The bereaved family of the late Pastor Woo-gyun Shin, who passed away last June, donated 2.05 billion won to Sahmyook University for development and scholarship funds, requesting it to be used for the ‘Jeokmok-ri Memorial Project.’

Located in Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do, the ‘Jeokmok-ri Religious Site’ is the only site of the collective faith on the Korean Peninsula. During the Japanese colonial era, Seventh-day Adventist believers lived in groups to avoid shrine worship, changing their names to Japanese names, religious oppression, and forced conscription while adhering to their faith and praying for national independence.

From September 1943 until the liberation in August 1945, about 70 Adventists built a primitive house centered on a 25-square meter semi-underground church under the leadership of Pastor Tae-sik Shin and Pastor Nae-hyun Ban, lived together, and kept the truth. In 2015, it was designated as a local cultural property (No. 13) in Gapyeong-gun.

The late Pastor Woo-kyun Shin is the son of Pastor Tae-sik Shin, the leader of the Jeokmok-ri community. He was the youngest child who spent his childhood there and is a survivor of Jeokmok-ri. After graduating from Sahmyook Theological Seminary (predecessor of Sahmyook University) in 1962, he ministered for 40 years in Korea and the United States. After retirement, he devoted himself to the Jeokmok-ri Memorial Project with Jong-geun Lee, former Graduate School of Theology dean at Sahmyook University. He passed away on the 15th of last month.

According to the deceased wishes, Pastor Shin’s bereaved family raised a family fund of 2 billion won and donated to Samyook University to promote the Jeokmok-ri Memorial Project.

Sahmyook University decided to use this fund to create the “Jeokmok-ri Memorial Hall” (tentative name) on campus while purchasing and restoring the historic site currently owned by Gapyeong-gun. Sahmyook University utilizes the two spaces as a place for historical preservation and learning to inherit the spirit of Jeokmok-ri and conducts education on the spirit of faith, patriotism, and cooperation.

Separately, the bereaved family donated an additional 50 million won to the Jeokmok-ri Scholarship Fund, requesting it be used as a scholarship for international students.

About 20 people, including the late Pastor Woo-gyun Shin’s wife, Jeong-ja Moon, family, and relatives, attended the ceremony to deliver the development fund.

Jeong-ja Moon said, “I hope that the spirit of our ancestors, who did not yield to the oppression of Japanese imperialism, survived on roots and barks, and defended the truth, will be passed on to future generations. I am grateful to Sahmyook University for taking charge of this project and to all my family members who supported.

Sahmyook University President Il-mok Kim said, “We will do our best to ensure that the spirit of Jeokmok-ri continues and spreads as the noble will of the deceased is fully reflected in the memorial project.”