Brief History of the Chonnam National University Medical Museum
The establishment of the Chonnam National University Medical Museum (CNUMM) was initially proposed by Prof. Jong Chun Park and unanimously approved by the Faculty Council of CNU Medical School (CNUMS) on October 9, 2003. On Dec. 24 of the same year, the Preparatory Committee for Establishing Medical Museum was organized with Prof. Hyun-Chul Lee as the chairman, and launched its activities to collect objects and artifacts of historical value. On May 20, 2004, in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the CNUMS, the committee produced and distributed the commemorative compact discs (CDs) to all alumni in Korea and abroad. Contained in the CDs were the official plan to establish the Medical Museum and solicitation for the donation of valuable relics and artifacts. On October 7, 2004, Prof. Min-Cheol Lee was elected as the chairman of the Preparatory Committee by the Faculty Council. As Prof. Min-Cheol Lee was elected by the Faculty Council as the director of the Medical Cyber Museum which was opened on May 21, 2005, Dean Hyun-Chul Lee took over leadership of the committee on March 3, 2005.
On September 1, 2010, Prof. Min-Cheol Lee, the newly elected Dean (the 29th) of the CNUMS announced the plant to establish the Medical Museum in the old Main Building through overall renovation and restructuring at the inaugural ceremony of Dean. Prof. Jeong-Gwan Cho was elected as the chairman of the Museum-Constructing Committee by the Faculty Council on April 1, 2011. The committee was formed on June 2, 2011, and a licensed curator was employed through open recruitment on January 26, 2012. Subsequently, the renovation was contracted with UDI Co. by open bidding on February 24, 2012. The renovation began upon its approval by the CNU Headquarter on March 26, 2012. On July 18, 2012, the regulations on museum’s operation were approved by the Faculty Council and Prof. Jeong-Gwan Cho was elected as the first director of the CNUMM. The construction of medical museum was completed on July 31, 2012 and the opening ceremony was held on August 21, 2012. The CNUMM was registered as a Class 1 Specialty Museum in accordance with the "Museum and Art Gallery Support Act" of Korean Government on September 28, 2012.