📖 Origin of the Hanja

The hanja "藥" combines grass (艸) with joy (樂) — herbs that make the body joyful. "師" means master. 藥師 = "master of medicine". Korean pharmacy traces to the Hyangyak Jipseongbang (鄕藥集成方, 1433) — King Sejong's monumental compilation of native Korean medicinal herbs by No Jung-rye and Bak Yun-deok. The principle: Korean illnesses are best treated by Korean herbs. Modern pharmacists are not mere dispensers but the final checkpoint for drug interactions, side effects, and adherence.