Patrick Pogranz | Hungarian DPRK Study Society
On 27 July, the 73rd anniversary of the victory in the Great Fatherland Liberation War, we solemnly remember all those who stood with the Korean people during the years of the Korean War. This significant anniversary also gives us an opportunity to recall the selfless service of the Hungarian medical mission. Hungarian doctors, nurses, and medical personnel came to the aid of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea during its most difficult days, and their devotion forever inscribed a remarkable chapter in the history of Hungarian–Korean friendship.
The Korean War was one of the most devastating armed conflicts of the twentieth century. Three years of fierce fighting inflicted enormous human and material losses: entire towns and villages were destroyed, much of the country’s medical infrastructure lay in ruins, and the flow of wounded and sick never ceased. During these difficult years, Hungary dispatched a medical mission to the DPRK, whose members served from the most intense phase of the war and continued their demanding, self-sacrificing work for nearly seven years.
The first group of fifteen Hungarian medical personnel arrived in Korea on 20 July 1950—just one month after the outbreak of the war. They began their work in a field hospital established in the building of an abandoned school under conditions of extreme hardship. Medical equipment was scarce, water had to be transported from several kilometres away, and as the front lines shifted, the hospital had to be relocated repeatedly. Air raids destroyed medical instruments and medicines, yet despite these circumstances, the Hungarian staff continued to treat the sick and wounded, performing operations every day, saving lives, and often risking their own safety for the sake of their patients.
In the following years, eight successive Hungarian medical teams served in Korea. After the end of the war, the hospital was converted into a provincial hospital in Sariwon, where the primary focus shifted to providing medical care for the civilian population. Hungarian specialists not only treated patients but also introduced modern methods of diagnosis and therapy, trained Korean medical personnel, and participated in the expansion and modernization of hospital facilities. Thanks to their tireless efforts, Hungarian assistance continued to contribute to the reconstruction and development of the DPRK’s healthcare system even after hostilities had ended.
Between 1950 and 1957, a total of 225 Hungarian medical professionals served in Korea. During this period, they treated approximately 120,000 sick and wounded patients and performed more than 7,000 surgical operations. To save critically ill patients, they repeatedly donated their own blood—a powerful testament to both their professional dedication and their humanity. The selfless work of the Hungarian medical mission was highly appreciated by the Korean side, and many of its members received state decorations.
Even after the signing of the Armistice Agreement, the Hungarian medical mission continued its activities. Hungarian doctors and nurses participated in rebuilding the healthcare system of the war-ravaged country until 1957, when the well-equipped hospital in Sariwon was formally handed over to their Korean colleagues. Thus concluded a mission of nearly seven years, one whose guiding principles were always healing, compassion, and a readiness to help those in need.
On the 73rd anniversary of the victory in the Great Fatherland Liberation War, we remember with special gratitude the Hungarian medical workers who served in Korea. Their courage, professionalism, and selflessness gave tens of thousands of people a chance to recover and remain a shining chapter in the history of friendship between the Hungarian and Korean peoples. The humanitarian spirit and solidarity they demonstrated continue to form part of our shared historical heritage and deserve the respect and remembrance of future generations.