E2024-G014
Yangtiago Missionary Pilgrimage: Walking the Path of Christian Mission in Yangnim-dong
Narrative
The Yangtiago Missionary Pilgrimage is a walking tour that explores the legacy of Christian missionary work in the Yangnim-dong area of Gwangju. Named in reference to the Camino de Santiago, the tour invites visitors to walk slowly through this historic neighborhood, discovering exotic Western-style architecture and the stories of the individuals who shaped Gwangju’s Christian heritage.
The tour begins at Gwangju Yangnim Church, co-founded by Eugene Bell (1868-1925) and Clement C. Owen (1867-1909), which served as the starting point of missionary activity in the region. The route then visits the Owen Memorial Hall, honoring Owen’s work; the Sosimdang Jo A-ra Memorial Hall, commemorating independence activist Jo A-ra (1912-2003); and the Obang Choi Heung-jong Memorial Hall, honoring the life of the people’s pastor Choi Heung-jong (1880-1966).
Next on the path are the Eugene Bell Memorial Hall and the Curtis Memorial Hall of Former Jennie Speer Memorial School for Girls, where visitors can experience the educational and evangelical spirit of early Christian missions. The tour concludes at the Horned Holly Hill and the Yangnim-dong Missionary Cemetery, where the lives and legacies of missionaries who served during the Japanese colonial period (1910-1945) are remembered. The cemetery is officially designated as a Historic Site of Korean Christianity.
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Story Map
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