THE KUKMIN DAILY

It has been proposed that names used for the differently abled in the Bible be revised to match the formal expressions appearing in the Korean dictionary. Prof. Chae Eun-ha of Hanil University and Presbyterian Theological Seminary, in an article titled “Terms Referring to the Differently Abled That Appear in Authorized Korean-Language Bibles, and Their Meanings,” asserts that the names used by the Korean churches for differently abled persons can and do foster prejudice. Her article came out in the current issue of “Differently Abled Theology,” a publication of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Korea Tonghap (Rev. Jeong Jeong-taek, moderator).

“Ministers of frontline churches do not hesitate to use such terms as “blind,” “leper,” “cripple,” “deaf,” and other terms implying disdain for the differently abled, in their sermons,” Prof. Chae said. “I think the use of these derogatory names has been influenced by the Korean Bible translations that have been used up to now,” she explained.

“Compared to the older Korean Bibles, the retranslated, revised Bible being used the most by Korean churches these days contains almost none of these derogatory terms,” Prof. Chae said, evaluating this as a sign of improvement in the churches’ recognition of differently abled persons. She emphasized, however, that “fundamental improvement of terminology is needed, including the replacement of prejudicial terms with officially accepted expressions.”

Reporter Lee Saya (Isaiah@kmib.co.kr), with Marion Kim (marionkkim@icloud.com)


Click here for the original article in Korean