서천지역 유생(儒生) 양재근(梁在根)의 천주교 입교와 선교 활동 = Confucian scholar Yang Jae-geun (梁在根)`s Entering into Catholic and Propagation Activity in Seocheon

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This paper looked into Confucian scholar Yang Jae-geun in Seocheon, Chungcheongnam-do Province, who entered into Catholic after abandoning Confucianism in about 1901. Yang was the first president of Seocheon Wolsan Catholic Church (舒川月山公所), who expanded the congregation to a large extent. The Yang lineage (家系), originated from Namwon, had lived as a group in Wolsan-ri, Hwayang-myeon, Seocheon-gun, since the 17th and 18th centuries. Since then, his lineage turned into local elites (鄕班) as it politically and socially collapsed and became poor as it financially fell down. However, Confucian scholar Yang Jae-geun, aged 24, became better off again as he won a reputation as an excellent doctor by taking a deep interest into practical medical practices rather than concentrating only on Confucianism. In addition, in pursuance of the will of his mother Barbara Kim, who hid herself as a Catholic and secretly led a religious life for the rest of her life, in about 1900 he entered into Catholic, which teaches to love people like brothers and sisters born from the same parents, after abandoning Confucianism that was losing its authority in the local society. After being appointed as the president of Wolsan Catholic Church that was founded in 1925, He spread the gospel to the neighbors and supported the poor congregation who were bereaved, and established a community of true love by practicing love of neighbor such as seeking the ways to survive for the congregation under the financial hardship. As a result, Wolsan Catholic Church, which expanded the congregation, was introduced by a Catholic magazine as an exemplary Catholic Church in 1934 and became one of the third largest Catholic churches in Seocheon in 1949. By doing so, he became one of the important figures who can bring influence to a certain extent in the local society, and his lineage restored its former social standing.