Who is Dr. Heo June?
Published by DABANG January 29, 2026
Heo June (1539–1615) was a pioneering physician during Korea’s Josun Dynasty (1392–1910), revered as the “father of Korean medicine” or the “physician of the people.” Born in 1539 in what is now Seoul’s Gangseo District (some sources suggest Gimpo in Gyeonggi Province), he was the illegitimate son of a low-ranking government official or military officer. In Josun’s strict Confucian hierarchy, this status barred him from many elite paths, but Heo June’s intellect and determination propelled him forward. He received a solid education in classics and medicine, excelling despite societal prejudices.
By his early 30s, Heo June passed the rigorous national medical examination around 1570, entering the Naeuiwon (royal medical academy) in 1571 at age 33. His skills quickly elevated him to royal physician, where he served King Sunjo (r. 1567–1608) and later Gwanghaegoon (r. 1608–1623). Known for his humility and empathy, Heo Jun treated patients from all walks of life, not just the aristocracy, which set him apart in an era of class division.
The Imjin War (Japanese invasions, 1592–1598) tested his resolve. As the kingdom faced devastation, Heo June accompanied the fleeing King Sunjo, treating his ailments amid chaos. He also organized medical aid for refugees, distributed food during famines, and improvised treatments with scarce resources. Post-war, political factions led to his brief exile in 1608 on trumped-up charges, but Gwanghaegun reinstated him, valuing his irreplaceable expertise. In his final years, Heo Jun focused on teaching, mentoring apprentices at the Naeuiwon until his death on October 9, 1615, at age 76.
Heo Jun’s enduring legacy is the Donguibogam (Principles and Practice of Eastern Medicine), commissioned by King Sunjo in 1596 to consolidate East Asian medical wisdom. Leading a team, Heo Jun drew from over 180 sources—Chinese classics like the Huangdi Neijing, Korean folk remedies, and regional innovations. The project paused during the 1597 invasion, with drafts nearly lost, but he completed the 25-volume work in 1610, publishing it in 1613. Unlike prior texts, it centered on the human body: sections on internal organs (Naegyeongpyeon), external body (Oehyeongpyeon), miscellaneous diseases (Japbyeongpyeon), herbal remedies (Tangaekpyeon), and acupuncture (Chimgupyeon). It promoted holistic principles like qi balance, yin-yang harmony, preventive care, and accessible treatments using local herbs—such as Doraji (balloon flower root) for respiratory issues, tying into traditional teas we discussed.
Written in classical Chinese with Korean notes, it was practical for practitioners and officials. The Donguibogam spread across Asia: Chinese editions in 1763, Japanese in the 1700s. It advanced Korean medicine (Hanbang) as a distinct field, influencing diagnostics and therapies that echo in modern holistic health. In 2009, UNESCO inscribed it in the Memory of the World Register, Korea’s seventh such honor.
The Korean Food and Drug Administration's standards for teas are based on whether they are recorded in the Donguibogam, illustrating the substantial influence the Donguibogam has had on Korean traditional medicine and continues to have today.
Heo June remains a cultural icon. The 1999–2000 K-drama Hur Jun dramatized his life, boosting Hanbang’s popularity. Museums like the Heo June Museum in Seoul’s Gangseo District showcase his tools, manuscripts, and exhibits on Josun medicine.
Fun facts: He included philosophical elements linking the body to cosmic forces, quirky remedies (e.g., friction for skin health), and advocated gender-specific care. His merit-based rise symbolized equality in medicine.