The Research Foundation of Korean Church History is just entered upon 40 anniversary on last August 17, 2004, since it was established as an affiliated institute of the Sonsin College, the predecessor of Catholic University of Korea in 1964. Thus far, the Foundation has been brought up as a leading research institution of the field of Korean church history. For the last forty years, the Research Foundation has won its reputation not only in the research of Korean church history but also in world-wide collection of the related materials and sponsoring various academic activities in the given area.
As it is used to be, at the beginning, the Foundation started in very hostile surroundings in terms of man power and facilities. Fortunately, the Foundation could secure a number of devoted people, mainly priests, professors and sponsor organization. Without their dedication, it is impossible to think of enjoying the present credit of the Foundation. First of all, we cannot forget father Choi, Seok - Woo as we talking about the growth of the Foundation. He is a farsighted leader who had realized the importance of the history of Korean church in order to evangelize the people effectively and to deepen historical understanding of Korea in general. In 1964 he played major role establishing the Foundation, after studying abroad with history major, with some sympathizers, a couple of Korean history majored professors. For forty years, he, as a director then and honorary director now, has been the center figure upgrading research standard and collecting voluminous historical materials. But it was not a single hero's job. It is also recognized that there are many other cooperators and helping hands.
By and large, the function and activity of the Research Foundation can be categorized into three or four fields, hosting symposium, seminar and etc, research activities, collecting related materials, and publication. The Foundation holds very often symposium, colloquium, seminar and lecture with either regular or irregular basis. As far as research man power is concerned, there are 10 full rime researchers and 20 part -rime researchers. They are engaging researching job with various interested subjects, and the outcomes of research are tended to distribute churches and other institutions.
The Research Foundation has tirelessly collected various kinds of materials which are necessary to undertake the research of Korean church history and of Modem History of Korea from both domestic and abroad. Especially, upon inviting a father who is an expert in paleography to the Foundation, the Foundation started to collect materials from the Missionary Paleographical Library and Vatican Archives systematically and it was known very successful. As a result, it is claimed that 75~80% of necessary materials are already collected, and some of them put into an order form. Some of them are published under the form of ' ○○○ Document' like 'Mutel Document'. Some other materials are classified and published under the title of 'Research Material Collection', 'Testimony of Martyr'. ' ××× Diary' like 'Davuly Diary' etc. Publication of monographs, book series, research articles, periodicals and dictionary compilation have been one of major target field the Foundation had engaged. Thus far, about 200 volumes have been published by the Foundation under the various titles. Also, the Foundation has issued two periodicals, 'Research Journal of Korean Church History' with biannual and 'Church and History' with monthly basis. The latter, numbered 357 so far, is designed to extend the knowledge of Korean church history to the public. In 1985, upon commemoration of 200th anniversary of foundation the first church in Korea, the Research Foundation compiled 'Korean Catholic Encyclopedia'. The event was known to the Pope and even he praised it. Soon after the publication of the dictionary, the Foundation decided to expand it and undertook the compilation of 'Korean Catholic Encyclopedia' which will be worked out until 2005 with 12 volumes. It may say that the dictionary is encyclopedic in terms of the number of entry and mobilization of man power, administrative and professional. It shows working capacity of foundation very well.
As mentioned above, this paper is hardly an research paper in strict sense. Rather, it is an overview of the role of helping hand, sponsors and auxiliary organizations that have dedicated and supported to the growth of the Research Foundation for the last 40 years. The paper accounts the roles they have played with positive perspectives from the beginning stage to the present and fact that they are deserved to be appreciated.
As concluding remark, the paper incorporates with a wish that the Foundation would contribute more to not only enhancing research level of church history itself but also playing a great role as partial fulfillment of Koreanology in general i.'1 the future.