In 1916 had come Dr. Frank W. Scofield as a Medical Professor at the Severance Medical College in Korea. In 1958 after the reacquisition of independence he visited Korea again but as a state guest, and then acquired the Korean citizenship. His love of Korea and the Korean People has been same now and then. His life as such can be evaluated with threefold frame of reference from Korean Church History.
First, he was a Christian man of nationalistic movement for the Korean independence. He contributed for enhancing it in publicizing throughout the whole world the real features of the movement by means of the pictures which he had taken at the very spots of the March-First Independence Movement at the request of Kap-Sung Lee, one of the 33 national representatives.
Besides, he visited and took care of many Koreans who had been suffered from severe punishment because of joining it. During this time he heard fact of Japanese putting Koreans to the brutal and barbarous tortures, which caused him to call out for stopping such things to the Japanese authority.
It was very meaningful in relation with the movement that he visited the place of massacre at Chaiamm-ni during this time and reported its misery to the whole world, and that he aroused global interest in the Korean independence. He was banished from Korea under the pressure of Japanese regime because of his support of the Independence Movement.
Second, he was a church reformer who succeeded the spirit of the Independence Movement. Dr. Scofield saw a real state of the Korean Church. He hoped that she should return to and stay all the time in the spirit of the movement. He diagnosed her as corrupted in an article with the title ‘Korean Church, Yesterday and Today’ in <Christianity Thought>printed in March 1961.
According to Dr. Scofield, the Korean Church, 40 years ago, was devoted to the Bible-study and was alive with a self-sacrificing spirit. But she at that time became secularized and lost power of sanctification. Dr. Scofield emphasized on the fact that she should restore the spirit of the March-First Independence Movement 40 years ago.
Third, he has been a medical missionary and educator who accomplishes his mission at his own expense. At the first time, he had come to Korea as a missionary of the Canadian Presbyterian Church, but after reacquisition of the Independence he discarded relationship with any other foreign missionary societies. Though in such a status, he accomplished his mission with self support.
Along with the main job of teaching at universities, he grouped young students and led them in the Bible study for hoping them to become future leaders of Korea. Also, he supported regularly social welfare organizations and provided the poor students with scholarship, so that they could complete their education. While he himself lived a thrift way of life, he practiced completely non-possessive life style for the sake of his neighbors.
It was faithful living up to his conviction on the Christian value as such that made him fulfilled a admirable life. In short, his whole life manifested a true way of sharing, caring, and praying.
His direct involvement in the Korean Independence Movement and missionary works is so marvelous as to one human being. However, the Korean Church has been neglecting in the right evaluation. As for me the only reason for that is due to his independent missionary works as of lay person outside of any denominational relation. Now, it is the urgent task that the Korean Church is to explore his life and thought, and to apply them to herself.

• 김문기(평택대학교 피어선 신학전문대학원) | Kim, Moon Kee