순천YMCA의 창립·재건과 발전

Abstract

Suncheon YMCA was founded right after Korea took back its independence and played its roles as a pivot in youth, civic, and social movements in the Suncheon area. The 68 Years in the History of Suncheon YMCA (2013) offers a good summary of its history, but there is no clear information about exactly when it was founded and who was its first president. There are a couple of theories: ① It was founded in 1945 with Kim Jeong-gi as its first president; ② It was founded on October 3, 1945 with Kim Jong-ha as its first president; and ③ It was founded in 1946. The predecessor of Suncheon YMCA was the Diligence Association of Christian Youths in Suncheon founded in 1918. It is estimated that Hwang Du-yeon, Kim Jeong-gi, and Kim Jong-ha played important roles in its establishment process as the YMCA after Korea took back its independence. However, there are no materials yet to confirm this estimation. There are two opinions about the year of its establishment between 1945 and 1946. The latter seems more convincing, which also requires material supplementation. The U.S Military Government in Korea prohibited houses owned by Japanese people from sales after Korea took back its independence. This may have been another background for the foundation of Suncheon YMCA. Once founded, Suncheon YMCA repeated the process of “slump” and “reconstruction” several times and was “reestablished” in 1979, continuing its presence until today. Right before its “reestablishment”, Suncheon YMCA made plans for its major projects including ⑴ a project of developing civic consciousness, ⑵ a project of developing the community, ⑶ a co-operative, ⑷ a religious project, ⑸ a project for international friendship, ⑹ a youth project, ⑺ a camp project, ⑻ a project for living and culture, and ⑼ a sports project. In the 1980s, it developed ⑴ a project for its members, ⑵ an education project (① early childhood education, ② children’s education, and ③ adult education, ④ a peace school, and ⑤ villages and daycare centers for young children), ⑶ a youth project, and ⑷ a project for citizens (① a relay room for citizens and ② a project for citizens). It distinguished itself especially in the field of a farmers’ movement by doing superior activities with other YMCA branches around the nation.