S2024-G017

Missionary Legacy: Western Christianity’s Transformation of Gwangju

Content

Missionary Legacy: Western Christianity’s Transformation of Gwangju traces the profound impact of Western missionaries on the city’s development. From the early colonial period through the mid-20th century, missionaries introduced modern medicine, education, and architecture. The Yangnim-dong Missionary Cemetery honors those who dedicated their lives to service, including pioneering nurse Elisabeth J. Shepping. Families like the Bell Family and individuals like Missionary Robert M. Wilson left lasting legacies through their residential architecture and community work.

Story Map

• Missionary Legacy: Western Christianity’s Transformation of Gwangju
  • As Seen Through Landmarks: The Influence of Western Missionaries in the Early Japanese Colonial Period
  • The Western Missionaries Laid to Rest in Gwangju: Yangnim-dong Missionary Cemetery
  • The Introduction of Western Residential Housing: Missionary Wilson’s House
  • Gone Too Soon in a Foreign Land: Missionary Children Who Passed Away in Gwangju
  • The Bell Family
  • The Nightingale of Korea: Elisabeth Johanna Shepping and the History of Nursing in Korea
  • Korea in the Early Twentieth Century as Seen by Western Missionaries in Gwangju