The Faces of Gwangju: Activists 》Minister Choe Heung-jong and His Devotion to Leprosy Patients

Story

Choi Heung-jong (1880-1966, pen name: Obang) was a Christian pastor and independence activist active during the Japanese colonial period (1910-1945).
Choi practiced Christian values throughout his life and greatly influenced the modern history of Gwangju through his devotion to aiding the poor, the anti-colonial independence movement, the education of the people, and missionary work. In 1912, he became the first elder in Gwangju’s Protestant community. In 1919, after participating in the March First Independence Movement, he was imprisoned for 16 months. After being released in 1920, he played a pivotal role in establishing the Gwangju Branch of the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA). In 1927, he became the head of the Gwangju Branch of the United Front for Independence (Singanhoe), an independence movement organization. In 1933, he formed Gyeyu Club, an organization dedicated to betterment of the poor. After Korea regained independence in 1945, Choi became the president of the Jeollanam-do Branch of the Committee for the Preparation of Korean Independence.
In 1990, the Korean Government posthumously honored Choi with the 5th grade of the Order of Merit for National Foundation, the National Medal.
On October 16, 2019, Obang Choi Heung-jong Memorial Hall was opened to commemorate Choi's work and teachings.

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S2023-217d	Story	Episode		Minister Choe Heung-jong and His Devotion to Leprosy Patients			Minister Choe Heung-jong and His Devotion to Leprosy Patients	http://dh.aks.ac.kr/~gwangju/wiki/index.php/S2023-217d	http://dh.aks.ac.kr/~gwangju/icon/episode.png