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| ABOUT KMC |
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| History of the KMC |
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| 1. The Emergence of Protestantism in Korea (1884~1930) |
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In Korean history, the 1870's was the time for opening the country to the world.
Although no missionaries yet arrived in Korea at this time, some Koreans were looking
for a new paradigm of thought and religion. Seo, Sang Ryun and Lee, Soo Jung contributed
the work of translating the Bible in China and Japan. The Korean Bible translated and
printed in China was distributed by book sellers. And the Korean Bible translated and
printed in Japan was already in American Missionaries's hand when they arrived in Korea.
After Robert S. Maclay, an American missionary for Japan, met the Emperor Kojong in 1884
and was allowed to found schools and hospitals. Henry G. Appenzeller, the first American
Methodist (North) missionary, arrived at Jemulpo port on the Easter Sunday morning in
1885 while the mission of American South Methodist was begun with the visit of the Bishop
E. R. Hendrix and C. F. Reid in 1895.
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The early mission was commenced with the founding of schools such as Baejae and Ewha,
and hospitals such as Si hospital and Bogu Inn. The first baptized Methodist was Park Jung
Sang, a student in Baejae school. The first Methodist church building is Bethel chapel
founded in Seoul on the date of 9th October 1887. This is the oldest Methodist church in
Korea, Jungdong Methodist church.
The Epworth League in 1897 is the origin of National Association of Korean Methodist Men,
National Association of Korean Methodist Young Adult Mission, and Methodist Youth/Young
Adult Fellowship in Korea. In 1901, Kim, Chang Sik and Kim, Ki Bum were ordained as the
first Korean Methodist ministers. In 1907, Hyupsung Theological College was founded.
The Wonsan Spiritual Awakening in 1903 inspired by Robert A. Hardie's repentance directly
entailed a series of consequent Movements such as 'Pyungyang Great Revival Movement'in
1907 and' Saving One Million Souls Movement'in 1909. Through these movements, Koreans
were able to establish a new community based on Christian values and ethics as well as
experience of repentance, rebirth, and holiness.
Beginning with Prayer Meeting for saving the nation, the Methodist national movements
against the Japanese intrusion turned into struggles against the Japanese colonialists in
many ways. Rev. Jun, Duck Ki was one of the representing leaders. During‘ the March First
National Movement’, many Methodists was injured and the church buildings were burnt
down to ashes by the Japanese. The patriots such as Ryu, Gwan Soon (a student of Ewha
Girl's school) and Lee, Jun (who was dispatched to the Hague Peace Conference, 1907),
Rev. Park, Suk Hoon (minister of Pungyang Namsanhyun Church) are the well-known
Methodist figures. Korean Methodists continually and significantly contributed to national
independence movements such as the provisional Korean Government in Shanghai,
Independence Movement Organizations, Association of Patriotic Ladies. Especially, Choi,
Yong Shin's‘ Enlightenment Movement’for agricultural countryside was one of the social
movements deeply involved with reformulating the nationality of Korea.
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| 2. The Methodist Church in Autonomy (1930~1945) |
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The Methodist Episcopal church in America and the Methodist
Episcopal church, South agreed with each other to work
together in Korea. In 18th November 1930, 22 representatives
of North and South American Methodist church set up a
committee in regard to this union. Eventually, the first General
Conference of Kidokgyo Josun Gamreehoe (the former official
name of the KMC) was held on the 2nd of December in the
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same year. Yang, Ju Sam was elected as the first Bishop. All of these impliy that the KMC
was entering into a new era of the Independent Church.
In this year, the KMC proclaimed three principals ‘Authentic Christian Denomination,
Authentic Church, Korean Church’and adopted 8 articles of ‘Methodist Doctrinal
Proclamation’and 16 articles of ‘Methodist Social Creeds’. Also, from the initial stage of the
KMC history, the role of laity was important as they filled a half of committee memberships.
The KMC accepted female priesthood;14 females missionaries were ordained in 1931.
The KMC was forced to worship Shinto Shrine by the Japanese at the last stage of their
occupation. Some church leaders made a regretful decision by the threat and hypocrisy of
the Japanese. The gradual increase of Japanese dominance impelled Korean Methodists
to establish Ilbon Kidokgyo Josun Gamree Gyodan (Korean Methodist Church of Japanese
Christianity). It was eventually conjoined Ilbon Kidokgyo Josun Gyodan(Korean Christian
Church in Japanese Christianity). Meanwhile, other nationalistic and pietistic Korean
Methodists refused Shinto Shrine Worship. They were jailed and died in the prison.
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| 3. The Independent Methodist Church (1945~2000) |
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Although Korea finally obtained national independency in 1945, Korea was divided into
North and South Korea governed by USA and Russia. The division is still the political
context of Korea. The Christians in North Korea above Millitary Demacation Line were
successful to build the Seobu Conference, but then they are severely persecuted by the
Communist government. Church leaders were prisoned because they did not support
Communist government. Many Christians moved to the South for their religious freedom.
The Korean War from 1950 to 1953 left many broken down churches and a number of
casualties. The aftermath of Korean War is a situation where North and South Korea
contest each other in various aspects such as politics, culture, and religion. Korean
Protestantism was also experiencing divisions and fragmentations.
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After armistice, Korean Methodists was divided into Jegunpa(Reconstruction faction)
and Bokhungpa(Revival faction). Then, Korean Methodists were broken up in 1954, 1970,
and 1974. However, Korean Methodists were able to united as one denomination. Now,
‘the unity of the KMC’ is the pride of the KMC. Being responsible for the church growth and
the salvation of the Korean nation, the KMC embarked on‘ the campaign for five thousand
churches and one million believers’in 1974. After ten years of campaigning, Korean
Methodism grew up to three thousand churches and one million believers. With rapid
growth, Korean Methodism actively took part of the world mission.
The KMC has also worked for human rights of isolated people in the industrial field since
1961. This mission in the industrial field was engaged with movements for social justices
and democracy in the 1970's and brought about the missions for peasants, physical
workers, the poor in cities, environment and reunification of Korea in the 1980's.
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| 4. Expecting New Era for the KMC (2000~2006) |
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The KMC are facing changes in this century. The Korean economic development from the
last century put Christian mission into a difficult situation. Yet, the mission tasks are
various than ever before e.g. differently abled persons, migrant workers, and social
welfare. Regarding this, ‘the Three Million Believers Movement’was an opportunity to
revitalize church and Christian mission by evangelization and social service. In particular,
the Honam Evangelization Meeting in Kwangju, 2004 gathered thirty thousand Methodists
and introduced many people the Christian Gospel.
Celebrating 120th anniversary and re-adaptation of the system of ‘the President of
Bishops’, the KMC now announces ‘the Methodist Church Giving Hope to the World’,
formulating new Methodist church, evangelization of the Korean Nation, and reunification
of Korea. In this sense, th 19th WMC in this year would be a great opportunity to raise the
KMC’s status to the world, to reconstruct the KMC’s identity, and to pray together for the
unity of the churches and reunification of Korea.
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The Head Office of the K.M.C
16th FL., Methodist Building, 64-8, Taepyungro-1-ga, Jung-Gu, Seoul, Korea
Copyright ⓒ 2006-2009, All rights Reserved. by The Korean Methodist Church
Phone 82-2-399-4315(Office of Administration), 82-2-399-4300(Office of Council of Bishops)
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