Ham Seok-heon (; 13 March 1901 – 4 February 1989) was a notable figure in the

Religious Society of Friends Quakers are people who belong to the Religious Society of Friends, a historically Protestant Christian set of denominations. Members refer to each other as Friends after in the Bible, and originally, others referred to them as Quakers ...

(Quaker) movement in

Korea Korea is a peninsular region in East Asia consisting of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island, and smaller islands. Since the end of World War II in 1945, it has been politically Division of Korea, divided at or near the 38th parallel north, 3 ...

, and was nicknamed the "

Gandhi Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2October 186930January 1948) was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethicist who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful campaign for India's independence from British ...

of Korea." Ham was an important

Asia Asia ( , ) is the largest continent in the world by both land area and population. It covers an area of more than 44 million square kilometres, about 30% of Earth's total land area and 8% of Earth's total surface area. The continent, which ...

n voice for

human rights Human rights are universally recognized Morality, moral principles or Social norm, norms that establish standards of human behavior and are often protected by both Municipal law, national and international laws. These rights are considered ...

and non-violence during the 20th century, despite numerous imprisonments for his convictions. He was a

Quaker Quakers are people who belong to the Religious Society of Friends, a historically Protestant Christian set of denominations. Members refer to each other as Friends after in the Bible, and originally, others referred to them as Quakers ...

who concluded that all religions are on common ground in terms of human beings, a view shared by many Quakers. He encouraged peace and democracy and promoted non-violence movement known as “seed idea” (ssi-al sasang), consistently present in his books ''Korean History Seen through a Will'' published in 1948, ''Human Revolution'' in 1961, ''History and People'' in 1964, and ''Queen of Suffering: a spiritual history of Korea'' edited in 1985. He was also a poet and wrote about 120 poems such as “Song of the West Wind” written in 1983. In 2000, Ham was selected by the Republic of Korea as a national cultural figure.

Early life

Ham was born in

Yomju County Yŏmju County is a Administrative divisions of North Korea, ''kun'', or county, in northwestern North Pyongan Province, North P'yŏngan province, North Korea, on the coast of the Yellow Sea. It is bordered by Ryongchon County, Ryongch'ŏn and Pihy ...

North Pyongan Province North Pyongan Province (also spelled North P'yŏngan; ; ) is a western provinces of North Korea, province of North Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the northern half of the former Pyongan Province, P'yŏng'an Province, remained a pro ...

Korean Empire The Korean Empire, officially the Empire of Korea or Imperial Korea, was a Korean monarchical state proclaimed in October 1897 by King Gojong of the Joseon dynasty. The empire lasted until the Japanese annexation of Korea in August 1910. Dur ...

(now in

North Korea North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders China and Russia to the north at the Yalu River, Yalu (Amnok) an ...

) and grew up as a Presbyterian. In 1919, he joined the

March First Movement The March First Movement was a series of protests against Korea under Japanese rule, Japanese colonial rule that was held throughout Korea and internationally by the Korean diaspora beginning on March 1, 1919. Protests were largely concentrated in ...

. He lost his place in Pyongyang Public High School. In 1923 he graduated from Osan High School and went to Japan to study to become a teacher. There he first encountered the Non-Church movement, an indigenous Japanese Christian movement that had no liturgy, sacraments or ordained clergy. He spoke out against social injustices and advocated pacifism.

Biography

* March 13, 1901: Born in

, Korean Empire * 1906: Entered a missionary school of Deokil Elementary School * 1914: Graduated from Deokil Elementary School * 1916: Graduated from Yangshi Public Elementary School and entered Pyongyang public high school * 1919: After protesting against Japanese colonial regime in Korea, quit Pyongyang public high school * 1923: Graduated from Osan high school and went to Japan to study education in Tokyo * 1924–1928: Studied the bible under Uchimura Kanzo with Kim Gyoshin and Song Duyong * 1928: Graduated from Tokyo School of Education * 1928–1938: Taught history and ethics at Osan high school * 1934: Published “Korean History Seen through a Will” in ''Seongseo Joseon'' magazine * 1938: After protesting against Japanese colonial regime in Korea, quit working as a teacher at Osan highschool * 1940–1941: After working at Songsan agricultural&educational school, imprisoned as a protester against the Japanese colonial regime (schemed by the Japanese colonial regime) * 1942–1943: After writing several articles against Japanese colonial regime in Korea for a monthly magazine ''Seongseo Joseon'' (Bible and Korea)', imprisoned at the Seodaemun prison * 1945: Appointed as a minister of education for Northern Pyongan province * 1947: Imprisoned as an organizer of a student protests against the Soviet (framed by the Soviet) * 1956: He criticized social and political problems in an editorial paper, Sasang-gye. * 1958: Imprisoned for writing an article “Must be a Thinking People to Live” which criticizes the autocratic regime and began his religious career as the Korean representative of Quaker. * 1961–1963: Studied at the Quaker schools

Pendle Hill Pendle Hill is in the east of Lancashire, England, near the towns of Burnley, Nelson, Colne, Brierfield, Clitheroe and Padiham. Its summit is above mean sea level. It gives its name to the Borough of Pendle. It is an isolated hill in the Pe ...

in the US and Woodbrooke in Britain. * 1963: Protested against General

Park Chung Hee Park Chung Hee (; ; November14, 1917October26, 1979) was a South Korean politician and army officer who served as the third president of South Korea from 1962 after he seized power in the May 16 coup of 1961 until Assassination of Park Chung ...

becoming to run for the presidency * 1965: Protested against Japanese regime and president

for their attempt for an alliance * 1974: After protesting against President

for his attempt to change the constitution to be elected again, convicted * 1979: Nominated for

Nobel Peace Prize The Nobel Peace Prize (Swedish language, Swedish and ) is one of the five Nobel Prizes established by the Will and testament, will of Sweden, Swedish industrialist, inventor, and armaments manufacturer Alfred Nobel, along with the prizes in Nobe ...

American Friends Service Committee The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) is a Religious Society of Friends ('' Quaker)-founded'' organization working for peace and social justice in the United States and around the world. AFSC was founded in 1917 as a combined effort by ...

* 1985: Nominated again for the Nobel Peace Prize by American Friends Service Committee * 1987: Received first

Inchon Award The Inchon Award () is a prize given to individuals in public service, journalists, and academics for achievements in their field. The award is named after the nickname of Kim Seong-su; the second Vice President of South Korea and founder of Ko ...

, given to a person who contributed in the development of press and media. * February 4, 1989: Died in Seoul National University Hospital * 2002: After his death, he received the “Accolade for Founding a Nation”, as a sign of recognition from the nation.

Bibliography

* Kim Sung-soo, ''Biography of a Korean Quaker, Ham Seok-heon'', Seoul: Samin Books, 2001, 360 pp.

External links

* *
Interviews with Teacher HamKorean Ham, Sok Hon website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ham, Sok-hon 1901 births 1989 deaths South Korean philosophers Prisoners and detainees of Japan Korean anti-communists Korean human rights activists Korean anti-war activists South Korean democracy activists South Korean prisoners and detainees Prisoners and detainees of North Korea Prisoners and detainees of South Korea Korean Quakers Quaker philosophers Quaker socialists 20th-century Quakers Activists for Korean independence People from Yomju County March First Movement people

Early life

Biography

Bibliography

See also

External links