Korean YMCA in Japan marks 120th anniversary, looks back on decades of activity
Singer Yoon Hyung-joo performs at special concert; Seoul YMCA youth orchestra also takes the stage
The Korean YMCA in Japan held a ceremony in Tokyo at 11 a.m. Thursday to mark its 120th anniversary, looking back on the organization's journey since its founding.
The Korean YMCA in Japan was established in Tokyo on Nov. 5, 1906, with support from the Seoul YMCA and the voluntary participation of Korean students studying in Japan. This year's event was held on the exact 120th anniversary of that founding date.
Board Chairman Oh Young-seok delivered commemorative remarks marking the 120th anniversary. The ceremony included a screening of a documentary titled "120 Years of the Korean YMCA in Japan," followed by a founding anniversary declaration by Kang Pyeong-su, a board member of the Tokyo Korean YMCA.
Singer Yoon Hyung-joo performed at a special concert, singing "Dew on the Rose" and other songs. In an interview with Herald Japan, Yoon said the performance was an opportunity to add music as an expression of gratitude at a gathering that looked back on the 120-year path the Korean YMCA in Japan had walked and reaffirmed its mission for the future.
The Seoul YMCA Youth Symphony Orchestra also performed at the event, playing "Horangsuwolga" and other pieces to celebrate the 120th anniversary.
In its declaration, the Korean YMCA in Japan described the 120 years since its founding in Tokyo on Nov. 5, 1906, as "a history of action — upholding human dignity with the conscience and faith of youth, and pursuing national self-determination and peace among neighbors."
The declaration also cited the organization's role in the Feb. 8 Independence Declaration of 1919 and its activities during the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, as well as its efforts after Korea's liberation to support the lives and rights of Koreans living in Japan. It paid tribute to sunbae and fellow workers who had upheld the mission without recognition, noting the organization's continued role in connecting Korea and Japan through education, culture, exchange and solidarity.
The declaration identified generational and cultural disconnection, discrimination and hatred, and conflict and distrust as the challenges of today. It said, "Our task is not to preserve past projects, but to give fresh expression to an unchanging mission through the language and practice of the present."
The declaration outlined four directions for action going forward. The first was an emphasis on recording and passing down the history of independence, human rights, life and justice — with the aim of carrying the legacy of those who came before into the learning of the next generation.
The second was to place youth at the center of change. The declaration said the organization would support young people from diverse backgrounds, including Koreans living in Japan, in discovering their potential through learning and participation and in shaping the future of their communities together.
Third, the declaration pledged to broaden the path toward reconciliation and peace beyond the two countries. It said the organization would not turn away from a painful history, while respecting the dignity of all, and would contribute to coexistence in East Asia and the wider world through dialogue and cooperation.
The fourth direction was to establish an identity, expertise and social credibility rooted in the Christian spirit. The declaration said the organization would build the capabilities needed for the times, walk alongside vulnerable neighbors and sustain the YMCA movement.
The declaration said, "120 years is not a completed history but a starting point for new responsibility," and added that "the sustainability of the Korean YMCA in Japan lies not in the survival of the organization, but in renewing its mission in each changing era."
sjkim@heraldcorp.com
