti-tuberculosis programs for the community; and the training of Christian medical personnel.

The work of the Kwang ju Christian Hospital is assisted by PC(USA) Extra Commitment Opportunity funds (Acct. #688502).  The hospital currently seeks funds to support the construction of a much-needed addition to the Kwang Ju Christian College of Nursing. 4/99