Detail

`It was on October 28, 1903, 75 years ago from now, that 28 charter members of five nationalities?the United States, China, Japan and Great Britain in addition to Korea?met to establish Hwangsong (Imperial City) Young Men`s Christian Association, which is today known as the Seoul Central YMCA. At present, there are as many as the 31 YMCAs in Korea boasting a total membership of more than 45,000. The total number of those working for the various projects and undertaking of the YMCA exceeds 2,500,000 man­days. In its early days, the YMCA spearheaded the nation`s drive for modernization by introducing Western sports, educating industrial workers through vocational training and by imbuing the youths with the ideal of democracy through the guidance of group activities. During the period of Japanese rule over Korea, the YMCA endeavored to promote the spirit of resisting Japanese imperialism by means of sponsoring Sunday lectures and enlightenment gatherings, and implanted patriotism in the minds of the people of Korea through training youths on farms and remote villages and in fishing communities. At the same time, the YMCA played a pivotal role in the independence movement of the nation and in propagating Christianity. It also led the ecumenical movement. The purpose of the YMCA, Korea, is for the people, following the way of Christ, to learn together, discipline each other, develop a sense of historical responsibility, work for the embodiment of love and justice, contribute to the improvement of the people`s welfare and to the creation of a new culture, and, thereby, help establish the Kingdom of God on this earth. On this occarion of observing the 75th anniversary of the YMCA in Korea, the Ministry of Communications is issuing a commemorative postage stamp, wishing for further prosperity of the YMCA so that it will further contribute to the peace of mankind as well as to the prosperity and culture development of our fatherland.`