As the YWCA Korea welcomes the new century, it reflects on the purposes and methods of the YWCA movement upheld over the past 100 years. It seeks to redefine its founding spirit and identity, aspiring to boldly stand again as a leading force in the Christian citizens’ movement for the construction of a world based on justice, peace, and life.

In 1922, Christian young women on this land chose the YWCA as an institution to address the cries and lamentations of the colonial oppression and female suppression. Acting autonomously in the name of Korean women, they established the YWCA Korea to contribute to the development of the nation and the global pursuit of peace and happiness.

Until today, the YWCA Korea has continued the history of Christian, women’s, and civic movements, existing as a prominent women’s movement organization in Korea. However, it acknowledges the loss of its youthfulness in the early days, the failure of organizational expansion to strengthen the movement, occasional silence in the face of injustice, and the failure to stand boldly while praying prostrate. It expresses repentance for these shortcomings.

The new century for the YWCA Korea will unfold by aligning with the awakened consciousness of the young people, engaging in solidarity. It aims to break prejudices and discrimination, actively practicing a Christian women’s civic movement that focuses on sustaining life, originating from the local community. Additionally, we commence with a determined commitment to lead in the creation of a civic movement ecosystem through a healthy and pioneering organizational reform.

The new history of the YWCA Korea will be a journey full of solidarity and hospitality, where the purposes and vision of the YWCA are experienced in the daily lives of its members, embodying the teachings of Jesus Christ in action, striving towards the realization of the Kingdom of God on this land.

Y (YOUNG)

For the past 100 years, under the providence of God, YWCA Korea has carried out various activities and movements in sympathy with the mission statement of YWCA. Beginning a new century, we redefine Y as equality, wokeness, change, and restoration. We would like to dream of Y where various opinions are respected through equal communication instead of a vertical structure and where changes in society are made through mindful thoughts. In addition, we strive to be an organization that is led by youth and be a safe haven where the youth can work at. YWCA Korea dreams young dreams by working with the youth, and we will continue to put efforts into creating a world where justice, peace, and order of creation are preserved.

W (Women)

The W(women) movement has been putting women as subjects and working to improve women’s rights for the last 100 years. We want to open a new century by redefining the W(women) movement to women leadership, gender equality, elimination of discrimination, and diversity. We wish to be free from stereotypes, prejudices, and discrimination. We support each other, stand by each other, and fulfill our social responsibility. We go against discrimination and exclusion, raise questions, and find alternative solutions. The world that W dreams of in the new century is a world where diversity is valued and alienation and conflicts are broken to make a gender-equal, coexisting society in which mutual understanding across generations and regions exists.

C (Christian)

For the past 100 years, YWCA, a Christian women’s civil movement organization, has carried out justice, peace, and life movements/campaigns within the providence of God, the Lord of creation and history. As we begin the new century, we will make systems and lives that realize the restoration of creation order and climate justice, practice the value of life, and actively respond to requests for help from marginalized neighbors and the next generation.

 We will continue to take the role to not only foster social spirituality and peace networks but serve and take care of them. We will also communicate with and embrace the members of our society and boldly move forward as apostles of peace who end conflicts, division, war, and violence. We will create the kingdom of God of justice, peace, and life. In this, we hope to lead a lifestyle where worship is life and life is worship.

A(Association)

We are a community of members. Aligned with the purposes of the YWCA, we actively act for change. Our field is the local community. As a Christian civic movement organization, we strengthen the public nature, accountability, and autonomy, with members taking the lead in addressing urgent issues in the local community. Adapting to the demands of the changing times, we evolve into a new model for our society’s nonprofit public interest corporation. We willingly take on the role of building solidarity with diverse stakeholders and expanding the movement as a platform. YWCA members actively participate as leaders in local civic movements, fostering solidarity and communication to ensure that the vision of the YWCA is experienced in everyday life.