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Presbyterianism in South Korea

January 01, 1970

According to a 2021 Gallup Korea poll, 17% of South Koreans identify as Protestant;[1] this is about 8.5 million people. About two-thirds of these are Presbyterians. Presbyterians in South Korea worship in over 100 different Presbyterian denominational churches who trace their history back to the United Presbyterian Assembly.[2]

History edit

In the past, Christianity in Asia was not very common. Of Asian countries, Korea had the most Christians. As Korean Protestantism began with the Western missionaries to Korea, the majority were American Presbyterian and Methodist.[3] Protestantism was introduced to Korea in the late 19th century through missionaries. Lay people like Seo Sang-ryun and Baek Hong-Joon spread their knowledge of the Gospels after their conversion, and Christianity, of which the Catholic form had been suppressed in the middle of the 19th century, began to grow again in Korea.

Protestant missionaries in Korea

In 1884, Seo founded the first Protestant Christian community in Korea. The following year, the first American Protestant missionary and physician, Horace N. Allen of the Northern Presbyterians, arrived in Korea, and began medical work in 1885. Horace G. Underwood, a fellow Northern Presbyterian missionary, later joined this effort. His efforts were to "Christianize" the Koreans.[4] Many people witnessed the extraordinary expansion of Protestant Christianity thanks to the early missionary method. Park (1992) states how the Nevius Plan and indirect missionary programs such as educational, medical, and social services. The indirect missionary method was effective because most Koreans in the beginning were apprehensive and hostile toward the Westerners to include missionaries. Through indirect programs, early missionaries slowly diminished the hostility and distrust of natives. The missionaries could communicate and sometimes convert Koreans. Clearly, the indirect missionary method worked well enough since small Protestant churches arose.[4]

The Presbyterian Church of Victoria began mission work in 1889, followed in 1892 by the Southern Presbyterians, and in 1898 by the Presbyterian Church in Canada. Together they formed the Council of Mission of Presbyterian Churches and in 1901 opened the Pyongyang Theological Seminary in Pyongyang.

In 1907, the Independent Presbytery of Jesus Christ was formed, and seven Korean pastors were ordained. In 1921 the general assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Chosun was formed and sent seven missionaries to China.[5]

During and even somewhat before the Japanese occupation, churches from practically all Christian denominations faced many hardships and were actively persecuted by the Japanese administration. The imposition of Shinto rites of worship further exacerbated religious persecution during the occupation. While South Korea was under rule of Japan at the time, they decided to open up their “personal boundaries” to other countries, such as the United States, who were responsible for introducing Protestantism to Korea. During this era, South Korea was mostly practicing Buddhism.Many Presbyterians were among those who resisted and fought for Korean independence. Following the conclusion the Second World War, the withdrawal of Japan, and the partitioning of Korea, Presbyterian churches in the communist-leaning northern parts of Korea were dissolved. In the Syngman Rhee-led parts of Korea south of the 38th Parallel they were reconstructed in 1946. The 33rd general assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Chosun was held in 1947. Two years later the name "Presbyterian Church in Korea" was adopted. The Christianity movement expanded rapidly after the Korean War. People needed hope after such destruction and annihilation, many turned towards religion to keep hope alive.

Korean Protestant churches edit

To be considered Protestant, Baker (2016)[6] defines “those who confessed belief in a specific Protestant creed, and they were expected to meet regularly for worship services in a Protestant church”.  Protestants gave more credit to women for institutional roles in the church, much farther than Catholics have. Also assigning women titles such as exhorter and deaconess.[6] In 1989 there were nearly 30,000 protestant churches. In the same time there were nearly one fourth of South Korea’s 40 million people were protestant Christian.[7] No less than 25 percent of the population in South Korea is now Protestant Christian.[4] Currently, Protestant churches are to be found in nearly all of the larger villages, also the towns and cities. Seoul is filled with so many church buildings and signs of the cross, that it has been called "a city of churches."[4] In 2011, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism there were almost 78,000 Protestant churches in Korea.[6] South Korea has the world’s largest church congregation at the Yoido Full Gospel Church.

The following year saw significant growth for the Presbyterian church in Korea. Among the reasons contributing to the growth in size of Christian communities in Korea was the fact that unlike in other countries, Christianity was not associated with colonial or imperialist power. The Protestant Christian message came to Korea at a time when the religious and cultural heritage of the country had lost much of its strength and relevance for the common people. In addition to being unencumbered by imperialist or colonial connotations, the Christian communities themselves contributed to their own growth. Presbyterian churches adopted what was called the "Möbius method" in which each new convert was strongly encouraged to become an evangelist and convert others, and much like the Möbius strip this practice is intended to make Christianity in Korea boundless. Together with the post-World War II revival movement, these factors contributed greatly to the immense growth of Christianity in Korea in the decades since.

Eventually, Korean Christians established their own churches not just in Korea but in other parts of the world; Korea is second only to the United States in the number of missionaries sent abroad. Several thousand Korean Presbyterian missionaries are active in many other countries.

Growth, however, was not free of turmoil, but accompanied by schisms. After World War II but before the end of the Korean War the Presbyterian Church in Korea (고신, Go-shin) and the Presbyterian Church in Korea (재건, Jae-gun) were formed.[8] A few years later the conservative and progressive parts of the Presbyterian Church separated. As a result, in the last major Presbyterian schism, the Presbyterian Church in Korea (통합, Tong-hap) and the Presbyterian Church in Korea (합동, Hap-dong) were formed in 1959.[9] From these bodies several denominations separated. Today there are more than 100 Presbyterian churches/denominations in South Korea.[10] In the 21st century, a new General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church of Korea (Founder. Ha Seung-moo) in 2012 declared itself an authentic historical succession of Scottish Presbyterian John Knox.

Korean Protestant faith edit

The Korean Protestant belief in God or known as “Hananim”, meaning “God in heaven”. Their conception of the supreme God was presiding over the affairs of heaven and earth, and controlling the fate of humans. Contrary to Shamanism beliefs, which include but are not limited to seeking out a shaman for material wishes, longevity, health, male births and wealth -- Christians believe that God will supply their needs while remaining truthful, obedient and faithful to God. However, Korean Protestants were obligated to incorporate some aspects of shamanistic rituals.[7]

The belief of God also was the creator and sustainer of the universe, who has the power to liberate from suffering, healing, provide salvation or giving consolation. Similarly to Korean Shamanism, shamans were able to cast out evil spirits and cure diseases, just as how the teachings of Jesus Christ has done.[7]

Confessional basis edit

Korean Presbyterian denominations edit

All of these churches have the same confessional basis the Apostle Creed and the Westminster Confession.

Korean Presbyterians have many outreach programs. Many are very conservative, some are liberal. There are close connections with the United States and Canadian Presbyterian churches.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "한국인의 종교 1984-2021 (1) 종교 현황". 한국갤럽조사연구소 (in Korean). Gallup Korea. 18 May 2021.
  2. ^ Chris Meehan (2010-10-04). . Crcna.org. Archived from the original on 2017-07-09. Retrieved 2014-02-21.
  3. ^ Hwang, Jae-Buhm (December 2008). "A study of the fundamentalist tendency in Korean Protestantism: with special reference to the Korean Presbyterian church" (PDF). Acta Koreana. 11 (3): 113–142. doi:10.18399/acta.2008.11.3.005. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d Park, Chung-shin (1992). "Protestantism in late confucian korea: its growth and historical meaning". Journal of Korean Studies. 8: 26, 139–164. doi:10.1353/jks.1992.0013. S2CID 144355682.
  5. ^ "Presbyterian Church of Korea - World Council of Churches". World Council of Churches. January 1948. Retrieved 2014-02-21.
  6. ^ a b c Baker, Donald L. (2016). "The impact of christianity on modern Korea: An overview". Acta Koreana. 19 (1): 23, 45–67. doi:10.18399/acta.2016.19.1.002.
  7. ^ a b c Kim, Andrew E. (2000). "Korean religious culture and its affinity to christianity: The rise of protestant christianity in South Korea". Sociology of Religion. 61 (2): 17, 117. doi:10.2307/3712281. JSTOR 3712281.
  8. ^ Johannes a Lasco Library (2004-02-27). "Address data base of Reformed churches and institutions". Reformiert-online.net. Retrieved 2014-02-21.
  9. ^ Johannes a Lasco Library (2004-02-27). "Address data base of Reformed churches and institutions". Reformiert-online.net. Retrieved 2014-02-21.
  10. ^ a b Johannes a Lasco Library. "Overview of the worldwide reformed church". Reformiert-online.net. Retrieved 2014-02-21.

January 01, 1970
presbyterianism, south, korea, according, 2021, gallup, korea, poll, south, koreans, identify, protestant, this, about, million, people, about, thirds, these, presbyterians, presbyterians, south, korea, worship, over, different, presbyterian, denominational, c. According to a 2021 Gallup Korea poll 17 of South Koreans identify as Protestant 1 this is about 8 5 million people About two thirds of these are Presbyterians Presbyterians in South Korea worship in over 100 different Presbyterian denominational churches who trace their history back to the United Presbyterian Assembly 2 Contents 1 History 2 Korean Protestant churches 3 Korean Protestant faith 4 Confessional basis 5 Korean Presbyterian denominations 6 See also 7 ReferencesHistory editIn the past Christianity in Asia was not very common Of Asian countries Korea had the most Christians As Korean Protestantism began with the Western missionaries to Korea the majority were American Presbyterian and Methodist 3 Protestantism was introduced to Korea in the late 19th century through missionaries Lay people like Seo Sang ryun and Baek Hong Joon spread their knowledge of the Gospels after their conversion and Christianity of which the Catholic form had been suppressed in the middle of the 19th century began to grow again in Korea Protestant missionaries in KoreaIn 1884 Seo founded the first Protestant Christian community in Korea The following year the first American Protestant missionary and physician Horace N Allen of the Northern Presbyterians arrived in Korea and began medical work in 1885 Horace G Underwood a fellow Northern Presbyterian missionary later joined this effort His efforts were to Christianize the Koreans 4 Many people witnessed the extraordinary expansion of Protestant Christianity thanks to the early missionary method Park 1992 states how the Nevius Plan and indirect missionary programs such as educational medical and social services The indirect missionary method was effective because most Koreans in the beginning were apprehensive and hostile toward the Westerners to include missionaries Through indirect programs early missionaries slowly diminished the hostility and distrust of natives The missionaries could communicate and sometimes convert Koreans Clearly the indirect missionary method worked well enough since small Protestant churches arose 4 The Presbyterian Church of Victoria began mission work in 1889 followed in 1892 by the Southern Presbyterians and in 1898 by the Presbyterian Church in Canada Together they formed the Council of Mission of Presbyterian Churches and in 1901 opened the Pyongyang Theological Seminary in Pyongyang In 1907 the Independent Presbytery of Jesus Christ was formed and seven Korean pastors were ordained In 1921 the general assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Chosun was formed and sent seven missionaries to China 5 During and even somewhat before the Japanese occupation churches from practically all Christian denominations faced many hardships and were actively persecuted by the Japanese administration The imposition of Shinto rites of worship further exacerbated religious persecution during the occupation While South Korea was under rule of Japan at the time they decided to open up their personal boundaries to other countries such as the United States who were responsible for introducing Protestantism to Korea During this era South Korea was mostly practicing Buddhism Many Presbyterians were among those who resisted and fought for Korean independence Following the conclusion the Second World War the withdrawal of Japan and the partitioning of Korea Presbyterian churches in the communist leaning northern parts of Korea were dissolved In the Syngman Rhee led parts of Korea south of the 38th Parallel they were reconstructed in 1946 The 33rd general assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Chosun was held in 1947 Two years later the name Presbyterian Church in Korea was adopted The Christianity movement expanded rapidly after the Korean War People needed hope after such destruction and annihilation many turned towards religion to keep hope alive Korean Protestant churches editTo be considered Protestant Baker 2016 6 defines those who confessed belief in a specific Protestant creed and they were expected to meet regularly for worship services in a Protestant church Protestants gave more credit to women for institutional roles in the church much farther than Catholics have Also assigning women titles such as exhorter and deaconess 6 In 1989 there were nearly 30 000 protestant churches In the same time there were nearly one fourth of South Korea s 40 million people were protestant Christian 7 No less than 25 percent of the population in South Korea is now Protestant Christian 4 Currently Protestant churches are to be found in nearly all of the larger villages also the towns and cities Seoul is filled with so many church buildings and signs of the cross that it has been called a city of churches 4 In 2011 according to the Ministry of Culture Sports and Tourism there were almost 78 000 Protestant churches in Korea 6 South Korea has the world s largest church congregation at the Yoido Full Gospel Church The following year saw significant growth for the Presbyterian church in Korea Among the reasons contributing to the growth in size of Christian communities in Korea was the fact that unlike in other countries Christianity was not associated with colonial or imperialist power The Protestant Christian message came to Korea at a time when the religious and cultural heritage of the country had lost much of its strength and relevance for the common people In addition to being unencumbered by imperialist or colonial connotations the Christian communities themselves contributed to their own growth Presbyterian churches adopted what was called the Mobius method in which each new convert was strongly encouraged to become an evangelist and convert others and much like the Mobius strip this practice is intended to make Christianity in Korea boundless Together with the post World War II revival movement these factors contributed greatly to the immense growth of Christianity in Korea in the decades since Eventually Korean Christians established their own churches not just in Korea but in other parts of the world Korea is second only to the United States in the number of missionaries sent abroad Several thousand Korean Presbyterian missionaries are active in many other countries Growth however was not free of turmoil but accompanied by schisms After World War II but before the end of the Korean War the Presbyterian Church in Korea 고신 Go shin and the Presbyterian Church in Korea 재건 Jae gun were formed 8 A few years later the conservative and progressive parts of the Presbyterian Church separated As a result in the last major Presbyterian schism the Presbyterian Church in Korea 통합 Tong hap and the Presbyterian Church in Korea 합동 Hap dong were formed in 1959 9 From these bodies several denominations separated Today there are more than 100 Presbyterian churches denominations in South Korea 10 In the 21st century a new General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church of Korea Founder Ha Seung moo in 2012 declared itself an authentic historical succession of Scottish Presbyterian John Knox Korean Protestant faith editThe Korean Protestant belief in God or known as Hananim meaning God in heaven Their conception of the supreme God was presiding over the affairs of heaven and earth and controlling the fate of humans Contrary to Shamanism beliefs which include but are not limited to seeking out a shaman for material wishes longevity health male births and wealth Christians believe that God will supply their needs while remaining truthful obedient and faithful to God However Korean Protestants were obligated to incorporate some aspects of shamanistic rituals 7 The belief of God also was the creator and sustainer of the universe who has the power to liberate from suffering healing provide salvation or giving consolation Similarly to Korean Shamanism shamans were able to cast out evil spirits and cure diseases just as how the teachings of Jesus Christ has done 7 Confessional basis editWestminster Confession of Faith Westminster Larger Catechism Westminster Shorter Catechism Apostles Creed 10 Korean Presbyterian denominations editConservative Presbyterian Church in Korea Conservative Reformed Presbyterian Church in Korea Fundamentalist Presbyterian General Assembly in Korea Independent Reformed Church in Korea Independent Reformed Presbyterian Church in Korea Korea Jesus Presbyterian Church Korea Presbyterian Church Korean Christian Fundamentalist Assembly Korean Presbyterian Church GaeHyuk I Korean Presbyterian Church HoHun Myungsung Presbyterian Church Onnuri Community Church Orthodox Presbyterian Church of Korea Presbyterian Church in Korea BokUm Presbyterian Church in Korea BoSuHapDong II Presbyterian Church in Korea BoSuHapDong III Presbyterian Church in Korea BoSuHapDong Presbyterian Church in Korea BoSuJeongTong Presbyterian Church in Korea BoSuTongHap Presbyterian Church in Korea BupTong Presbyterian Church in Korea ChanYang Presbyterian Church in Korea ChongHoe I Presbyterian Church in Korea ChongHoe II Presbyterian Church in Korea ChongHoe II Presbyterian Church in Korea DaeHanShinChuk Presbyterian Church in Korea DaeShin II Presbyterian Church in Korea DaeShin II Presbyterian Church in Korea Daeshin Presbyterian Church in Korea DokNoHoe II Presbyterian Church in Korea DokNoHoe Presbyterian Church in Korea DongShin Presbyterian Church in Korea GaeHyuk Presbyterian Church in Korea GaeHyukHapDong I Presbyterian Church in Korea GaeHyukHapDong II Presbyterian Church in Korea GaeHyukHapDong III Presbyterian Church in Korea HanGukBoSu Presbyterian Church in Korea HapDong Presbyterian Church in Korea HapDongBokUm Presbyterian Church in Korea HapDongBoSu I Presbyterian Church in Korea HapDongBoSu II Presbyterian Church in Korea HapDongBoSu III Presbyterian Church in Korea HapDongBoSu IV Presbyterian Church in Korea HapDongBoSu Presbyterian Church in Korea HapDongChinShin II Presbyterian Church in Korea HapDongChongHoe Presbyterian Church in Korea HapDongChongShin I Presbyterian Church in Korea HapDongChongShin Presbyterian Church in Korea HapDongChungYun Presbyterian Church in Korea HapDongChunTong Presbyterian Church in Korea HapDongEunChong Presbyterian Church in Korea HapDongGaeHyuk Presbyterian Church in Korea HapDongHwanWon Presbyterian Church in Korea HapDongJangShin Presbyterian Church in Korea HapDongJeongShin Presbyterian Church in Korea HapDongJinRi Presbyterian Church in Korea HapDongSeongHoe Presbyterian Church in Korea HapDongSeungHoe Presbyterian Church in Korea HapDongTongHap Presbyterian Church in Korea HapDongYeChong I Presbyterian Church in Korea HapDongYeChong Presbyterian Church in Korea HapDongYeSun Presbyterian Church in Korea HapDongYunHap Presbyterian Church in Korea HoHun II Presbyterian Church in Korea HoHun III Presbyterian Church in Korea HwanWon Presbyterian Church in Korea HyukShin Presbyterian Church in Korea JaeGun Presbyterian Church in Korea JangShin Presbyterian Church in Korea JapDongJungAng Presbyterian Church in Korea JeongRip Presbyterian Church in Korea JeongTongChongHap Presbyterian Church in Korea JeongTongGyeSeung Presbyterian Church in Korea JungAng Presbyterian Church in Korea JungRip Presbyterian Church in Korea Ko Ryu Anti Accusation Presbyterian Church in Korea KoRyuPa Presbyterian Church in Korea Koshin Presbyterian Church in Korea Logos Presbyterian Church in Korea NamBuk Presbyterian Church in Korea PyungAhn Presbyterian Church in Korea SungHapChuk Presbyterian Church in Korea SunGyo Presbyterian Church in Korea TongHap Presbyterian Church in Korea TongHapBoSu Presbyterian Church in Korea YeJangHapBo Presbyterian Church in Korea YeJong Presbyterian Church in Korea YunShin Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea Pure Presbyterian Church in Korea SaRang Community Church Somang Presbyterian Church Union Presbyterian Church in Korea United Presbyterian Church in Korea Women Pastors Presbyterian Church in Korea Young Nak Presbyterian Church All of these churches have the same confessional basis the Apostle Creed and the Westminster Confession Korean Presbyterians have many outreach programs Many are very conservative some are liberal There are close connections with the United States and Canadian Presbyterian churches See also editChristianity in Korea Presbyterian Church of Korea Roman Catholicism in South KoreaReferences edit 한국인의 종교 1984 2021 1 종교 현황 한국갤럽조사연구소 in Korean Gallup Korea 18 May 2021 Chris Meehan 2010 10 04 Touched by Devotion in South Korea Article Christian Reformed Church Crcna org Archived from the original on 2017 07 09 Retrieved 2014 02 21 Hwang Jae Buhm December 2008 A study of the fundamentalist tendency in Korean Protestantism with special reference to the Korean Presbyterian church PDF Acta Koreana 11 3 113 142 doi 10 18399 acta 2008 11 3 005 Retrieved 22 October 2020 a b c d Park Chung shin 1992 Protestantism in late confucian korea its growth and historical meaning Journal of Korean Studies 8 26 139 164 doi 10 1353 jks 1992 0013 S2CID 144355682 Presbyterian Church of Korea World Council of Churches World Council of Churches January 1948 Retrieved 2014 02 21 a b c Baker Donald L 2016 The impact of christianity on modern Korea An overview Acta Koreana 19 1 23 45 67 doi 10 18399 acta 2016 19 1 002 a b c Kim Andrew E 2000 Korean religious culture and its affinity to christianity The rise of protestant christianity in South Korea Sociology of Religion 61 2 17 117 doi 10 2307 3712281 JSTOR 3712281 Johannes a Lasco Library 2004 02 27 Address data base of Reformed churches and institutions Reformiert online net Retrieved 2014 02 21 Johannes a Lasco Library 2004 02 27 Address data base of Reformed churches and institutions Reformiert online net Retrieved 2014 02 21 a b Johannes a Lasco Library Overview of the worldwide reformed church Reformiert online net Retrieved 2014 02 21 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Presbyterianism in South Korea amp oldid 1195526525, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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