The role and status of the Shinminheo held a high position of the nataional movement of Korea in the period of Japanese occupation. This Study deals with the establishment and activities of the Shinminheo in relation to Sangdong Group with the central district of Seoul. The Sangdong church with Rev. Deokgi Jeon was a central headquarter of the establishment and activities of Shinminheo, and the majority of central figures of the Shinminheo were Christians and patriots who took an active part in and around the Sangdong church. The Sangdong group with Deokgi Jeon gave solid foundations of the activities of the Shinminheo in terms of the place, figures and organization, and the ideas, goals, methods of activities as well as constituents of the Shinminheo were closely connected with the Sangdong group.
The main spirit of the Sangdon Group was patriotism which was related to the kingdom of God expressed in the love of God, neighbors and nation on the basis of Christian faith. The group gave great stress on the spirit of national salvation through edification and education of people and training of promising leaders and emphasized the semse of unity by calling together men of like mind and the consistence of speech and action on the basis of trust. All these ideals of the Sangdong group were the foundation for the Shinminheo in the period of Japanese aggression. It is not surprising that the members of the Sangdong group played significant roles in the national movement in collaboration with other colleagues. At the time of national crisis, the Sangdong group showed vivid patriotism for the nation firmly grounded on Christian faith. This paper argues Christian faith contributed to practice of love of God, neighbors and nation and cosolidation of the independent movement in these critical situations.

• 서영석(협성대학교) | Suh, Young Suk