On March 26, 2025, Professor Jung Hyun Seul peacefully passed away, leaving behind
a legacy that has profoundly shaped Korean plastic surgery. He was not merely a skilled
surgeon or esteemed educator—he was a visionary leader, a devoted mentor, and a man
of deep human warmth whose influence resonates across generations.
A Founding Figure and Academic Pioneer
A Founding Figure and Academic Pioneer
Born in Daegu in 1942, Professor Seul graduated from Korea University College of Medicine
in 1967 and completed his surgical and plastic surgery training at Severance Hospital,
Yonsei University. In 1976, he became Korea's 29th board-certified plastic surgeon
and later earned his PhD in Medicine in 1980, solidifying his academic foundation.
In 1983, as Yeungnam University College of Medicine was established, he became the
founding chair and head of the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. For
over 23 years until his retirement in 2006, Professor Seul led the department with
unwavering dedication, laying the groundwork for what has become one of Korea's leading
centers of plastic surgery education and clinical care.
A Trailblazer in Breast Reconstruction
A Trailblazer in Breast Reconstruction
While Professor Seul contributed across a wide range of surgical fields, his groundbreaking
work in breast reconstruction was especially transformative. In 2000, he became the
first surgeon in Korea to complete over 100 cases of breast reconstruction—a remarkable
achievement that demonstrated both his technical expertise and his commitment to restoring
not just form, but dignity and wholeness to his patients.
His 2005 textbook, Plastic Surgery of the Breast, was the first of its kind, authored by a Korean surgeon for Korean patients and
professionals. At a time when most academic resources were only available in English,
this pioneering work bridged cultural and linguistic gaps, localizing global surgical
knowledge. Recognized for its academic excellence and clinical relevance, the book
earned him the prestigious 38th Dong-A Medical Literature Award.
Thanks to his teaching and leadership, many of his students have gone on to specialize
in breast reconstruction, and Yeungnam University Medical Center continues to be recognized
nationally for excellence in this field.
Leadership, Service, and Global Recognition
Leadership, Service, and Global Recognition
Beyond the operating room and lecture hall, Professor Seul played a critical role
in advancing plastic surgery as a profession. He served as the President of the Korean
Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (1996-1997) and the Korean Society
of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (1998-1999). In May 1999, as the President of the Oriental
Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (OSAPS), he successfully hosted international
conferences in Seoul and contributed to expanding Korea's presence in the global medical
community.
From 2001 to 2023, he also served as the 10th Director of Yeungnam University Medical
Center, demonstrating outstanding leadership in health care administration. His impact
extended from surgical excellence to institutional development.
A Man of Character and Heart
A Man of Character and Heart
What truly set Professor Seul apart was his humanity. Though disciplined and principled,
he was also generous, humorous, and full of life. His students remember not only his
academic rigor but also his warmth—his readiness to share a drink, sing a song at
karaoke, or offer a thoughtful word of encouragement. With his big hands, dignified
presence, and compassionate heart, he embodied both strength and grace.
Even during his final illness, he retained his dignity, showing deep consideration
for those around him. To the very end, he was a teacher—not only of surgery but of
how to live with honor and purpose. He also donated development funds to Yeungnam
University Medical Center and the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons,
where he served.
He raised not only surgeons, but thinkers and leaders. Since he founded the department
in 1983, the Department of Plastic Surgery at Yeungnam University Hospital has trained
61 Plastic Surgery Boardmen, 22 PhDs, and 43 master' graguates. His legacy lies not
only in his skills and titles, but also in the lives he touched and transformed.
A Lasting Legacy
Professor Seul will be remembered not only as a pioneer in the field of plastic surgery,
but as a rare kind of human being—principled yet kind, disciplined yet warm. To his
students, he was not only a professor but a father figure and a guiding star.
His contributions will continue to echo through the halls of Yeungnam University,
through the hands of his students, and through every patient whose life has been healed
and uplifted.
We honor him. We mourn him. And we carry forward his spirit, with gratitude and reverence.
May he rest in eternal peace.
Seul Jung Hyun
