Seo Shin-gil, Kim Jeong-rim Award Ceremony and Commemorative Lecture Held October 25 The Yonsei University Underwood Memorial Society (President Jung Chang-Young) held the Underwood Missionary Award Ceremony and Commemorative Lecture on October 25 at the Luce Chapel. In its seventh year, the Underwood Missionary Award acknowledges missionaries who are working to spread the word of the Lord all over the world. Since its initiation in 2000, 12 missionaries have been recognized with the award. This year’s recipients of the Award are Seo Shin-gil (Colombia) and Kim Jeong-rim (Tanzania). Seo Shin-kil was initially assigned to the United Arab Emirates after finishing training at the World Missionary Division of the Presbyterian Church of Korea. The UAE is a Muslim nation, and considered one of the most difficult countries for missionaries. Seo overcame obstacles such as time spent in jail, the extreme climate of the Middle East, and language problems to baptize many Arabs and foreigners. Colombia, his second assignment, better known to the world as a country overrun with drugs and guerillas, is dominated by a Catholic Fundamentalism strongly averse to the Protestant faith, whose missionaries face threats of violence in certain districts. Despite such dangers, Seo established five churches and baptized 74 people, including a native minister, to create the foundations for a Protestant community. Since 1997, Seo has concentrated on two core areas of his mission: general education and producing more ministers. He established a nursery school and elementary school, and taught theology and English at a Protestant seminary. He also helped young people who wished to serve God with scholarships, enabling them to study at the seminary. Missionary Kim Jeong-rim began her life as a missionary in the rural areas of Sacheon-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do. Sent to Kenya in 1988 by the Korean Methodist Church Missionary Division, Kim worked in the Nkoile area for two years then went to Tanzania in 1991, where she has worked since. In addition to spreading the word of God, Kim has worked on irrigation projects to relieve extreme draughts and hunger in Tanzania, and other social and educational services. The two recipients were awarded 20 million won in addition to the medal. In his commemorative speech, President Jung Chang-young lauded the efforts of the two award winners: “I express the deepest respect for the two missionaries who have truly realized the Underwood spirit.” Prior to the ceremony, a commemorative lecture was given by Professor Ryu Dae Young of Handong University.