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The late Jeon Taek-bu |
By Kim Tae-jong
Staff Reporter
The late Jeon Taek-bu, a leading figure in the nation's Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), was selected as one of the four winners of the 27th Sejong Cultural Award for his contribution to society, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said Wednesday.
Jeon, also known by his pen name Ori, died of natural causes at Asan Medical Center in southern Seoul, Tuesday. He was 93.
Jeon, was born in 1915 in Muncheon, South Hamgyeong Province, in current North Korea. He studied at Hamheung Youngsaeng Middle School and went on to study at a theological school in Japan.
Returning to his country, he started to devote himself to the revival of YMCA, which was dismantled in 1938 during Japanese colonial rule. He also led various religious and social movements including the promotion of hangul, or Korean alphabet, in the 1940s.
He served as the managing editor of a monthly magazine for children, ``Saebeot,'' in 1952 and ``Sasanggye'' in 1954. He later served as a manager of the YMCA and developed it into one of the most successful civil organizations in the nation.
His affection for the Korean language through a long campaign led to the re-designation of ``Hangul Day'' as a national holiday in 2006 as it was excluded in 1991.
He is survived by two sons and three daughters. His funeral will be held at the hospital on Thursday and his body will be buried at Woosung Cemetery in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province. For more information, call (02) 3010-2230.
e3dward@koreatimes.co.kr
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