The significance of Namgang Lee, Seung Hoon's Christian faith to his involvement in Korea's quest for independence in the early twentieth century

Namgang Lee, Seung Hoon's life left great marks on Korea's independence, its Church, the economy, education, and social reform. This dissertation examines his Christian faith and its application to his involvement in Korea's quest for independence in the early twentieth century. Chapter one provides an overview of the goals and the reasons for the research. Chapter two investigates the critical factors that influenced Namgang's character before he became a Christian. Special attention is given to historical and social background focusing on the international situation around China and Japan, Korea's internal situation, and the social-local context of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. His personal experience including his childhood, education, and business careers as a brassware peddler, manufacturer, and trading merchant is also discussed.;Chapter three analyzes Namgang's conversion experience. A detailed investigation is given to the indirect and direct factors that influenced his conversion. The local, cultural, and the Korean church historical situation in the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries is discussed as well as his fellowship with Korean Christians. The significant of his conversion is also investigated.;Chapter four deals with Namgang's faith and Christian activities. Though he studied at Pyoungyang Presbyterian Theological Seminary, it is difficult to understand Namgang's faith from the perspective of systematic theology. His faith was expressed through practical application rather than scholarly treatises. There are four outstanding features that characterized his faith. These are personal suffering, nationalism, righteousness, and selflessness. This chapter also analyzes his Christian activities in the Korean Presbyterian Church and the fellowship with the members of Sungsu Choson (a non-church movement in the early twentieth century in Korea).;Chapter five describes Namgang's practice and application of his Christian faith to the national movement. He did his reforming work with the guiding principles of the Christian faith and self-reliance. His application of Christian faith to the national movement can be observed in his educational, political, and social involvements. By studying these elements, it is concluded that the Christian faith was Namgang's chief motivation for his involvement in Korea's national movement for independence in the early twentieth century.