This study analyzes the life and thought of Henry G. Appenzeller, American
missionary from the perspective of sociology of religion. First of all, it will explore the
social situation in which Appenzeller was able to enter Korea as educational
mission...
This study analyzes the life and thought of Henry G. Appenzeller, American
missionary from the perspective of sociology of religion. First of all, it will explore the
social situation in which Appenzeller was able to enter Korea as educational
missionary and explain the context of Korea's times at home and abroad. This is the
first time that King Gojong's permission of mission was issued to Korea, which needed
U.S. support and help for the imperial expansion of the neighboring powers, enabling
the educational and medical activities of Western missionaries. Before Appenzeller's
successful entry into the country in 1885, there were the financial support from J. F.
Goucher, the persuasion of R. S. Maclay and a help from Kim Ok-kyun. But
Appenzeller paid attention to evangelical spread through education. Secondly, the
death of Appenzeller was too sudden. After the second sabbatical year, Appenzeller
traveled by boat to attend Mokpo meeting of the Bible Translation Committee and
died in a sea disaster. The incident was not just an accident, but a martyrdom that
occurred while trying to rescue the accompanying Koreans. He suffered from rapid
aging as missionary work in Korea expanded. He had a strong will to establish the
best university that taught in the spirit of Christianity. Finally, his missionary work was
concentrated in Pai Chai Hang Dang (Pai Chai College), which nurtured useful people
in the country for democratization and modernization. He pursued education as a
whole, including liberal education and theological education, and practiced traditional
missionary work that emphasized the cooperation between the denominations while
strengthening evangelicalism. A religious and sociological study of his entire life is
needed in the future.