아더 베커(Arthur L. Becker)의 교육선교활동과 ‘연합기독교대학’ 설립

Abstract

Arthur L. Becker came to Korea as a North Methodist missionary up to 1940, the year that he returned to the USA. He studied natural science such as physics and chemistry in the small college in Mid-west USA. Therefore, his activities focused on science education in Korean middle schools and colleges such as Paijai school, Union Christian College, and Chosen Christian College etc. He believed that natural science was compatible so that science education was his own calling and missionary work. Therefore, he even supported non-christian’s education in Christian higher education institutions. Becker had different ideas from those of Northern Presbyterian Mission, especially Pyŏng Yang’ station since Samuel A. Moffett and William M. Baird believed that mission schools provide some environment where christian workers should be raised. Many Methodist missionaries who were mostly educational ones supported Becker's ideas. This position led to the situation that Becker and other methodist missionaries supported the idea that a college should be established in Seoul, the plan that Horace G. Underwood, Northern Presbyterian missionary in Seoul, eagerly had endorsed. It was the case that Northern Methodist decision helped the establishment of Chosen Christian College (Yŏnhŭi College) a lot. Since Becker's idea was amenable to many Koreans, his thoughts and activities shows one important dimension in educational thoughts. In reality, his disciples became leading figures in Korean science circles. Moreover, his family members were involved in post-war Korean situation.