The western dentistry was introduced to Korea by Japanese and Westerners. There appeared dental technician before dentists in Korea, which was the situation of transitional period. This was when Suk Tae Ham became a dentist. Suk Tae Ham was born in Youngbyun, Pyoung-An Buk Do Province in 1889, and he was very strict and orthodox but gentle and warm-hearted. It was before formal dentist system when Suk Tae Ham graduated from Japan Dental Professional School. At that time, the regulation for dental treatment was to put opening a dental clinic and practicing dentistry under the control of the police. Suk Tae Ham was registered as the first dentist in Fubruary 5, 1914.
Suk Tae Ham tried to show the dignity as a dentist to evoke public attention to dentistry. It seemed that he opened his dental clinic in Seoul in June 19, 1914 and concentrated his efforts on oral surgery, doing some prosthetic dentistry. When Suk Tae Ham was practiced dentistry, there were four Japanese dentists and one American dentist in practice in Seoul. Also, there were three to four Korean dental technician.
Suk Tae Ham belonged to the Dentists’ Society of Kyungsung, but he joined the campaign for dental hygiene, thinking of his own people, Koreans other than Japanese. Dentists were produced under the government regulation and Korean dentist graduating from Kyungsung Dental Professional School opened their own dental clinics. Suk Tae Ham organized the Hansung Dentists’ Society for Koreans only and became its president. From 1928 on, this organization arranged departments, established the system for discussion and developed in various areas such as academic research, campaign for dental hygiene and welfare of members. Under Japanese pressure, however, it was joined to the Chosun Dentists’ Society United, under which the dentist’s society was made in each province. Again under Japanese pressure Hansung Dentists’ Society and Kyungsung Dentists’ Society was united in October 1, 1942. Suk Tae Ham, as a Korean dentist, tried to contribute to Korean people and Korean students and widen the understanding for dental hygiene. He also lectured on dental hygiene. We can find his distinguished capacity of dentistry from his ad, which stated he could do oral surgery which dental technicians couldn’t do. Suk Tae Ham had a keen eye for cultural assets, and he showed his love for his country by collecting them. At the end of Japanese rule there was an order of evacuation and after that he went to his hometown with them. After liberation communist regime was established in the north, when he left his hometown for Hwanghae-Do province and was never heard of ever since. Where has the Kumkangsan yun-juck gone?
In conclusion, Suk Tae Ham was an intellectual who recognized the situation which the group of his own profession faced in the Japanese rule. He also loved his country and his people. But he didn’t seem to overcome the limitation of the Japanese rule which he belonged to.
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