Yanghwajin Cemetery
I generally visit Yanghwajin Foreigners’ Cemetery about once a month; not only for inspiration but also to keep abreast of any new developments in this contested ‘holy ground.” As many of you are probably already aware, until recently the Seoul Union Church, established nearly 124 years ago and with a mainly foreign congregation , and the 100th Anniversary Church, established a little over four years ago and consisting of a Korean congregation, somewhat peacefully shared the chapel at the cemetery. Then, on On Aug. 5, 2007, members of the 100th Anniversary Church seized the chapel and claimed it as their own. In their subsequent sermons they declared a historical moment in which they had reclaimed the cemetery and grounds from the “foreigners who had turned it into an extraterritorial zone.”
The city government eventually declared that neither church was to use the chapel. Seoul Union church was forced to move from the site but the 100th Anniversary church moved into buildings bordering the cemetery and continue to administer the grounds.
While it must be acknowledged that the church has been diligent in its care and protection of the cemetery it occupies, one must lament that as time fades many of the non-missionary inhabitants’ lives and histories will soon be forgotten and lost. It is in the hope of preserving some of this history that I will do a series on the inhabitants of this cemetery. The cemetery that Clark says “represents the life of the foreign community in Korea, its purposes, its diverse people, the contributions they made, and the hardships they suffered.”
You can read the first article and see some more pictures of the cemetery here.
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What would Jesus do? ‘Then, on On Aug. 5, 2007, members of the 100th Anniversary Church seized the chapel and claimed it as their own. In their subsequent sermons they declared a historical moment in which they had reclaimed the cemetery and grounds from the “foreigners who had turned it into an extraterritorial zone.”’ I doubt that He would do this.
This is Korea. Shouldn’t that be “WWㅂD?”
(ie. “What Would 비 Do?”)
This is at the top of my list for stories to be featured in a future blog on Korea aptly titles, Nation of Assholes.
No no Darth. That would be WWDD. (What would Dangun Do?)
Answer: Kick out all the Christos.
Anyway, I wonder who actually owns the land. It must be owned by the government seeing how the government can tell them who can worship there.
Nation of Assholes is a bit extreme and unfair. When I’m travelling and discussing Korea with foreign clients and colleagues, I simply describe Korea as the Land Without Grace. Why ascribe to malice that which can be more easily explained by boorishness?
You mean, you never met Grace Kim?
Or Grace Park, who’s much more interesting and attractive, IMO. Of course, neither she nor Grace Kim were born in Korea.
gbnhj, when we see Grace Park’s name hyperlinked, we want pictures, not filmographies.
Apologies – here they are.
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