Woojangchun Museum | |||
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Dr. Jangchoon Woo was a scientist famous for breeding plants. (His father, Beomseon Woo, sought political
asylum at the end of Japanese colonization and his mother was Japanese.) Born in Japan in 1898, he entered
the Agricultural department of Tokyo University in 1916, overcoming poverty and abuse. At the time of his
graduation in 1919, he took a job at Japan's Ministry of Agriculture's examination room and exerted all
of his efforts on breeding research. He published more than 20 research papers before 1937.
In 1936 he received international attention from his research paper, titled "The Synthesis of Species"
on genome analysis of the brassica plant. The research supplemented Charles Darwin's theory that species
are formed by natural retardation. Dr. Woo came to Korea in 1950 and worked for Korean agricultural sciences.
He became Director of National Horticultural Research Institute and was head of research for horticultural
development when he passed away in 1959. He enabled Korea to support plant seeds upon which the country
previously depended on import from Japan. He also made it possible to develop a seedless watermelon. The
government recognized his accomplishments in breeding and gardening and awarded him the Culture Merit Medal
on August 7, 1959. He passed away 3 days after the citation was awarded.
Dr. Woo's Memorial museum is located around the quiet residential area near the Dongnae Hotsprings Resort.
The street has been named Jangchoon Woo street. In front of memorial, there is a well called the well of
freedom, signifying a well like a generous mother's breast, which has a story related to Dr. Woo's mother's
death. When his mother died in Japan, he was not able to participate at the funeral due to a restriction
by the government. However, he used condolence money given by his acquaintances for his mother's death to
dig wells for people and a research center that had suffered from drought. Part of his daily was to clean
up the well. So people believe his spirit and affection are nested around the well.
Although few of Dr. Woo' possessions are displayed here, it presents the actual physical environment
of his office, displaying his notebooks and his own calligraphy. The museum also displays exhibits of
much of the research that he accomplished during his lifetime.Location: 850-48, Oncheon 2-dong Information: (051) 550-4489 Hours: 9:30~18:00 (May-Oct), 9:30~17:00 (Nov-Feb) Closed: Every Monday (if Monday is a national holiday, the Museum is closed the following day), Seollal, Chuseok, Jan 1 Admission: free
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