Suncheon YMCA was founded right after Korea took back its independence and played its roles as a pivot in youth, civic, and social movements in the Suncheon area. The 68 Years in the History of Suncheon YMCA (2013) offers a good summary of its history, but there is no clear information about exactly when it was founded and who was its first president. There are a couple of theories: ① It was founded in 1945 with Kim Jeong-gi as its first president; ② It was founded on October 3, 1945 with Kim Jong-ha as its first president; and ③ It was founded in 1946. The predecessor of Suncheon YMCA was the Diligence Association of Christian Youths in Suncheon founded in 1918. It is estimated that Hwang Du-yeon, Kim Jeong-gi, and Kim Jong-ha played important roles in its establishment process as the YMCA after Korea took back its independence. However, there are no materials yet to confirm this estimation. There are two opinions about the year of its establishment between 1945 and 1946. The latter seems more convincing, which also requires material supplementation. The U.S Military Government in Korea prohibited houses owned by Japanese people from sales after Korea took back its independence. This may have been another background for the foundation of Suncheon YMCA. Once founded, Suncheon YMCA repeated the process of “slump” and “reconstruction” several times and was “reestablished” in 1979, continuing its presence until today. Right before its “reestablishment”, Suncheon YMCA made plans for its major projects including ⑴ a project of developing civic consciousness, ⑵ a project of developing the community, ⑶ a co-operative, ⑷ a religious project, ⑸ a project for international friendship, ⑹ a youth project, ⑺ a camp project, ⑻ a project for living and culture, and ⑼ a sports project. In the 1980s, it developed ⑴ a project for its members, ⑵ an education project (① early childhood education, ② children’s education, and ③ adult education, ④ a peace school, and ⑤ villages and daycare centers for young children), ⑶ a youth project, and ⑷ a project for citizens (① a relay room for citizens and ② a project for citizens). It distinguished itself especially in the field of a farmers’ movement by doing superior activities with other YMCA branches around the nation.
한국어
순천YMCA는 해방 직후에 창립되어 이후 순천지역 청년운동·시민운동·사회운동의 구심점 역할을 수행했다. 그 역사에 대해서는 이미 『순천YMCA68년사』(2013)에서 정 리된 바 있다. 하지만 정확히 언제 창립되었는지, 초대회장은 누구였는지 명확하지 않다. 현재로서는 ①1945년 창립되었으며 초대회장은 김정기(金正基)라는 설, ②1945년 10월 3일 창립되었으며 초대회장은 김종하(金鍾廈)라는 설, ③1946년 창립되었다는 설 등이 있다. 순천YMCA의 전신(前身)은 1918년 결성된 순천기독청년면려회라 할 수 있는데, 해 방 직후 YMCA로 창립되는 과정에서 황두연·김정기·김종하 등이 중요한 역할을 했을 것으로 짐작되나 확정할 만한 자료가 아직은 보이지 않는다. 창립연도는 1945년과 1946년 중 후자가 좀 더 유력해 보이지만 이 역시 자료의 보완이 필요하다. 순천YMCA 의 창립에는 해방 후 미군정기 적산가옥 불하도 배경으로 작용한 것 같다. 창립 이후 순천YMCA는 수차의 ‘침체’와 ‘재건’을 반복하다가 1979년 ‘재창립’되어 오늘에 이르고 있다. ‘재창립’ 직전의 주요사업 계획으로, ⑴ 시민의식 개발사업 ⑵ 지역 사회 개발사업 ⑶ 협동조합 ⑷종교사업 ⑸ 국제친선사업 ⑹ 청소년사업 ⑺ 캠프사업 ⑻ 생활문화사업 ⑼ 체육사업 등이었다. 1980년대에는 ⑴ 회원사업 ⑵ 교육사업(① 유아교육 ② 어린이교육 ③ 성인교육 ④ 평화학교 ⑤ 마을과 아이들 어린이집) ⑶ 청소 년사업 ⑷ 시민사업(① 시민중계실 ② 시민사업) 등을 전개했으며, 특히 농민운동 분야 에서는 전국 YMCA지부 중 탁월한 활동을 펼치며 두각을 나타냈다.
순천YMCA순천기독교청년면려회『순천YMCA68년사』김정기김종하황두연SuncheonYMCAthe Diligence Association of Christian Youths in SuncheonThe 68 Years in the History of Suncheon YMCAHwang Du-yeonKim Jeong-giand Kim Jong-ha