Rev. Yoo Jae-ki’s life, with his pen name, the Humble Spirit (1905〜1949), is a story of how Christianity shaped the course of Korea’s modernization, both during and after Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule. Subjectively as well as objectively viewed, Rev. Yoo’s life demonstrates how he had drawn upon his Christian values and beliefs to advance his country’s early modernization.
His activities can be broadly categorized into the Japanese colonial period and the post-liberation period. During the Japanese occupation, Rev. Yoo's work was mainly in the Gyeongbuk region. His ministries at that time were based on the principle of Moderate Christian Socialism, which was rooted in the Christian Nationalist movement of 1910, his education at Kyonam School, and his social studies in Japan in 1920. After returning from his studies, he conducted rural evangelism and enlightenment activities by revitalizing rural churches. In the 1930s, he became a rural activist by promoting the Jesus Village (Jesus Centered Community), which became the center of his work.
After liberation, Rev. Yoo moved his activities to Seoul, the capital city of Korea. From this time on, he developed a systematic, non-denominational movement to solve the immediate rural issues of Korea. His main focus during this period was the Jesus Village Movement through the Hung Kook (Raise Nation) Brotherhood Society. As such, Rev. Yoo was a humble servant of Jesus, a pioneer in rebuilding debilitated rural villages, and a dreamer of building a Christ-centered society.
This article will briefly outline his life, ideas, and movements.
Editor Rev. Byung-Hee Kim
Born in 1963 in Uisung, Gyeongbuk, Korea Graduated from Kyungmyeong University, Department of History Graduated from Chongshin University School of Theology Graduated from Kyungmyeong University Graduate School of History Education (M.A.)- Trinity Evangelical Divinity School 97- Kyungmyeong University Graduate School of History, Department of Korean Studies (Ph.D.). - Telephone counselor for teenagers at Busan YMCA - Citizen relay room counselor at Daegu YMCA - Youth counselor at Korea Family Planning Association - Steering committee member of Daegu-Gyeongbuk Christian History Research Association (current) - Member of the Korean Presbyterian Teachers Association (current) - Outpatient professor at Gyeymyeong University (current) - Lecturer at Daejeon University Graduate School of Theology (current) - Senior Pastor of Seobyeon First Church (current)
A Study on the Unity of the Covenant in the Bible, "Jesus Village Ideas and Farming Movement in the Study of the 19th-20th Century Jeju Farmers' Resistance (Master's Thesis)" (Doctoral Dissertation)
Translated from Korean into English, Gyeongbuk Church History (Book Publishing, Younghan, 2004).
Translation of 『慶北敎會史』(Koramdeo, 2004).
"A History of Park Deokdeok (Book Publishing, 2006).
-The Father of the Daegu and Gyeongbuk Missionary Society: Heaven in a Mustard Seed (Communication, 2009).
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)