Horace Newton Allen

Horace Newton Allen (April 23, 1858 – December 11, 1932) was an American diplomat, missionary and physician who was American ambassador to Korea from 1897 to 1905. Along with Robert Samuel Maclay, Allen was one of the first Western Protestant missionaries in Korea, arriving there on September 15, 1884.

After treating , a royal relative injured during the Gapsin Coup, Allen became close to the king of Joseon, Gojong. At his suggestion, Gojong founded the first western hospital, Chejungwon (now known as Severance Hospital). Allen was in charge of the core function of the hospital. A year after the establishment of the hospital, Allen started a medical school, which offered the first formal western medical education in Korea.

Due to Allen's relationship with the emperor and other officials, Allen became part of the United States Legation to Korea. He was appointed as secretary in 1890 and was promoted to US minister and consul general in 1897. However, Allen was recalled in 1905, over disagreements with the United States government regarding the Taft-Katsura Agreement. Upon hearing the widespread rumor that a foreigner with bushy red beard revived a dead prince, many people flocked to his house.

He submitted to the Foreign Ministry "A proposal of founding a hospital for the government of His Majesty in Seoul Corea" with an introductory letter by J. C. Foulk, chargé d'affaires of the U.S. Legation. Gojong granted his proposal readily and a western hospital named Gwanghyewon was opened in a traditional Korean estate on April 10, 1885. The name quickly was changed to Chejungwon . The hospital had 5 separate in-patient rooms, eye treatment room for extraction of cataracts, vaccination room for smallpox, etc. A year later, Dr. Allen, John William Heron and Horace Underwood opened the Medical and Scientific School of the Royal Corean Hospital and admitted 16 medical students.

The Severance Hospital and Medical school on June 5, 1962, moved to a new location in Sinchon after building a huge medical complex which included the Eighth U.S. Army Memorial Chest Hospital as an integral part and a separate unit ($400,000 worth of building material and $70,000 for medical equipment as American Forces Aids to Korea Program 1955). This institution now is called Yonsei Health System, part of Yonsei University after union with Yonsei University on Jan 5, 1957.

Allen's post Chejungwon activities related to Korea are; King Gojong of Korea asked Allen to help open the Korean Legation in the United States of America and Allen led a 12-man delegation to Washington, D.C. in November 1887 and established the Korean Legation in January 1888 when Minister Park J. Y presented appointment letter to President Cleveland. Allen helped operate the Korean Legation and carried out diplomatic activities (his position was "foreign secretary" "참찬관" ).

Upon his return from North America he started working in July 1890 as Secretary at the United States Legation in Seoul and left 15 years later in June 1905 as the Envoy Extraordinaire and the Minister Plenipotential before his successor Morgan closed the United States legation in November 1905.

Death and legacy He died in Toledo, Ohio, on December 11, 1932. He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Toledo. Allen and his wife, Francis Ann "Fannie", had two sons, Horace Ethan "Harry" who in turn had 3 sons and Maurice who left no children. There are 5 surviving great grandchildren.

Allen was decorated 3 times by King Gojong and the last one, the highest Tae Guk Order was donated to Yonsei Health System in 2015 by his great granddaughter Lydia Allen.

Dr. Allen's contribution to Korea: 1. Introduction of western medicine to Korea. 2. Opening the door to the proselytization of Christianity to Korea 3. Industrialization of Korea; arranging building a railroad system, trolley, electric company, etc. by American companies. 4. Faithful supporter of King Gojong and Korea.

Awards

Order of the Taegeuk 1st Class

In popular culture Portrayed by Sean Richard in the 2010 SBS TV series Jejungwon. Portrayed by Lorne Oliver in the 2018 tvN and Netflix TV series Mr. Sunshine.