Seoul National University Hospital massacre

Overview

The Seoul National University Hospital massacre refers to the mass killing of medical personnel, hospitalized civilians, and wounded soldiers at Seoul National University Hospital on 28 June 1950, during the early days of the Korean War. The killings occurred amid the First Battle of Seoul, as the Korean People's Army (KPA) advanced into the South Korean capital.

Events

According to accounts of the case, KPA forces overran a platoon assigned to guard the hospital and then killed medical staff, inpatients, and wounded soldiers present there. In 2025, a report by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of the Republic of Korea attributed the massacre to the Korean People's Army and found that the killings took place over two days.

Scale of the killings

Contemporary estimates of the total number of dead have ranged widely, into the hundreds, and have historically been reported inconsistently. The 2025 Truth and Reconciliation Commission report identified roughly 330 victims among those killed, including medical staff, civilian inpatients, and wounded South Korean soldiers.

Context

The massacre took place during the opening phase of the Korean War, shortly after the KPA's invasion of South Korea in June 1950, as North Korean forces fought to capture Seoul. It is often listed alongside other mass killings of the period, including the Bodo League massacre and the Hill 303 massacre.