"I Love Kos" sign is seen at the Port of Kos, Greece on Sept. 1. Korea Times

KOS ISLAND, Greece — The picturesque Greek island of Kos, part of the Dodecanese chain in the southeast Aegean Sea, holds a notable connection to modern-day Korea. Kos is the birthplace of Hippocrates, the ancient Greek physician revered as the "father of medicine." His legacy has recently gained renewed attention in Korea amid the nation's ongoing medical crisis, which has sparked debate over doctors' ethics.

Like in many countries, all medical school graduates in Korea take the Hippocratic Oath, named after him. Consequently, Koreans, including medical students, are well aware of the famous Greek healer.

Korea's medical school craze has also led many Koreans to learn about Hippocrates and his contributions to medicine.

Medicine is the most popular field of study for high school students in Korea. Each year, top students with the highest GPAs and test scores compete to enter medical schools. The profession is highly sought after due to its prestige, fulfillment, and financial rewards. Doctors are highly respected, enjoy substantial incomes, and benefit from strong job security. Additionally, there is no mandatory retirement age for those practicing medicine.

On the small Greek island of Kos, which is roughly one-sixth the size of Korea's southern resort island of Jeju, Hippocrates' legacy still lives on, even though thousands of years have passed since his death.

The globally known ancient Greek physician is a source of pride for the locals.

A taxi driver who goes by the first name Antonios said he is a proud Greek, possessing a great deal of admiration for his over-achieving ancient ancestors. He said Hippocrates made him even more proud to be a resident of Kos Island, stressing that two historic sites — the Plane Tree of Hippocrates and the ruins of the Asklepion, where the ancient Greek doctor treated patients and taught his students — constantly attract tourists.

Ironically, these historic sites are tucked away near the bustling, thriving commercial district of the port of Kos. The district is crowded with back-to-back restaurants, bars and souvenir shops. In the marina district, dozens of ferries go back and forth, carrying tourists, mostly Europeans, for day trips to nearby Greek islands.

The stature of Hippocrates in a park near the port of Kos / Korea Times

A sculpture of Hippocrates stands in a small park in front of a centuries-old, leafy Plane tree. Some of his famous words, highlighting his natural approach to treating diseases and the importance of preventive medicine, are engraved on the sculpture in both Greek and English. One inscription reads, "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food."

Born on Kos Island around 460 B.C., Hippocrates was an innovative physician. According to the Kos Municipal Government website, he acquired extensive knowledge about nature, climate, regional lifestyles, and prevalent diseases during his 12 years of exploration in neighboring regions and countries, including Thrace, Thassos, Macedonia, and Egypt.

In the article titled “Health Care Practices in Ancient Greece: The Hippocratic Ideal,” co-authors Christos F. Kleisiaris, Chrisanthos Sfakianakis, and Ioanna V. Papathanasiou argue that Hippocrates made significant contributions to modern medicine by asserting that medical practice should be based on detailed observation, reason, and experience to establish diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.

“Obviously, after Hippocrates, there was no longer a mixture of superstition, magic, religious views and empirical treatments examined by priest-physicians, and medicine became a real science through accumulating experience,” the article states.

“Hippocrates set the stepping stones for the foundations of medicine, developing medical terms and definitions, protocols and guidelines for the classification of diseases, which are considered the gold standards for the diagnosis, management and prevention of diseases.”

To people outside of Greece, Hippocrates is best known for the oath named after him, which physicians swear to when they enter the profession. The Hippocratic Oath emphasizes the integrity of the physician, highlighting a patient-first approach as a fundamental and uncompromising value.

“I shall charge only for my professional services and shall not profit financially in any other way as a result of the advice and care I render my patients,” the oath reads. “I shall work with my profession to improve the quality of medical care and to improve the public health, but I shall not let any lesser public or professional consideration interfere with my primary commitment to provide the best and most appropriate care available to each of my patients.”

The local municipal government of Kos hosts an annual event to commemorate Hippocrates and his legacy. “Every October, the Municipality of Kos, in collaboration with the Hippocratic Foundation, organizes two weeks dedicated to Hippocrates,” Petros Pikionis, director of tourism at the island's government, said. “This event attracts medical professionals, academics and students from around the world who participate in various activities, including authentic Hippocratic Oath ceremony and its reenactment. The ceremony took place in Asklepion”

Peter Andreadis

Peter Andreadis, a staff member of the Peridis Family Resort, said the fact that Kos is the hometown of the ancient Greek physician certainly helps the island attract foreign tourists.

“Kos is a friendly island. We have nice beaches. Plus, we have Asklepion which is the world's first hospital where Hippocrates treated patients,” he said, adding that there are many more attractions to explore on the island.

He said Kos is very popular among European travelers, particularly those from Scandinavian countries, as well as the Dutch, and people from the United Kingdom and Ireland.

“They come here with their families and stay for one or two weeks. Some visit here year after year,” he said.

A female doctor walks past a large poster on the wall of Seoul National University Bundang Hospital in this file photo from June 17. In the poster titled "Hippocrates Wails," the hospital's union criticizes the doctors' strike, warning of potentially deadly consequences for patients and adverse effects on healthcare workers. Korea Times file

The Hippocratic Oath has sparked debate in Korea amid a prolonged dispute between the Yoon Suk Yeol government and the nation's doctors. The conflict arose after the government proposed gradually increasing medical school admissions quotas to meet the growing demand for doctors, driven by the country's rapidly aging population. The standoff has persisted with neither side showing signs of compromise, resulting in a significant impact on patient care. Emergency patients are struggling to find hospitals equipped to treat them, as several understaffed facilities have been unable to admit them.

In Korea, the essence of the Hippocratic Oath, which emphasizes doctors' dedication and selfless commitment to patients fighting for their lives, seems to have been overshadowed.

What would the ancient Greek physician say about the dire medical situation in Korea if he were alive?

Some blame doctors for what they perceive as self-serving and short-sighted collective actions aimed at protecting their own interests at the expense of patient health. Critics accuse doctors of disregarding patients' needs, alleging that they have failed to uphold their commitment to prioritize patient care above all else, as stipulated by the Hippocratic Oath.

Doctors, meanwhile, defend their actions.

Asking for anonymity, one doctor referenced Hippocrates' insightful observation on medical training, encapsulated in the aphorism "Ars longa, vita brevis," which translates to "art is long, life is short."

“He meant that mastering medical skills takes time and dedication,” he said. “In Korea, aspiring doctors struggle to remain focused on their training due to the ongoing dispute.”

The government and doctors have been at odds, with neither side showing signs of compromising. Medical students are taking leaves of absence, and trainee doctors are quitting in response to the government's abrupt decision to increase medical school admissions quotas.

“The doctors' strike signals that the good old days of cheap and quick medical services are over,” he said. “Korea was able to provide effective medical services at competitive prices because doctors were willing to work under bad working conditions. But this will not be the case any longer.”