Plans are being promoted for Japan’s Rikkyo University and Doshisha University to award an honorary diploma to Yun Dong-ju (1917~1945), a Christian “resistance poet” who lived during the era of Japan’s forcible occupation of Korea.
Anglican Church of Korea religious affairs director Yu Shi-gyeong, who also heads the Korean office of the Rikkyo University Yun Dong-ju Memorial Association, said on February 12, “Yun Dong-ju was unable to graduate from either Rikkyo University, his first overseas school, or from Doshisha University, where he studied later…Since this year is the 100th anniversary of his birth, as well as the memorial association’s 10th anniversary, citizens of Korea and Japan are planning to officially propose to the two universities that they award a “Yun Dong-ju Honorary Diploma.”
Explaining the significance of the move, Director Yu said, “The two universities’ joint awarding of an honorary diploma to Yun Dong-ju will be an opportunity for the two countries of Korea and Japan to reflect on our painful history, restore our relationship, and open up a new future.” The proposal to promote the honorary diploma will become official on the 19th of this month at the Yun Dong-ju Centennial Memorial event, being held at Rikkyo University.
Reporter Jaechan Park (jeep@kmib.co.kr), with Marion Kim (marionkkim@icloud.com)
Full Story in Korean:
크리스천 저항시인 윤동주… 韓日 시민들 명예졸업장 추진
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February Exhibition Series in Japan Will Show Works of Late Christian Poet Yun Dong-ju
