I want to spread the idea of the Han Spirit through the education of acupuncturists
By David Park, Founder, South Baylo University
I studied economics and graduated from Yonsei University in 1955 and earned my master’s and doctoral degree in economics in the U.S. I have lectured economics classes at California State Polytechnic University for 31 years.
I have lived in the U.S. for such a long time. Still, I wanted to learn more about my identity and traditional Korean philosophy, and my desire to study those subjects was kept on growing as I studied more about traditional Korean philosophy such as the Han spirit, ‘Humanitarianism,’ and ‘Governing nation with the reason’ I was fascinated by unique ideas of traditional Korean philosophy.
I tried to explain and prove that the Korean philosophy is not separated from the paradigm of New Science, which was introduced in the 1960s. Traditional Korean philosophy is far more advanced than New Science. It seemed that New Science, such as Quantum theory, Chaos theory, Fuzzy theory, and Holon theory was introduced to explain Korean culture.
I decided to dedicate my life to introduce the value of traditional Korean philosophy for American. But as one who had an economics major, I was not so sure how to achieve my goal. I finally decided to establish an acupuncture school and educate traditional Korean philosophy to students and provide authentic acupuncture treatment to Americans.
Back then, acupuncture theory was not familiar with Americans. But I thought there was a chance to make acupuncture more popular because the acupuncture theory is future-oriented philosophy that shares track with New Science.
As I planned to establish an acupuncture school in the early 1970s, the 37th President of the U.S., Richard Nixon visited China, and he brought and introduced acupuncture. Richard Nixon has been a catalyst that brought acupuncture to the U.S. directly from China.
I was encouraged to establish South Baylo University in Los Angeles, California, in 1977. In the beginning, the school had two programs, such as acupuncture and business courses. The purpose of acupuncture school is to educate acupuncture theories based on the Han Spirit. And I wanted to educate future business administrators who could manage his/her company with ideas of ‘Humanitarianism’ and ‘Governing nation with reason.’
I cannot forget my first students who were nine of them and from Korea, Japan, and Iran, and the moment I saw their enthusiasm through their eyes in the first class.
The Year 2020 is the 43rd year of the school. I founded a small school in the beginning with a vision. Forty-three years later, from 1977, thousands of acupuncturists have been educated and earned their degree, and now there have been practicing acupuncture for Americans in the states of America.
There were sunny days and rainy days for school. But the school is still educating students in Anaheim and Los Angeles campus. I believe the driving force of the success of the school is based on traditional Korean philosophy and the Han Spirit.
Like everyone in the U.S., the school encounters challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All courses have been delivered through online courses. No one can predict when the pandemic will be over and will be the quarantine lifted. I will do the same thing as I have been doing for the last 43 years during a tough time. I will do my best to spread goodwill and righteousness based on traditional Korean philosophy to my students and alumnus. Then we will see each other and shake hands without caring for keeping social distance or wearing masks someday.
