In Maeng’s diary, readers can meet the image of the young seminarian as he evangelized inside the shabby prison camp, caring for prisoners including Chinese Communist soldiers, though he was under threat of assassination and lacked sufficient food or sleep. Undeterred by the hopeless life in the prison camp, he confessed in his writing, “Truly, whether in times of peace or in times of trouble, God always grants abundant, extraordinary grace.”
Maeng, a student at Joseon Theological Seminary when the Korean War broke out, was on the road as a refugee when, due to a misunderstanding by the US military, he was interred in Busan’s Geoje-ri prison camp. He declined opportunities for release and worked to spread the Gospel among the war prisoners; and at the age of 26 his life came to a close.
Reporter Narae Kim (narae@kmib.co.kr), with Marion Kim (marionkkim@icloud.com)
Photo by intern reporter Shin Hyeon Ga
Full Story in Korean:
65년만에 되살린 ‘포로수용소의 성자’: ‘내 잔이 넘치나이다’ 실존인물 맹의순 육필일기 ‘십자가의 길’ 남대문교회서 출간 기념 예배