The Queer Culture Festival held in June raised controversies in the Korean church and the society in general. Most of the Korean churches actively expressed opposition to homosexuality, saying it is not just a matter of specific groups’ sexual preferences, but contradicts Biblical values and undermines the foundations of the traditional marriage system and public health. Homosexuals, however, claimed their human rights as a sexual minority and were supported by some progressive groups. The Korean churches worry that the anti-discrimination bill, if passed by the National Assembly, will result in restraints on the free criticism of homosexuality and in an increase of the number of AIDS-positive persons.
2. Station Name “Bongeunsa Temple”: Manipulation of Public Opinion?
When Bongeunsa Temple Station was opened with the extension of Line Number 9 of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway, questions arose as to whether the naming of the station was the result of biased logic spread by Buddhist circles. During the period of the public survey, Bongeunsa Temple linked its website with the Gangnam-gu District Office to manipulate public opinion. Ten months before the station name was finalized, the head monk of Bongeunsa visited Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, who had chaired the Bongeunsa Future Committee from 2007-2010, and requested a positive decision on the station name and free construction of an underground passage. Some citizens formed a Committee for Station Name KOEX and requested a name change, and Gangnam-gu District Office promised to carry out a new public opinion survey.
3. Denominational Mergers of PCK Baekseok and Daeshin, PCK Kosin and Goryeo
Several large and small Presbyterian churches merged at General Assemblies held in September. The Presbyterian Church of Korea (PCK Baekseok; moderator: Rev. Jang Jong-hyeon) and PCK Daeshin (moderator: Rev. Jeon Gwang-hun) merged into PCK Daeshin; and PCK Kosin (moderator: Rev. Shin Sang-hyeon) and PCK Goryeo (moderator: Rev. Won Hyeon-ho) merged to form PCK Kosin. Some PCK churches joined PCK Gaehyeok (moderator: Rev. Park Yeong-gil). The merged churches, however, still need to deal with crucial issues such as how to unite with remaining “not-merged” groups and how to reform the newly merged denominations.
4. Clergy Tax Passes National Assembly, Will Go Into Effect in 2018
The revised income tax bill, which imposes a clergy tax, passed the National Assembly. The tax, a focus of dispute for the past 47 years, has finally been enacted and will go into effect in 2018. Church circles are divided in their stance. The Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK), the Presbyterian Church of Korea (PCK Tonghap) and some other churches are for the legislation. On the other hand, the Christian Council of Korea (CCK) and others have continued to express opposition, worrying that the new law may be used to oppress churches or pastors who disagree with the government. Before the new law goes into force, church circles need to understand the limits it sets and prepare measures to deal with it.
5. H. Underwood, H. Appenzeller, and M. Scranton… 130th Anniversary of Korean Mission
The Korean church celebrated the 130-year history of ministry by missionaries H. Underwood, H. Appenzeller, and M. Scranton. Various events were held to commemorate the missionaries’ noble resolve and to urge repentance and renewal of the Korean church. This year coincides with the 70th anniversary of national independence and national division. The “Korean Church Prayer Meeting for Peaceful Reunification on the 70th Anniversary of Liberation,” held on August 9 at Seoul Plaza, was the largest prayer gathering since the August 15 Great Gathering of 2010. Throughout the year, the Korean churches have reminded their members of their shared goal of peaceful reunification on the Korean peninsula.
6. Kukmin Daily Fights WMS Church of God and Other Heretical Groups
The intention of the World Mission Society Church of God (WMS Church of God, formerly Ahn Sahng-hong Witness Society) when it filed multiple lawsuits against Kukmin Daily, claiming a total 640 million won in compensation, is closely related to its characteristics as an anti-social religious group wanting to block free and fair criticism of religion. Upon receiving an unfavorable court decision at the first trial on correction and counter-argument coverage and damage claims, WMS Church of God hired L.K.B & Partners, an influential law firm, and began all-out war on the Korean church. Recently, WMS Church of God invited and showcased “people’s actor” Lee Sun-jae at an event held by International We Love U Foundation, whose president is referred to by WMS Church of God as “Jang Gil-ja God the Mother.”
7. Church Circles Strongly Oppose and Plan to Block Islam Halal food
Christian circles have been actively involved in campaigns against the planned building of a Halal food factory complex in Iksan, Jeollabuk-do. The “Special Prayer Gathering Against Halal Food,” held on December 17 in front of Iksan City Hall, sparked expansion of the campaign. The participants claimed, “The benefits are too little compared to the costs, because it takes one to two years for a corporation to get certified for Halal, and the certification expires in one to two years. The government did not conduct sufficient research into the actual profits to be expected from a Halal food factory complex.” Those against building the complex also worry that the region may become a hiding place for illegal aliens or a gathering place for Islamic extremists plotting terror.
8. Christian Denominations and NGOs on Front Line of Nepal Quake Rescue Efforts
Immediately after the earthquake in Nepal, the Korean churches conducted various emergency rescue and relief activities, and tried to provide solace for the despairing Nepalese people. The Korea Church Relief Team (Director: Rev. Cho Hyeon-sam) dispatched relief teams to Nepal, and from July, Korean Diakonia (Director: Rev. Kim Sam-hwan) and World Diakonia (Director: Rev. Oh Jung-hyun), in contract with the Nepal branch of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the Korean Missionaries Society in Nepal, are jointly re-building houses and schools. Many denominations and Christian NGOs also have carried out active individual and joint relief efforts in Nepal.
9. Controversy and Conflict Among Church Denominations on Nationalized History Textbook
The history textbook issue has been a hot potato for the Korean church this year. Pointing to the existing religious bias, church circles unanimously criticized the 2015 history textbook writing standards for failing to reflect the role of Christianity during the modernization of Korean society. Regarding the nationalization of history textbooks, however, the Korean church is divided. While the Communion of Churches in Korea (CCIK) and the Korean Association of Church Communication insist nationalization is necessary for correct history education, the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK), the Presbyterian Church of Korea (PCK Tonghap) and others worry it may distort the awareness of the next generation through a unilateral, standardized presentation of history.
10. Pastors’ Moral Image Damaged by Armed Attack and Sexual Molestation Incidents
This year has been marked by a fall in pastors’ morality and status. The knife fight between Rev. Hwang Gyu-cheol (former PCK Hapdong secretary general) and Rev. Park Seok-gu (PCK Hapdong) shocked church circles and the general public. The controversy over Rev. Jeon Byeong-uk, who resigned from Samil Church for a series of sexual molestation incidents, was amplified when the Pyeongyang Presbytery of PCK Hapdong accepted Rev. Jeon’s new Hongdaesae Church. In addition, there were numerous cases of financial corruption at churches large and small, and disputes over plagiarism by theologians.
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