조선 중기부터 역관을 배출한 중인 가계 출신인 현순은 東西開發會社 취직을 계기로 1903년 1세대 하와이 한인 이주 노동에 참여했다. 그는 통역관으로 한인의 고단한 노동과 교회 건설 등을 함께하는 동시에, 하와이 민족운동의 동료가 되는 이주 한인 1세대 운동가들을 만났다.
1907년 5월 귀국 후에는 교육과 목회 활동에 매진하던 중 1919년 기독교 인사들과 3·1운동을 계획하고 상해로 이동해 대한민국임시정부 수립의 토대를 조성했다. 1920년 8월 31일에는 이승만의 지원을 받아 渡美하여 구미위원부 위원장에 취임했다. 하지만 다소 과감하게 한국공사관 개설 및 독립청원서 제출을 감행한 결과 위원장 자격을 박탈당하고 재미한인독립운동가로서의 위상에 큰 손실을 입었다.
하와이 감리교단의 요청에 따라 1923년경 하와이 호놀룰루로 이주한 현순은 하와이를 기반삼아 카우아이 섬 및 하와이 한인들의 목회자이자 후원자, 교육자로 자리 잡았다. 또한 대조선독립단·가와도한인단합회·중한민중동맹단·조선민족혁명당 하와이 총 지부 등에서 임시정부 지원 등의 독립운동을 이어갔다. 이때 현순이 진보적인 재미독립운동에 동참한 이유는 이론적, 경제적인 사회주의 사상 수용 및 체계화보다는 애국심에 기반을 둔 진보적 민족운동의 전략적, 방법론적 측면의 수용에 그 초점이 맞추어져 있었다.
1947년부터 현순은 로스앤젤레스로 이동해 현 피터, 현 앨리스 등의 일가와 함께 『독립』신문의 간행에 참여하고 신문지상을 통한 언론활동을 벌였다. 조국 해방 전에는 외세에 간섭을 배제한 즉각적인 자주 독립을, 해방 후에는 남북통일정부 수립과 냉전 체제의 해체를 주장했다. 특히 미국 대선을 계기로 새로운 진보세력을 표방한 월레스와 신진당을 지지하고 그에 따른 국내 정세 완화를 궁극적으로 추구했다.
Rev. Soon Hyun, who was born in the lineages of the middle class at Joseon Dynasty, participated in the first-generation Hawaiian Korean migrant labor in 1903 with the getting a job at East-West Development Company. As an interpreter, he met the Korean immigrant first generation activists who will work together with the Hawaiian national movement while working hard on labouring and building churches in Korean society. After returning to Korea in May 1907, Soon Hyun devoted to education and ministry activities. Then, in 1919, he planned the 3·1 independence movement with christians and moved to Shanghai to establish the foundation of The Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea. On August 31, 1920, with the support of Syngman Rhee, he moved to the United States and became the chairman of the Korean commissions to America and Europe. However, he was somewhat quickly deprived of his chairmanship as a result of the boldly establishment of a Korean Legation and the submission of an independent petition. After all, he suffered a great loss in his status as Korean society activist in United States. In 1923, he moved to Honolulu, Hawaii, at the request of the Methodist church of Hawaii. And based on Hawaii, he became a pastor, patron and educator of Kauai Island and Hawaiian Koreans. In addition, he continued the independence movement at Korean National Independence League, The Kauai Korean Association, Sino-Korean People's League, The National Revolutionary Party of Korea Hawaii Branch. The reason for Soon Hyun participating in the progressive Korean American Movement at this time was focused on the acceptance of the strategic and methodological aspects of the progressive national movement based on patriotism rather than the theoretical and economic socialist ideological reception and systematization. Since 1947, Soon Hyun moved to Los Angeles, where he participated in the publishing of Independent newspapers along with his family including Peter Hyun and Alice Hyun. Prior to the liberation of Korea, he claim an immediate independence, which excluded interference in foreign affairs, and after liberation, the establishment of a Unified Korean government and the dismantling of the Cold War system. In particular, he supported the Henry Wallace and the Progressive Party who advocated for the new progressive forces in the US presidential election and ultimately pursued the relaxation of domestic situation.
Rev. Soon Hyun, who was born in the lineages of the middle class at Joseon Dynasty, participated in the first-generation Hawaiian Korean migrant labor in 1903 with the getting a job at East-West Development Company. As an interpreter, he met the Korean immigrant first generation activists who will work together with the Hawaiian national movement while working hard on labouring and building churches in Korean society. After returning to Korea in May 1907, Soon Hyun devoted to education and ministry activities. Then, in 1919, he planned the 3·1 independence movement with christians and moved to Shanghai to establish the foundation of The Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea. On August 31, 1920, with the support of Syngman Rhee, he moved to the United States and became the chairman of the Korean commissions to America and Europe. However, he was somewhat quickly deprived of his chairmanship as a result of the boldly establishment of a Korean Legation and the submission of an independent petition. After all, he suffered a great loss in his status as Korean society activist in United States. In 1923, he moved to Honolulu, Hawaii, at the request of the Methodist church of Hawaii. And based on Hawaii, he became a pastor, patron and educator of Kauai Island and Hawaiian Koreans. In addition, he continued the independence movement at Korean National Independence League, The Kauai Korean Association, Sino-Korean People's League, The National Revolutionary Party of Korea Hawaii Branch. The reason for Soon Hyun participating in the progressive Korean American Movement at this time was focused on the acceptance of the strategic and methodological aspects of the progressive national movement based on patriotism rather than the theoretical and economic socialist ideological reception and systematization. Since 1947, Soon Hyun moved to Los Angeles, where he participated in the publishing of Independent newspapers along with his family including Peter Hyun and Alice Hyun. Prior to the liberation of Korea, he claim an immediate independence, which excluded interference in foreign affairs, and after liberation, the establishment of a Unified Korean government and the dismantling of the Cold War system. In particular, he supported the Henry Wallace and the Progressive Party who advocated for the new progressive forces in the US presidential election and ultimately pursued the relaxation of domestic situation.
