Reexamining the Roots of Modern Education, Medicine, and the Women's Movement
Eight Local Governments Gather to Discuss Inscription Strategies
Field Workshop to Explore Yangnim-dong's Missionary Heritage on the 21st
The city of Gwangju has begun a full-fledged effort to have the Christian missionary heritage in the Yangnim-dong area inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and has organized an academic conference on the subject. The aim is to systematically organize the urban heritage that marks the origins of modern education, medicine, the women's movement, and social welfare.
Poster related to the UNESCO World Heritage inscription of Christian missionary heritage in Yangnim-dong, Nam-gu, Gwangju. Provided by Gwangju City
On November 19, Gwangju City announced that it will hold the "Academic Conference and Workshop for the Promotion of UNESCO World Heritage Inscription of Korean Christian Missionary Heritage" at Honam Theological University from November 20 to 21. The event is hosted by Gwangju City and organized by the Gwangju Tourism Organization, the Gwangju Christian Council, and the Korean Missionary Heritage Research Association.
The event will be attended by eight local governments that possess "Korean Christian Missionary Bases"-Nam-gu in Gwangju, Jung-gu in Daegu, Cheongju, Gongju, Jeonju, Gimje, Mokpo, and Suncheon-as well as figures from the Christian community. A Korean Christian Missionary Base refers to a modern composite heritage site where schools, hospitals, churches, missionary residences, and cemeteries are concentrated in a single area.
The academic conference will focus on discussing the possibility of inscribing Korean Christian Missionary Bases as World Heritage sites and exploring ways for local governments to cooperate. The keynote presentations will cover: ▲ The World Heritage Value of Korean Christian Heritage (Seo Manchul, President of the Korean Missionary Heritage Research Association); ▲ The History of Christian Missions in Gwangju (Song Hyunkang, Professor at Hannam University); ▲ The Architectural Features of Gwangju’s Missionary Heritage (Cheon Deukyeom, President of the Korean Missionary Heritage Research Association); and ▲ Strategies for the Preservation and Inscription of Gwangju’s Missionary Heritage (Han Minsu, Professor at Korea National University of Cultural Heritage).
This will be followed by a comprehensive discussion chaired by Song Indong, Professor Emeritus at Honam Theological University, with participation from Lee Wangki, former Chair of the ICOMOS Korea Committee; Han Gyumu, Professor at Gwangju University; Shin Ungju, Professor at Chosun University; and Gil Jongwon, Head of the Gwangju Branch of the Korean Pilgrimage Route Association.
On November 21, participants in the academic conference will take part in a field workshop, touring the missionary heritage sites in the Yangnim-dong area.
Gwangju City plans to use this discussion as an opportunity to expand the scope of its "Dalbit Alliance" cooperation with Daegu and to jointly pursue the World Heritage inscription process with the eight local governments.
Kang Gijung, Mayor of Gwangju, stated, "The Christian missionary heritage in Yangnim-dong illustrates the flow of development in modern Korean education, medicine, women's education, welfare, and human rights," adding, "We hope that the effort to inscribe these sites as World Heritage will serve as an opportunity to highlight Gwangju’s historical significance."
Major missionary heritage sites in Gwangju include the Owen Memorial Hall, the Wilson Missionary Residence, the Missionary Cemetery, and, within Supia Girls’ Middle and High School, the Supia Hall, Curtis Memorial Hall, and Winsborough Hall.
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