19th July is the 150th anniversary of the birth of Horace Grant Underwood (Korean name: Won Doo-woo), a historic figure who became a Korean out of his love for this country. Underwood family have served the Korean people for 4 generations. They founded Yonsei University, which is now one of the best universities in Korea. Their monumental contribution to Korea’s education, religion and social progress is remembered as a part of the nation’s history of moving onto the modern world. In this month’s issue, we look back at the history of the Underwood family and H.G. Underwood. Won Doo-woo (Horace G. Underwood) Stepping Stone of Modern Education and Missionary Work in Korea Won Doo-woo was born in London as the fourth son of John Underwood on July 19, 1859. He graduated from New York University in 1881, and the New Brunswick Theological Seminary in New Brunswick, New Jersey, in 1884. He felt he was called by God to become a missionary, and decided to come to Korea. He was 25 years old when his relationship with Korea started on the Easter Sunday of 1885. Arrived at Korea as Presbyterian missionary with H.G. Apenzeller, he taught physics and chemistry at Gwanghyewon, the ancestor of the present Severance Hospital. In 1886, he established an orphanage, which later became the Joseon Christian College (儆新學校). In 1887, he started missionary work in remote areas and founded Saemoonan Presbyterian Church, the first organized church in the country. His activities have significant meaning as a founding stone of modern education and Protestant mission in Korea. Won Han Kyung (Horace H. Underwood) The Launching of University Education Dr. Horace Horton Underwood transformed educational institution established by his father into a representative private higher education institution of Korea. Won Han Kyung’s love for Korea as a blue-eyed Seoulite was most special indeed. His rigorous activities produced fruitful outcome in the university education sector, the last dream and goal of his father. He took over his father’s position as a teacher in the Joseon Christian College and became the third principal of Yonhi College. Always on the side of the oppressed people of the country he adopted as his own, he was put in jail while making effort to raise international attention to the brutality of Japanese colonial government. Won Il Han (Horace G. Underwood) A New Progress Admist the Ruins of Korean War Dr. Won Il Han (Horace Grant Underwood) was the eldest son among Dr. Won Han Kyung’s four sons and a daughter. Born in Seoul in 1917, he spent most of his life in Korea except for his time in Hamilton College in New York and the Graduate School of New York University. He is remembered particularly for helping to promote the relationship between US and Korea, as well as contributing to the higher education in Korea. In 1939, he was dispatched to Korea by the Presbyterian Church in the US and started working at Yonhi College. With the truce signed in 1951, he became an Assistant Professor at the College of Liberal Arts (Department of Education) and devoted himself to rebuilding the institution after its return to Seoul, supporting Baek Nak-jun and Kim Yun-kyoung. His crucial achievement consists above all in founding the basis for Yonsei's full-fledged growth into the present research university, during his service as the Deputy President, and the Executive Secretary and Director of Yonsei Foundation. His love for Korea was truly genuine: the man who would always say, "I have a Korean blood," passed away in January 2004, and buried at the Yanghwajin Foreign Missionary Cemetery not far away from Yonsei campus. Won Han Kwang (Horace H. Underwood) Continued Heritage of Serving Yonsei Won Han Kwang (Horace H. Underwood) is the eldest son of Dr. Won Il Han, born in the USA in 1943, while his father was staying in the country after he was deported from Korea by the Japanese. He came back to Korea when he was 3 years old, and graduated from an international school in Seoul in 1960. He earned his B.A. in Asian history from Hamilton University in 1964 and Ph.D in English Literature from State University of New York in 1972. He came to Korea first as a Visiting Professor at Yonsei, and then was appointed as professor at the Department of English from 1976. He served as the first Director of the Office of Student Affairs in the Graduate School of International Studies from 1987, and worked in various administrative positions including the Deanship of Graduate School of International Studies until 2004. He spent most of his life in Korea, except for 11 years as a student in USA and 3 years at US Navy. He is currently working as an Executive Director of the Yonsei Foundation. Believing that the Underwood family’s century-long love for Korea bore mature fruit, he moved his residence from Korea to US.