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156 Jeolla-do Jeolla-do 157

141 Gwangju Yangnim Church 142 Obang Choi Heung-jong Memorial Hall

2 Baekseo-ro 70beon-gil, Nam-gu, Gwangju-si 64 Jejung-ro, Nam-gu, Gwangju-si http://www.obangmuseum.or.kr

Gwangju Yangnim Church was established in 1912. Pastor Bell and Dr. Owen, who came Choi Heung-jong (1880-1966) was a pioneer in the
to Jeolla-do as missionaries for the Presbyterian Church in the United States, arrived in enlightenment of the Honam region centered on Gwangju,
Yangnim-ri from Mokpo with Byun Chang-yeon and Kim Yun-soo, decided where to leading the social and cultural movement by creating
stay, and diligently evangelized. As a result, Choi Hong-jong and Bae Kyeong-soo became the Gwangju YMCA, was imprisoned during the March
Christians and they worshiped at the Sarangchae at first, but as the number of believers 1 Independence Movement, and served as the president
Obang lived a
gradually increased, a chapel was built in the north gate, and then Choi Hong-jong and of the Gwangju branch of Singanhoe, an independent
life devoted to
Bae Yoon-soo were established as elders, and the number of church members gradually organization. Choi Heung-jong named his pen name
eradicating leprosy,
increased. “Obang” in the sense of abandoning five desires, including
relieving the poor,
The missionary had been a pastor of the church, and in 1918, Lee Ki-poong was appointed “desire for honor, material desire, sexual desire, appetite,
independence
as a Korean pastor for the first time. Around August 1919, when the church was forcibly and religious self-righteousness.”
movements,
confiscated due to the Japanese oppression policy after the March 1st Movement, the As a pastor, Obang planted the Gwangju Church outside
missionary activities,
church was moved to a memorial hall located in Yangnim-dong, and a new building was the north gate (currently the Gwangju Joongang Church) and devoted
and educational
built and relocated outside the south gate that fall. Currently, the name “Yangnim Church” himself to the movement against shrine worship. Following
activities. He is
is used by three denominations: Presbyterian Church in Korea (Tong-hap) , Presbyterian Jesus’ lesson of serving the “small man,” he lowered himself
remembered as the
Church in the Republic of Korea (Ki-jang) , and Presbyterian Church in Korea (Hap-dong) . for the poor and children, and especially since 1909, he had
spiritual support of
devoted himself to caring for the leprosy patients with Seo
Gwangju and the
Seo-pyeong and missionary Wilson.
“Dr. Owen loved Joseon and father of modern
When Obang passed away, hundreds of Hansen’s disease
the patients of Hansen's disease.” Gwangju.
patients, tuberculosis patients, and beggars from all over the
country, not only Gwangju, came and cried, saying “Who
will take care of us after my father passed away?” Obang is
said to be a legendary social worker.

Tong-hap https://yangrim.org/ Hap-dong http://www.yangrim.net/ Ki-jang

Dr. Owen Memorial Hall monument to Pastor Park Seok-hyeon Obang Choi Heung-jong Memorial Hall