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Encyclopedia > Christianity in Korea
It has been suggested that Christianization of Korea be merged into this article or section. (Discuss)
Yoido Full Gospel Church, Seoul
Yoido Full Gospel Church, Seoul

Over the past few decades, Christianity has grown dramatically in South Korea. About 19 percent of the population professed to be Protestant and around 11 percent Roman Catholic in the year 2005[1], and Seoul, the capital, contained eleven of the world's twelve largest Christian congregations. South Korea is also the world's second largest missionary sending nation (after the United States), and South Korean missionaries are particularly prevalent in 10/40 Window nations that are hostile to Westerners. In 2000 there were 10,646 Korean Protestant missionaries in 156 countries, along with a large but undisclosed number of Catholic missionaries. The impact of Christianity on the Korean culture has been considerable, and is partly responsible for a steady decline in the membership and influence of Buddhism, Shamanism and Confucianism, which have traditionally had deep roots in Korean culture. A number of Korean Christians, including David Yonggi Cho (조용기), senior pastor of the colossal Yoido Full Gospel Church have attained worldwide prominence. The 1984 visit by Pope John Paul II marked the first canonization ceremony to be held outside of Rome and the largest number of saints ever to be canonized at one time. Image File history File links Please see the file description page for further information. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Christianity in Korea. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1034, 220 KB) 짧은설명 Taken by Puzzlet Chung Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Yoido Full Gospel Church ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1034, 220 KB) 짧은설명 Taken by Puzzlet Chung Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Yoido Full Gospel Church ... Yoido Full Gospel Church is a Pentecostal Christian church on Yeouido Island in Seoul, South Korea. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Seoul   is the capital of South Korea (Republic of Korea) and is located on the Han River in the countrys northwest. ... A missionary is traditionally defined as a propagator of religion who works to convert those outside that community; someone who proselytizes. ... The 10/40 Window refers to the Eastern Hemisphere (including Africa, Europe, and Asia) between 10 and 40 degrees north of the Equator. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... The grounds of Koreas Buryeongsa Temple. ... There are a number of shamanistic practices that are developed in Korea, where the role of a shaman is most frequently taken by women. ... Korean Confucianism is the form of Confucianism developed in Korea. ... David Yonggi Cho is a Korean Christian minister. ... Yoido Full Gospel Church is a Pentecostal Christian church on Yeouido Island in Seoul, South Korea. ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The current Pope is Benedict XVI (born Joseph Alois Ratzinger), who was elected at the age of 78 on 19 April 2005. ... Coat of Arms of Pope John Paul II. The Letter M is for Mary, the mother of Jesus, to whom he held strong devotion Pope John Paul II (Latin: ), (Italian: Giovanni Paolo II), born   [] (May 18, 1920, Wadowice, Poland – April 2, 2005, Vatican City) reigned as Pope of the Roman... Nickname: The Eternal City Motto: SPQR: Senatus PopulusQue Romanus Location of the city of Rome (yellow) within the Province of Rome (red) and region of Lazio (grey) Coordinates: Region Lazio Province Province of Rome Founded 21 April 753 BC  - Mayor Walter Veltroni Area    - City 1285 km²  (580 sq mi)  - Urban...


Unless otherwise stated, all references in this article to "Korea," "Korean people," and "Korean church" after 1945 apply to South Korea only. Prior to the Korean War of 1950–1953, two thirds of the country's Christians lived in the North, but most subsequently fled to the South [2]. It is not known how many Christians remain in the North. Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ... Combatants United Nations: Republic of Korea  Australia  Belgium Canada  Colombia Ethiopia  France Greece  Netherlands  New Zealand  Philippines South Africa  Thailand  Turkey  United Kingdom United States Medical staff:  Denmark  Australia  Italy  Norway  Sweden Communist states: Democratic People’s Republic of Korea People’s Republic of China  Soviet Union Commanders Syngman Rhee... 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday. ...

Contents

Early failures: 1593-1784

Korea was not always a haven for Christians. Christianity was finally established on Korean soil (in 1784) only after nearly two centuries of frustrated efforts, and it was not until the Twentieth Century that the Christian presence became numerically significant. Why then, after such an unpromising start, has Christianity finally been so widely accepted in Korea, when this has not happened in nearby Japan and China? To answer this question, it is necessary to assess the cultural, political, and historical developments that set the Korean people apart from their neighbours. This leads on to a second question: What effect has Christianity had on Korean society over the past two hundred years? 1784 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...


The first known Christian presence in Korea was Father Gregorious de Cespedes, a Jesuit priest who arrived in Korea in 1593 to work among Japanese expatriates, but was not permitted to proselytize Koreans. [3] A decade later, however, the Korean diplomat Yi Kwangjong (이광정) returned from Beijing carrying a world atlas and several theological books written by Matteo Ricci, a Jesuit missionary to China. [4] Ricci's books provoked immediate academic controversy; early in the seventeenth century, Yi Sugwang (이수광; a court scholar) and Yu Mongin (유몽인; a cabinet minister) wrote highly critical commentaries on Ricci's works. Over the ensuing two centuries, academic criticism of Christian beliefs continued unabated. Gregorious de Cespedes was a portuguese priest who arrived in Korea to do mission work. ... The Society of Jesus (Latin: Societas Iesu), commonly known as the Jesuits, is a Roman Catholic religious order. ... Events May 18 - Playwright Thomas Kyds accusations of heresy lead to an arrest warrant for Christopher Marlowe. ... Beijing [English Pronunciation] (Chinese: 北京 [Chinese Pronunciation]; Pinyin: BÄ›ijÄ«ng; IPA: ), a metropolis in northern China, is the capital of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). ... Matteo Ricci Matteo Ricci (Macerata, October 6, 1552 - Peking, May 11, 1610) (Chinese: 利瑪竇; pinyin: Lì MÇŽdòu) was an Italian Jesuit priest whose missionary activity in China during the Ming Dynasty marked the beginning of modern Chinese Christianity. ... Yi Su-gwang (1563-1628)(Hangul:이수광) was a Korean scholar and a military officer who lived during the Joseon Dynasty. ...


Underpinnings of Christian growth

It may be worth noting here that during the period when Korea was closed to foreigners there was an extremely high number of martyrdoms of Koreans who were helping Catholic missionaries. One of the most famous is Andrew Kim Taegon, who was beheaded at the age of 25. Historically, a martyr is a person who dies for his or her religious faith. ... St. ...


Academic sympathy—the Silhak school

Some scholars were, however, more sympathetic to Christianity. Members of the Silhak (실학; "practical learning") school were greatly attracted to what they saw as the egalitarian values of Christianity. [5] Advocating a social structure based on merit rather than birth, Silhak scholars (who were often bitterly opposed by the establishment) saw Christianity as providing an ideological basis for their beliefs. Thus, when Catholicism was finally established in 1784, there was already a substantial body of educated opinion sympathetic to it - which was to prove crucial to the spread of the Catholic faith in the 1790s. [6] An 1801 study indicated that fifty-five percent of all Catholics had family ties to the Silhak school. [7] It is apparent, then, that the first important factor which facilitated the growth of Christianity is that there was already a substantial minority within the educated elite that was sympathetic to it. Neo-Confucianism (理學 Pinyin: Lǐxué) is a term for a form of Confucianism that was primarily developed during the Song dynasty, but which can be traced back to Han Yu and Li Ao in the Tang dynasty. ... As a Christian ecclesiastical term, Catholic - from the Greek adjective , meaning general or universal[1] - is described in the Oxford English Dictionary as follows: ~Church, (originally) whole body of Christians; ~, belonging to or in accord with (a) this, (b) the church before separation into Greek or Eastern and Latin or... 1784 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Events and Trends French Revolution (1789 - 1799). ... The Union Jack, flag of the newly formed United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. ...


Lay leadership

A second important factor is that Christianity in Korea began as an indigenous lay movement, and was not imposed by a foreign ecclesiastical hierarchy. The first Catholic prayer-house was founded in 1784 at Pyongyang (평양 - now the capital of North Korea) by Yi Sung-hun (이승훈), a diplomat who had been baptized in Beijing. [8] In 1786, Yi proceeded to establish a hierarchy of lay-priests. [9] Although the Vatican later ruled (in 1789) that the appointment of lay-priests violated Canon Law, the fact remains that Christianity was introduced into Korea by indigenous lay-workers, not by foreign prelates. 1784 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Not to be confused with PyeongChang. ... Yi Sung-Hun (이승훈 in Korean, baptismal name Peter) is an early Roman Catholic martyr in Korea. ... 1789 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...


Parallels in Korean tradition

Thirdly, the Korean churches were able to use and build upon Korean tradition. Unlike the Chinese or Japanese, the Shamanist Koreans had an essentially monotheistic concept of a Creator-God, [10] whom they called Hwan-in (환인) or Haneu-nim (하느님) (later also Hana-nim (하나님)). According to an ancient myth, Hwan-in had a son named Hwan-ung (환웅), who, in turn, had fathered a human son named Tangun (단군) in 2333 BC.[11] [12] [13] Tangun founded the Korean nation and, so the story goes, taught his people the elements of civilization during his thousand-year reign. [14] There are several variants of this myth, one of which depicts Tangun as having been born of a virgin [15] - although this may be a later Christian embellishment. Some modern theologians have even attempted to explain the Christian concept of the Trinity in terms of the three divine characters in the Tangun myth. [16] Although only a myth, it psychologically prepared the Korean people for the Christian doctrine of the Incarnation. The ability of the Church to graft Christian theology onto existing beliefs has continued to be a crucial factor in its growth. Hwanin in medieval Korean mythology is Indra, the ruler of heaven and earth in Buddhism. ... Dangun is the mythical founder of Korea. ... (Redirected from 2333 BC) (25th century BC - 24th century BC - 23rd century BC - other centuries) (4th millennium BC - 3rd millennium BC - 2nd millennium BC) Events 2900 - 2334 BC -- Mesopotamian wars of the Early Dynastic period 2350 BC - End of the Early Dynastic IIIb Period in Mesopotamia 2334 - 2279 BC -- Sargon... For other uses, see Trinity (disambiguation). ... Look up Incarnation in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Incarnation, which literally means enfleshment, refers to the conception, and live birth of a sentient creature (generally human) who is the material manifestation of an entity or force whose original nature is immaterial. ...


Use of the Korean alphabet

Fourthly, Christian use of the Korean language and the easily-learned hangul (한글) script enabled the faith to spread outside the elite (among whom the literary language was Chinese). More will be said about hangul later, but it should be noted here that the Catholic Church was the first organization to officially recognize its value. [17] As early as the 1780s, portions of the Gospels appeared in hangul; doctrinal books such as the Chugyo Yogi (주교여기) in the 1790s, and a Catholic hymnary around 1800. Jamo redirects here. ... Nothing much really happened in the 1780s only that Mary-Anne Tobin was hung in public for wearing a flase beard and voting. ... Events and Trends French Revolution (1789 - 1799). ... // ON MAY 5 1853 MR.FADER HAD SEX WITH A MAN NAME MR WIEN THEN THEY HAD SON NAMEDMRS COTURE AND MR MANOOGIAN WENT INTO MRS HASKELLS OFFICE NAKED AND DANCED AROUND AND MASTERBATED ON HER CHEST AND SHE LICKED IT OFF THEN THEY HAD ORAL SEEX WITH NAPLOEAN OF...


Protestantism and the founding of modern educational institutions

Protestantism was introduced into Korea in 1884 by two Americans: Henry Apenzeller, a Methodist, and Horace Underwood, a Presbyterian. [18] Emphasizing the mass-circulation of the Bible (which had been translated into Korean between 1881 and 1887 by the Reverend John Ross, a Scottish Presbyterian missionary in Manchuria), the Protestant pioneers also established the first modern educational institutes in Korea. [19] The Presbyterian Paichai School (배재고등학교) for boys was founded in 1885, and the Methodist Ehwa girls' school (이화여자고등학교) followed a year later. These, and similar schools established soon afterwards, facilitated the rapid expansion of Protestantism among the common people, and in time enabled the Protestant faith to overtake Catholicism as the leading Christian voice in Korea. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... 1884 (MDCCCLXXXIV) is a leap year starting on Tuesday (click on link to calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Thursday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... The Methodist movement is a group of denominations of Protestant Christianity. ... Presbyterianism is part of the Reformed churches family of denominations of Christian Protestantism based on the teachings of John Calvin which traces its institutional roots to the Scottish Reformation, especially as led by John Knox. ... Year 1881 (MDCCCLXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... 1887 (MDCCCLXXXVII) is a common year starting on Saturday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. ... John Ross was the name of: John Ross (naval officer) (18th C.), admiral of the British Royal Navy John Ross (American patriot), a figure in the American Revolution John Ross (d. ... Motto: (Latin) No one provokes me with impunity1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots2 Government  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - UK Prime Minister Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification    - by Kenneth I 843  Area    - Total 78,772 km... Manchuria (Manchu: Manju; Traditional Chinese: 滿洲; Simplified Chinese: 满洲; pinyin: MÇŽnzhōu, Russian: ) is a vast territorial region in northeast Asia. ... 1885 (MDCCCLXXXV) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Ewha Womans University is a private womens university in central Seoul, South Korea. ... 1886 (MDCCCLXXXVI) is a common year starting on Friday (click on link to calendar) // Events January 18 - Modern field hockey is born with the formation of The Hockey Association in England. ...


Identification with Korean nationalism

But probably the single most important factor leading to the eventual widespread acceptance of Christianity was the identification forged by many Christians with the cause of Korean nationalism during the Japanese occupation (1905-1945). In this period, the Korean people suffered greatly; seven million were exiled or deported from their homeland, [20] and a systematic campaign of cultural assimilation was attempted. In 1938, even the Korean language was outlawed. [21] This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Korea under Japanese rule was the period of Empire of Japans de facto annexation of Korea from 1910 to 1945. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Year 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ...


On 1 March, 1919, an assembly of thirty-three religious and professional leaders passed a Declaration of Independence (March 1st Movement). Although organized by leaders of the Chondogyo (천도교) religion, fifteen of the thirty-three signatories happened to be Christians [22] - many of whom were subsequently imprisoned. 1919 also saw the establishment of the predominantly Catholic Ulmindan (울민단) ("Righteous People's Army") [23] - a pro-independence movement, and the establishment of a China-based government-in-exile by Seungman Rhee (이승만), a Methodist. [24] But the real catalyst that linked Christianity with the patriotic cause in the eyes of many Koreans was the refusal by many Christians to participate in the worship of the Japanese Emperor, which was made compulsory in the 1930s. [25] [26] Although this refusal was motivated by theological rather than political convictions, the consequent imprisonment of many Christians strongly identified their faith, in the eyes of many Koreans, with the cause of Korean nationalism and resistance to the Japanese occupation. The March First Movement, or the Samil Movement, was one of the earliest displays of Korean nationalism during the Japanese rule. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea was a government in exile based in Shanghai, China and later in Chongqing, during the Japanese occupation of Korea. ... Syngman Rhee (March 26, 1875 - July 19, 1965) was a Korean politician and the first president of South Korea. ... For the CPR ocean liner, see Empress of Japan. ...


The impact of Christianity on Korean society

Christianity has played an important role in Korea's transformation from a feudal to a modern society. The effects of Christianity cannot always be neatly distinguished from the causes; the situation is analogous to the proverbial chicken and egg - which comes first? Any one effect that Christianity may have on society may cause more people to accept or reject the faith in the future. So, while a distinction between causes and effects may be helpful for the purposes of clarification, one should realize that such an analysis may be overly simplistic.


Education and literacy

The early impact of the introduction of Christianity on education has already been mentioned. The promotion of the phonetic and easily learned Hangul script, through the dissemination of Christian literature and through the network of schools established by Christian missions, resulted in a sharp rise in the literacy rate. Hangul, although invented as far back as 1446 by scholars in the court of King Sejong (세종대왕)[27][28] was little used for several centuries because of the perceived cultural superiority of Chinese. The Catholic Church was the first organization to officially recognize the value of Hangul, and Bishop Berneux (martyred in 1866) commanded that all Catholic children be taught to read it. [29] Protestant churches, too, made literacy in Hangul a prerequisite for admission to Holy Communion. [30] Female literacy also rose sharply; women had traditionally been excluded from the educational system. [31] Jamo redirects here. ... Jamo redirects here. ... Events Mehmed II Sultan of the Ottoman Empire is forced to abdicate in favor of his father Murad II by the Janissaries. ... King Sejong the Great (May 6, 1397 - May 18, 1450), born I Do, was the fourth ruler of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea from 1418 to 1450. ... 1866 (MDCCCLXVI) is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... The Eucharist is either the Christian sacrament of consecrated bread and wine or the ritual surrounding it. ...


Possible economic effects

While the constitution of South Korea guarantees freedom of religion as well as separation of church and state, the government has been favorable to Christianity, regarding the religion as an ideological bulwark against Communism. According to U.S. government figures, about 26% of the population were Christians in 1995 [32]while the Religious Yearbook 1995 of a Protestant research group puts the figure at over 40% [33]. Many South Korean Christians view their religious faith as a factor in the country's dramatic economic growth over the past three decades, believing that success and prosperity are indications of God's blessing. There is much appreciation for the statistical growth, impressive organization, and buildings [34]. Surveys have shown [35] South Korean Christians are very active in their religion, quite often exceeding their American counterparts in such areas as frequency of attendance at group worship services. An ideology is a collection of ideas. ... A page of fanciful balusters Arcade a passage or walkway covered over by a succession of arches or vaults supported by columns. ... Communism is an ideology that seeks to establish a classless, stateless social organization based on common ownership of the means of production. ... Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956–present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic  - President George W. Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized...


It is, however, difficult to isolate the effects of other influences such as indigenous cultural values and work ethic, a strong alliance with the US and the infusion of foreign capital. Also, neighboring Japan has achieved comparable economic strength in parallel with Korea, but with a miniscule proportion of Christians (less than 1% of its population) [36]. Even so, at least one study [37],[38] suggests a correlation which may buttress the contention that Christianity has played a major role in the economic success of the nation. Value is a term that expresses the concept of worth in general, and it is thought to be connected to reasons for certain practices, policies or actions. ... Work ethic is a set of values based on the moral virtues of hard work and diligence. ...


Social relationships

But perhaps nowhere have Christian values had a more revolutionary effect than in the area of social relationships. Traditional Korean society was hierarchically arranged according to Confucian principles under the semi-divine emperor. Women had no social rights, [39] children were totally subservient to their parents, [40] and individuals had no rights except as defined by the overall social system. This structure was radically challenged by the Christian teaching that all men are created in the "Image of God" (Genesis 1.26-27) and thus that every individual has implicit worth. Closely lined to this concept was the emphasis on the right to own private property. [41] Christians also regarded the emperor as a mere man as much subject to God as were his own subjects, and were taught to regard the authority of God as being above that of the emperor. [42] The diffusion of Christian values also contributed to the social emancipation of women and children. [43] [44] From its inception in 1784, the Catholic Church permitted the remarriage of widows (not traditionally allowed in East Asian societies), prohibited concubinage and polygamy, and forbade cruelty to or desertion of wives. Catholic parents were taught to regard their children as gifts from God, and were required to educate them. [45] Arranged child marriages, and the neglect of daughters (who, in Asian society were often regarded as less "desirable" than sons) were prohibited. Nonetheless, it must be recalled that in "Christian" societies of previous centuries, for instance in medieval Europe, such rights of individuals, women, children, and the like, were also much more limited than those of the West of recent centuries. Thus it is not completely appropriate to compare the Korea of that former time to the West after the Renaissance. 1784 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...


Minjung theology and the human rights struggle

Main article: Minjung theology

The Christian concept of individual worth has also found expression in a long struggle for human rights and democracy. In recent years, this has taken the form of Minjung theology. Based on the "Image of God" concept, but also incorporating the traditional Korean doctrine of han (한) (a word with no accurate English translation, but denoting a sense of inconsolable pain and utter helplessness), Minjung Theology depicts the Korean people themselves as the rightful masters of their own destiny. Emphasizing nationalism as well as human rights, Minjung Theology appeals increasingly to both right and left in Korean society. Two of the country's best known political leaders, Kim Young-sam (김영삼) and Kim Dae-jung (김대중) subscribe to Minjung Theology. [46] Both men spent decades opposing military-led governments in South Korea, and were frequently imprisoned. Kim Young-sam, a Presbyterian, and Kim Dae-jung, a Roman Catholic, each later served terms as President of the Republic after democracy was restored in 1988. Minjung theology emerged in the 1970s, in the experience of South Korean Christians in the struggle for social justice. ... Minjung theology emerged in the 1970s, in the experience of South Korean Christians in the struggle for social justice. ... This article is about the Korean cultural sentiment of han. ... Kim Young-sam (born December 20, 1927 in Geoje, South Gyeongsang) was the President of the Republic of Korea from February 25, 1993 to February 25, 1998. ... Kim Dae-jung (born December 3, 1925) is a South Korean politician. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...


One manifestation of Minjung Theology in the final years of the Park Chung-hee (박정희) regime (1961-1979) was the rise of several Christian missions, such as the Catholic Farmers Movement and the (Protestant) Urban Industrial Mission, which campaigned for better wages and working conditions for agricultural and industrial workers. Seeing such movements as a threat to social stability, the government arrested and imprisoned many of their leaders. This struggle coincided with a period of popular unrest which culminated in the assassination of President Park on October 26, 1979. [47] Park Chung-hee (November 14, 1917 – October 26, 1979) was the president of Republic of Korea from 1961 to 1979. ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ... For the song by The Smashing Pumpkins, see 1979 (song). ... October 26 is the 299th day of the year (300th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 66 days remaining. ... For the song by The Smashing Pumpkins, see 1979 (song). ...


Controversies

Some non-Christian Koreans, as well as some non-Korean Christians, claim that Korean Christianity operates like a business, or even a cult. Some Christian leaders in Korea have allegedly had extramarital affairs with members of their churches. One such highly publicized incident occurred on 1 December 2003, when Rev. Jang Hyo-Hee, the leader of the Christian Council of Korea (한국기독교총연합회), Korea's largest Christian organization, jumped to his death from an office block as the husband of a woman with whom he was allegedly having an affair was trying to enter the room. There have also been cases of Christian leaders in Korea have passing on the leadership of their church to their sons, which is considered inappropriate by many Christians, notwithstanding the fact that such occurrences are also common in other countries, including the United States. Adultery is voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and a partner other than the lawful spouse. ... December 1 is the 335th (in leap years the 336th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...


Kim Hong-Do, the chief pastor of Kumran Church at Mangwoo-dong, Seoul, was indicted on charges of fraud and embezzlement (3.2 billion won) on 28 April 2006. He is trying to transfer leadership of his church to his son, who currently serves as Associate. The same Kim Hong-Do had aroused controversy in 2004 for claiming that victims of the Indian Ocean earthquake, which devastated much of South Asia, died as a punishment from God for not believing in Christianity. April 28 is the 118th day of the year (119th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 247 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Tsunami strikes Ao Nang, Thailand. ... This article is about the geopolitical region in Asia. ...


Summary

Christianity finally became established on Korean soil only after nearly two hundred years of constant setbacks. Beginning as a lay-movement among Silhak scholars who saw Christianity as an ideological catalyst for their egalitarian values, the faith managed to assimilate, and be assimilated by, Korean culture, through its ability to make effective use of existing traditions. The distinctly Korean nature of the Church was reinforced during forty years of Japanese occupation by virtue of the imprisonment of many Korean Christians who refused to participate in Japanese emperor-worship. This stand enabled Christian leaders to depict their faith as being no longer a "foreign" religion. Neo-Confucianism (理學 Pinyin: Lǐxué) is a term for a form of Confucianism that was primarily developed during the Song dynasty, but which can be traced back to Han Yu and Li Ao in the Tang dynasty. ...


Looking ahead

South Korea's transition from forty years of authoritarianism (interrupted only once, in the short-lived Second Republic (1960-61) [48] to a more liberal, democratic regime in 1988, left Korea's churches facing a new challenge. Their strong stand for human rights and democracy had been a significant part of their appeal to the Korean population, and had helped facilitate the exponential growth of many churches in the 1970s and early 1980s. The coming of democracy, which made Christians a part of the establishment as never before, left many Christians feeling that the Church had become a victim of its own success, as freedom and prosperity led to widespread complacency and a loss of the churches' "cutting edge." Church growth tapered off, for the first time in decades. 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1960 calendar). ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... In mathematics, a quantity that grows exponentially is one whose growth rate is always proportional to its current size. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, inclusive. ... The 1980s refers to the years of 1980 to 1989. ...


In the early years of the twenty-first century, however, many Christians have found a renewed determination to evangelize the nation, with the bold goal of establishing the Korean Peninsula as a bastion of Christianity on the Asian mainland, and this vision necessarily encompasses North Korea. Furthermore, with a possible economic and political collapse of the North Korean regime looming, the South Korean churches are developing contingency plans to mobilize both spiritual and humanitarian resources to aid the North. The Korean Peninsula is a peninsula in East Asia. ...


See also

This is a list of Wikipedia articles on Korea-related people, places, things, and concepts. ... The grounds of Koreas Buryeongsa Temple. ... There are a number of shamanistic practices that are developed in Korea, where the role of a shaman is most frequently taken by women. ... This article is in need of attention. ... The Roman Catholic Church in Korea is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome. ... Christianity in China has developed since at least the 7th century AD. The introduction of Nestorianism, a Christian sect, around 635 is considered by some to be the first entry of the Christian religion into China. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... -1... Korean Contemporary Christian music (or Korean CCM) refers to Contemporary Christian music written or played in South Korea. ...

Sources

Numbered references

  1. ↑  Patrick Johnstone and Jason Mandryk, Operation World, Carlisle, Cumbria, and Waynesboro, GA., 2001, pp. 387-390.
  2. ↑  CHOI Suk-woo, 'Korean Catholicism Yesterday and Today', Korean Journal XXIV, 8, August 1984, p. 4.
  3. ↑  KIM Han-sik, 'The Influence of Christianity', Korean Journal XXIII, 12, December 1983, p. 5.
  4. ↑  Ibid., pp. 6-7.
  5. ↑  Ibid., p. 6.
  6. ↑  KIM Ok-hy, 'Women in the History of Catholicism in Korea', Korean Journal XXIV, 8, August 1984, p. 30.
  7. ↑  CHOI Suk-Woo, pp. 5-6.
  8. ↑  National Unification Board, The Identity of the Korean People, Seoul, 1983, pp. 132-136.
  9. ↑  Seoul International Publishing House, Focus on Korea, Korean History, Seoul, 1983, pp. 7-8.
  10. ↑  Seoul International Publishing House, Focus on Korea, Korean History, Seoul, 1983, pp. 7-8.
  11. ↑  The Identity of the Korean People, pp. 132-136.
  12. ↑  Ilyon, tr. HA Tae-hung and Grafton K. Minz, Samguk Yusa, Seoul 1972, pp. 32-33.
  13. ↑  Marguerite Johnson, 'The Culture', in Pico Iyer (ed.) 'An Ancient Nation on the Eve of a Modern Spectacle: SOUTH KOREA', Time CXXXII, 10, 5 September 1988, p. 48.
  14. ↑  Ibid., p. 48.
  15. ↑  Focus on Korea, pp. 7-8.
  16. ↑  CHO Kwang, 'The Meaning of Catholicism in Korean History', Korean Journal XXIV, 8, August 1984, pp. 20-21.
  17. ↑  Colin Whittaker, Korea Miracle, Eastbourne, 1988, p. 133.
  18. ↑  Andrew C. Nah, A Panorama of 5000 Years: Korean History, Seoul, 1983, p. 81.
  19. ↑  Whittaker, p. 62.
  20. ↑  Ibid., p. 65.
  21. ↑  Ibid., p. 63.
  22. ↑  CHOI Suk-woo, p. 10.
  23. ↑  Encyclopedia Americana, Vol. 23, Danbury, Conn., 1988, p. 464.
  24. ↑  CHO Kwang, p. 11.
  25. ↑  Whittaker, p. 65.
  26. ↑  Merit Students Encyclopedia, Vol. 10, New York and London, 1980, p. 440.
  27. ↑  Whittaker, p. 34.
  28. ↑  CHO Kwang, pp. 20-21.
  29. ↑  Whittaker, p. 40.
  30. ↑  KIM Ok-hy, p. 34.
  31. ↑  CHO Kwang, pp. 16-18.
  32. ↑  Ibid., pp. 18-19.
  33. ↑  KIM Han-sik, pp. 11-12.
  34. ↑  CHOI Suk-woo, p. 7.
  35. ↑  CHO Kwang, pp. 16-18.
  36. ↑  Ibid., pp. 18-19.
  37. ↑  Ibid., pp. 16-19.
  38. ↑  Michael Lee, 'Korean Churches Pursue Social and Political Justice', in Brian Heavy (Ed.), Accent III, 3 Auckland, May 1988, pp. 19-20.
  39. ↑  Kessing's Contemporary Archives, London, 25 April 1980, p. 30216.
  40. ↑  J. Earnest Fisher, Pioneers of Modern Korea, Seoul, 1977, pp. 65-74.

Operation World is a book by evangelical Christian Patrick Johnstone from WEC International. ... Il-yeon or Iryeon (1206-1289) was a Buddhist monk and Enlightened National Preceptor (보각국사, 普覺國師) during the Goryeo Dynasty of Korea. ... Samguk Yusa, or Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms, is a collection of legends, folktales, and historical accounts relating to the Three Kingdoms of Korea (Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla), as well as to other periods and states before, during, and after the Three Kingdoms period. ... Pico Iyer Pico Iyer (born 1957) is a British-born Indian journalist and author. ... (Clockwise from upper left) Time magazine covers from May 7, 1945; July 25, 1969; December 31, 1999; September 14, 2001; and April 21, 2003. ... September 5 is the 248th day of the year (249th in leap years). ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... // The Encyclopedia Americana is the second largest printed general encyclopedia in the English language (after the Encyclopædia Britannica). ... An editor has expressed a concern that the subject of the article does not satisfy the notability guideline or one of the following guidelines for inclusion on Wikipedia: Biographies, Books, Companies, Fiction, Music, Neologisms, Numbers, Web content, or several proposals for new guidelines. ... April 25 is the 115th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (116th in leap years). ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ...

Bibliography

  • Cho, Kwang (August 1984). "The Meaning of Catholicism in Korean History". Korea Journal 24 (8): pp. 14-27. ISSN 0023-3900. 
  • Choi, Suk-Woo (August 1984). "Korean Catholicism Yesterday and Today". Korea Journal 24 (8): pp. 4-13. ISSN 0023-3900. 
  • Encyclopedia Americana (1986). Vol. 23, Danbury, Conn.: Grolier. ISBN 0-7172-0117-1 (set).
  • Fisher, J. Earnest (1977). Pioneers of Modern Korea. Seoul: Christian Literature Society of Korea. 
  • Focus on Korea (1986). Vol. 2, "Korean History", Seoul: Seoul International Pub. House.
  • Ilyon (1972). Samguk Yusa: Legends and History of the Three Kingdoms of Ancient Korea, trans. Tae-Hung Ha and Grafton K. Mintz, Seoul: Yonsei University Press. 
  • Johnson, Marguerite. "An Ancient Nation on the Eve of a Modern Spectacle", Time, 1988-09-05.
  • Johnson, Patrick; and Mandryk, Jason (2001). Operation World: The Definitive Prayer Guide to the Nations, Peoples, and Cities of the World. Colorado Springs, Colo.: Global Mapping International (CD-ROM). 
  • Keesing's (1979). Keesing's Contemporary Archives 25: p. 30216. ISSN 0022-9679.
  • Kim, Han-Sik (December 1983). "The Influence of Christianity on Modern Korean Political Thought". Korea Journal 23 (12): pp. 4-17. ISSN 0023-3900. 
  • Kim, Ok-Hy (August 1984). "Women in the History of Catholicism in Korea". Korea Journal 24 (8): pp. 28-40. ISSN 0023-3900. 
  • Lee, Michael (May 1981). "Korean Churches Pursue Social and Political Justice". Accent 3 (3). 
  • Merit Students Encyclopedia (1980). Vol. 10, New York: Macmillan Educational.
  • Suh, Kuk-sung (et al.) (1983). The Identity of the Korean People: A History of Legitimacy on the Korean Peninsula, trans. Chung Chung, Seoul: National Unification Board. 
  • Whittaker, Colin (1988). Korea Miracle. Eastbourne, Sussex: Kingsway. ISBN 0-86065-522-9. 

// The Encyclopedia Americana is the second largest printed general encyclopedia in the English language (after the Encyclopædia Britannica). ... Il-yeon or Iryeon (1206-1289) was a Buddhist monk and Enlightened National Preceptor (보각국사, 普覺國師) during the Goryeo Dynasty of Korea. ... Samguk Yusa, or Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms, is a collection of legends, folktales, and historical accounts relating to the Three Kingdoms of Korea (Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla), as well as to other periods and states before, during, and after the Three Kingdoms period. ... Time (whose trademark is capitalized TIME) is a weekly American newsmagazine, similar to Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 5 is the 248th day of the year (249th in leap years). ... An editor has expressed a concern that the subject of the article does not satisfy the notability guideline or one of the following guidelines for inclusion on Wikipedia: Biographies, Books, Companies, Fiction, Music, Neologisms, Numbers, Web content, or several proposals for new guidelines. ...

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  Results from FactBites:
 
A History of Christianity in Korea: From Its Troubled Beginning to (7985 words)
Departing from the internal, political motives of previous persecutions--i.e., Christianity's threat, real or imagined, to the Confucian-based society, and the prominence of Christianity among the politically ousted faction--what marked the latest persecution was that the problems which prompted it were due to external pressures on Korea at the time.
The salience of Christians in the movement was further noted in the figure of those imprisoned for participating in the demonstration: over 22 per cent of the total or 2,087 out of 9,458 were Christians (Yi, 1991: 349).
First of all, the rise of Christianity in South Korea is intimately related to the profound discontent and despair felt by the masses, prompted by centuries of dire poverty, social marginalization and oppression.
Korea: Definition and Much More from Answers.com (9348 words)
At the end of World War II, Korea was divided at the thirty-eighth parallel of north latitude into two zones, with troops of the Soviet Union in the north and troops of the United States in the south.
The peninsula is currently divided into North Korea and South Korea, and borders China to the northwest and Russia to the northeast, with Japan situated to the southeast across the Korea Strait.
After the unification of the Three Kingdoms of Korea by Silla in 676, Korea was ruled by a single government and maintained political and cultural independence, despite the Mongol invasions of the Goryeo Dynasty in the 13th century and Japanese invasions of the Joseon Dynasty in the 16th century.
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