Kim Mirisa received a thorough home education from her father as a child. At the age of 19, she became a widow with a daughter but overcame hardships through her Christian faith, which she embraced after attending church. She pursued theological studies in China for four years before coming to San Francisco, USA, for further education. However, upon arrival, she chose to forgo her studies and instead dedicated herself to the Korean independence movement and community enlightenment efforts from 1905 to 1910.
Kim Mirisa was an exceptionally intellectual woman for her time. She was the only female among the 25 founding members of the Daedong Educational Association, which was organized on December 9, 1905, and later expanded into the Daedong Boguk Association. She played a central role in publishing the organization’s newspaper, Daedong Gongbo. Upon hearing that The Empire News in Korea was facing financial difficulties and might cease publication, she took the initiative in raising funds to support it.
In 1908, she established the Korean Women’s Association, the first Korean women’s organization in San Francisco, and served as its president. Through this pioneering organization, she taught Korean women the necessity of participating in society and worked tirelessly to propose concrete measures for their involvement. She emphasized that women could play a significant role in patriotism and national service through active social engagement.
As part of her national endeavors, she helped establish and actively supported the Daedong Orphanage in Sunchon, Pyeonganbuk-do. She believed in raising and educating orphans to become responsible citizens, a mission that the Daedong Boguk Association adopted as a central cause. However, due to her intense dedication to the Women’s Association, the Korean National Association, and newspaper activities, she suffered a cerebral hemorrhage from overwork, leaving her in critical condition. Eventually, she lost most of her hearing due to the aftereffects of the illness.
In 1910, she moved to Kansas City, where she became the first Korean woman to study at The Scarritt Bible and Training School, a seminary for training female missionaries. After completing her studies in 1912, she returned to Korea and worked as a dormitory director at Bae Hwa Girls’ School. Based on her experiences in the U.S., she played a leading role in promoting women’s education movements in Korea after 1920.
Kim Mirisa is a remarkable national leader and a pioneering woman in modern Korean history who deserves high recognition.
답글 남기기