• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.380-387
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• 2024

Seo Sang-cheon (1903-1950) was a sports leader and administrator who contributed greatly to the development of Korean sports after Japanese colonial era and liberation. And to us, he is known as the first person to introduce weightlifting to Korea. In this paper, through the main contents of the books of the 1930s related to this research topic, including the Modern Physical Fitness Promotion Act (1931) and the Modern Iron Stick Movement Act (1934), the main contents of Seo Sang-cheon's books related to physical training during this period, I would like to illuminate the characteristics such as infinite affirmation of the 'body training' and the exposure of disciplined upper body photographs in Seo Sang-cheon's writings related to physical training during this period. On the one hand, contrary to this, I tried to mention the regrets of his writings and political moves emphasizing the 'spirit' after the 1940s. We found that Seo Sang-cheon's early writings were focused on individual physical training, beyond the boundaries of nation and ethnicity. In contrast, his later writings reflect a shift towards thinking of personal physical training in alignment with the development of the state. We believe that this change in his writings demonstrates that Seo Sang-cheon's interests extended beyond physical education into political and social spheres, while also symbolizing a transformation in his perception of the body.