Imperatives of Care adds an important facet to our understanding of “Korea’s medical modernization,” first during the Great Han Empire (Taehan cheguk, 1897–1910) and later under Japanese colonial rule (1910–45), by centering on gender politics (3). Narratives about the development of modern medicine in Korea commonly take a supposedly gender-neutral perspective that in fact prioritizes the achievements of male medical professionals and renders women’s contributions to and experiences with health care practices secondary, if not entirely invisible. By bringing the untold side of the story to the fore, Kim invites readers to view the contested beginnings of modern medicine in Korea through the lens of women’s physical, intellectual, and emotional labors. The shift of focus, in turn, helps us understand the various social and cultural ramifications that new curative and health care practices had in different corners of the nation, beyond official medical institutions, during the first half...
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