월드미션프론티어

I expected that my visit to Korea would be something like my visit to Europe. I intended to meet interesting people, enjoy an exotic culture, and view historical monuments. The first two goals were easy to achieve. I met the Korean people and found them to be a kind and generous people. I ate Korean food and learned a little of the language. I can tell you that Korean culture is as rich as any on earth. But sadly, most monuments to Korean heritage have vanished.

I thought about this on a recent visit to Stanford. As I sat in Memorial Church, I wondered ?This building is only 110 years old. How many building in Korea are as old as this one?? I guessed that the answer is just a few in all of South and North Korea.

Then I thought: "If you live in Egypt, you have pyramids which are 5000 years old, if you live in Rome you have the coliseum which is 2000 years old; If you live in London you have the tower which is 1000 years old. Even if you live in Washington D.C. you have a capitol building which is 200 years old. What do Koreans have?" All I remembered of historical importance were gates around Seoul, a few large Buddhas and a some scattered stone monuments. Everything else in the country seemed to be of recent construction.

What could be the reason for this dearth of physical heritage? I considered two things. First, I pondered traditional construction in Korea. One hundred years ago, common (sang nome) homes were made of mud and straw, while noble (yang ban) homes were made of wood and stone. In Korea there was never the equivalent of the European castle or the Christian cathedral. Korean life centered on the village and Koreans built families rather than monuments. It's odd to think that all the great-grandparents of families living in Seoul dwelled in small huts built of mud and straw. Would the people of 1900 even recognize the people of 2000?

Second, I considered the first half of the 20th century; the Japanese occupation of Korea which took much and gave little, but especially the Korean war.