This Year (2019) marks the 100th anniversary of the 3.1 Movement. Spending this significant year, it would be appropriate to examine the early life of Dr. Hyung-Nong Park (1897-1923), a Korean Presbyterian theologian. Hyung-Nong Park was born in a poo...
This Year (2019) marks the 100th anniversary of the 3.1 Movement. Spending this significant year, it would be appropriate to examine the early life of Dr. Hyung-Nong Park (1897-1923), a Korean Presbyterian theologian. Hyung-Nong Park was born in a poor house so that he studied diligently alone from elementary school to middle school without any help from the family. After graduating from Shin-seong Middle School in Seon-cheon, he went to Soongsil College in Pyongyang and received a college education for four years. During that time, Park received Western education heavily influenced by Christianity through some missionaries and Korean teachers. Simultaneously, he as a student participated in the 3.1 Movement, which broke out nationwide in 1919. After graduating in 1920, he was imprisoned for 10 months in Mokpo because he participated in itinerary evangelism activities and preached a sermon that was perceived to be contaminated by thoughts against Japan. Based on these facts, we can evaluate that the early Park participated actively in his own way, without turning away from the difficult times of the country. Therefore, we should not only remember Hung-Nong Park as a theologian who contributed to developing the foundation for the Korean Presbyterian church but also as a Christian patriot who actively participated in the important historical moments of the Korean people.