In Memoriam PARK Hyung-Kyu

PARK Hyung-Kyu

by Jooseop Keum, WCC, Genf, Schweiz
Rev. Hyung Kyu Park (1923-2016), former moderator of PROK and an icon of Korean democratization movement passed away on 18th of August.

Rev. Park incarcerated 6 times during the democratic struggle. He was arrested for “conspiracy of rebellion” when he handed out flyers opposing the Yushin dictatorship during Easter service in 1973, and thereafter he led the anti-dictatorship struggle of the ecumenical movement.
He also led mission work with the poor by establishing the Urban Industrial Mission (UIM) in Korea.
Rev. Park served as the Human Rights Committee Chairman of the National Council of Churches in Korea (1982) and the first president of Korea Democracy Foundation (2002~2004).