The medical system of the Koryo Kingdom was maintained by the Choson Dynasty without much change. In the meantime, with the tide of enlightenment surging into the Korean Peninsula, Western medicine was introduced into this land and began to be recognized as a reliable, new healing art. At that time, Western medicine was highly valued by court officials and some upper-class people. However, the greater part of the general public preferred Oriental medicine on account of their long tradition and failed to understand the importance of Western medicine. With the Kabo-Kyongjang (Reformation), Korea, in imitation of Japan, began pursuing the policy of enlightenment. Meanwhile, Japan drove China out of Korea and later succeeded in Russia's encroachment upon the Korean Peninsula. By so doing, Japan actively began interfering in Korea's national affairs, politically, diplomatically and militarily. Japan applied to Korea the same, even harsher, method that it used at the time of the Meiji Restoration and began to encroach upon Korea's sovereinty. ...