The EugeneBell Foundation is named in honor of Rev. Eugene Bell, a Southern Presbyterian missionary who arrived in Korea in April 1895. Chairman Stephen Linton, a fourth generation descendant, established the foundation in 1995 in memory of his great grandfather for the purpose of supporting humanitarian, religious, medical and educational programs and exchanges that reflected the Christian commitment, vision and legacy of the early Christian missionaries to Korea.

Sent by the Southern Presbyterian Church in America as a missionary, Eugene Bell and his wife, Lottie Witherspoon, began their missionary work in the Cheolla Province area. Rev. Eugene Bell, together with other missionaries, developed a variety of educational and missionary programs throughout the Cheolla Provinces.

Charlotte Bell, the youngest daughter of the Bell couple, married Rev. Hugh William Linton. Together they lived and worked in the southwestern part of the Korean peninsula. Rev. William Linton and his wife served in missionary education in Kunsan, Jeonju, Mokpyo, Gwangju, and Daejeon. In his later years, Dr. Linton founded Daejeon University (currently Hannam University).

After living in the US for several years, the third son (and daughter-in-law) of William and Charlotte Linton, Rev. Hugh Linton and his wife, Betty, returned to Korea as missionaries. Starting with the the Yoseo-Suncheon area of South Cheolla and the islands of South Cholla Province, Rev. Linton joined with the Korean church leaders in founding over 200 rural churches.

During the early 1960’s, a severe outbreak of tuberculosis occurred in the Suncheon area. To respond to this need, the Hugh Lintons established the Suncheon tuberculosis treatment and care center in 1964.

EugeneBell was founded by the second son of Hugh Linton, Dr. Stephen Linton, who also grew up in Korea and suffered from tuberculosis as a child. Through the EugeneBell Foundation, the commitment of the early Christian missionaries to Korea continues today in North Korea.