바로가기메뉴

본문 바로가기 주메뉴 바로가기

logo

The Political Empowerment of Korean Protestantism since around 1990

Korea Journal / Korea Journal, (P)0023-3900; (E)2733-9343
2012, v.52 no.3, pp.64-90
https://doi.org/10.25024/kj.2012.52.3.64
(Christian Institute)
  • Downloaded
  • Viewed

Abstract

The time around 1990 was an important turning point for the Korean Protestant Church. The church, which had undergone rapid growth in previous years, began declining at this time. In this period, while Korean society saw the system of growth-oriented statist mobilization cease and launched into the era of democratization and the difficult processes of overcoming remnants of the past, the Korean Protestant Church became ever more focused on growth. This paper refers to such a phenomenon as “anachronistic growth” to encompass the fact that the church came to be situated in conflict and tension with civil society. The growth crisis and civil society affect each other in a vicious cycle, which reinforces the negative relationship between the two. This paper examines this vicious cycle by looking at the trajectory of the destructive effect of the church on the notion of “social publicness,” with a focus on the political empowerment of the church. The political empowerment of the church interferes with the institutionalization of a social publicness that is being newly constructed in the post-democratization era. This paper also attempts to conceptualize a notion of “social spirituality” in order to discuss the theology that goes beyond the faith antagonistic to social publicness.

keywords
Korean Protestantism, growth-oriented economics, decline in congregation membership, mega church, political power of the church, social spiritualization

Reference

1.

Ahn, Byung-Mu. 1986. “Haneul-do ttang-do gong-ida” (Both Heaven and Earth are Public). Sinhak sasang (Theological Thought) 53: 442-449.

2.

Choi, Hyung Mook. 2006a. “Gong, hananim nara-ui yeoksahwa ttoneun hananim nara-ui tto dareun eunyu” (The Public, the Historicization of God’s Nation or Another Metaphor for God’s Nation). In Jugeun min jung-ui sidae Ahn Byung-Mu-reul dasi bonda (Re-reading Ahn Byung- Mu’s Theory of Ochlos), by Lee Jung-Hee et al., 205-216. Seoul: Samin Books.

3.

Choi, Hyung Mook. 2006b. “Minjujuui-ui wigi gaundeseo munneun gong-ui uimi”(Questioning the Significance of the Public amid the Democratic IdeologyCrisis). In Jugeun minjung-ui sidae Ahn Byung-Mu-reul dasi bonda(Re-reading Ahn Byung-Mu’s Theory of Ochlos), by Lee Jung-Hee et al.,217-230. Seoul: Samin Books.

4.

Choi, Hyunjong. 2011. Hanguk jonggyo ingu byeondong-e gwanhan yeongu(A Study of Changes in the Religious Population of Korea). Seoul: SeoulTheological Univeristy Press.

5.

Chun, Myungsoo. 2006. “Nyueiji undong-ui hanguk suyong-gwa poseuteu modeonijeum” (Korean Reception of New Age Movement and Postmodernism). Hangukhak yeongu (Korean Studies) 25: 415-444.

6.

Chung, Jung Hoon. 2012. “1987 nyeonhyeong bogeumjuui-ui jongeon-gwa bogeumjuui-ui saeroun jeonhwa-reul wihayeo” (The Demise of the 1987-Style Evangelism and the Pursuit of New Evangelism). Paper presented at the 149th Monthly Forum of the Christian Institute for the 3rd Era, Seoul, January 31.

7.

Giddens, Anthony. 2003. Hyeondae sahoe-ui seong sarang erotisijeum: chinmilseong- ui gujo byeondong (The Transformation of Intimacy: Sexuality, Love, and Eroticism in Modern Societies). Translated by Hwang Jeongmi et al. Seoul: Saemulkyul. Originally published as The Transformation of Intimacy: Sexuality, Love, and Eroticism in Modern Societies (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1993).

8.

Hong, Young Ki. 2007. Hanguk chodaehyeong gyohoe-wa kariseuma rideosip(Korea’s Mega Churches and Charismatic Leadership). Seoul: Institutefor Church Growth.

9.

Institute of Theological Studies in Academy of Hanshin University (ITSHAU).2003. Hanguk gaesingyo-wa hanguk geunhyeondae-ui sahoe munhwajeokbyeondong (A Study on the Sociocultural Influences of KoreanChristianity on Modern Korean History). Seoul: Hanul Academy.

10.

Kang, In-chul. 1994. “Hanguk gaesingyo gyohoe-ui jeongchi sahoejeok seonggyeok- e gwanhan yeongu: 1940-1660” (A Study of the Political and Sociological Characteristics of the Korean Protestant Church). Hanguk gidokgyo yeoksa yeonguso sosik (Newsletter of the Institute for Korean Church History) 15: 23-31.

11.

Kang, In-chul. 2004. “Minjuhwa sidae-ui saeroun jonggyo tongje bangsik: jose bunjaeng-eul jungsim-euro” (New Mode of State Control over Religions in the Post-democratization Era: With a Focus on Tax Conflict between Religion and State). Jonggyo yeongu (Studies in Religion) 34: 43-76.

12.

Kang, In-chul. 2006. Hanguk-ui gaesingyo-wa bangongjuui (Korea’s Protestantism and Anticommunism). Seoul: Joongsim.

13.

Kang, In-chul. 2007. “Park Chung-hee jeonggwon-gwa gaesingyo gyohoe” (The Park Chung-hee Regime and the Protestant Church). Jonggyo munhwa yeongu (Journal of Religion and Culture) 9: 83-118.

14.

Kim, Jin-ho. 2001. Bansinhak-ui miso (Smiles of Antitheology). Seoul: Samin.

15.

Kang, In-chul. 2007a. “Geim gateun jeonjaeng-ui sidae, sobidoeneun tain-ui gotong: pongnyeok-ui ilsanghwa-e daehan minjung sinhakjeok gochal” (The Age of War like a Game, Consuming Sufferings of Others: Minjung Theological Introspection about Routinization of Violence). In Je 2-ui jonggyo gaehyeok-gwa minjung sinhak (The Second Religious Reformation and Minjung Theology), edited by the Committee of Essays in Honour of Professor Yim Taesoo on the Occasion of His Retirement, 603-620. Seoul: Handeul.

16.

Kang, In-chul. 2007b. “Minjuhwa sidae-ui mihakhwadoen gidokgyo-wa hanguk bosujuui” (Aesthetic Christianity and Korean Conservatism in the Time of Democratization). In Deo jageun minjujuui-reul sangsanghanda (Imagining a Smaller Democracy), edited by the Dangdae bipyeong Editorial Committee, 213-218. Seoul: Wjbooks.

17.

Kang, In-chul. 2009. Geupjinjeok jayujuuijadeul: bogeumseo-waui natseon yeohaeng(Radical Liberalists: Unfamiliar Travels with the Four Gospel).Vol. 1. Seoul: Dongyeon Books.

18.

Kang, In-chul. 2012a. Simin kei, gyohoe-reul nagada (Citizen K, on the Threshold of the Church). Seoul: Hyeonamsa.

19.

Kang, In-chul. 2012b. “Geu mesiajuui jeongchi-neun buron-hada: Park Chunghee- wa Roh Moo-hyun damnon-ui jeongchi sinhak” (Messianic Politics are Dangerous: The Political Theology of the Discourse of Park Chunghee and Roh Moo-hyun). Unpublished manuscript.

20.

Kim, Ju-Duk. 2007. “Hanguk gyohoe bunjaeng-ui yoin bunseok: 1992 nyeon gamni gyohoe-ui jonggyo jaepan-eul jungsim-euro” (An Analysis of the Cause of Conflict in the Korean Church: Religious Trial in the Korean Methodist Church in 1992). Hanguk gidokgyo-wa yeoksa (Korean Christianity and Its History) 27: 225-247.

21.

Kim, Seung-ho. 2007. “Hanguk gyohoe maineoseu seongjang-e daehan wonin bunseok-gwa daean: geoul-e bichwobon 2007 nyeon gaesingyo-ui moseup” (An Analysis of the Negative Growth of the Korean Church: A Reflection of Protestantism in 2007). Mokhoe-wa sinhak (Pastoral Min istry and Theology) (summer): 148-155.

22.

Lee, Soo-In. 2004. “Gaesingyo bosu bunpa-ui jeongchijeok haengwi: sahoehakjeok gochal” (A Sociological Study of the Political Activity of Conservative Protestant Denominations). Gyeongje-wa sahoe (Economy and Society) 64: 265-348.

23.

Lee, Won-Gue. 1997. “Hanguk gyohoe-ui seongjang-gwa geu dunhwa yoin-e daehan sahoehakjeok gochal” (A Sociological Study on the Factors for Church Growth and Decline in Korea). Sinhak-gwa sahoe (Theology and Society) 34: 132-158.

24.

Lee, Won-Gue. 2002. “Jonggyo sahoehakjeok gwanjeom-eseo bon yeoseong-ui gyohoe saenghwal-gwa yeoseong uisik, sahoe uisik” (Women’s Church Activities and Their Consciousness of Gender and Society Seen from a Religious Sociological Perspective). Sinhak-gwa sahoe (Theology and Society) 45: 182-201.

25.

Lee, Won-Gue. 2005. “21 saegi hanguk gyohoe-ui byeonhwa-wa supyeong idong hyeonsang” (Changes in the Korean Church in the 21st Century and Horizontal Mobility of Church Members). Sinhak-gwa sahoe (Theology and Society) 52: 132-158.

26.

Lim, Jie-hyun, et al. 2000. Uri an-ui pasijeum (The Fascism inside Us). Seoul: Samin.

27.

Park, Jong-Hyun. 2008. “Hanguk osunjeol undong-ui yeongseong: yeouido sunbogeum gyohoe-ui yeongseong-gwa seongjang-e daehan sidaesajeok hoego-reul jungsim-euro” (The Spirituality of the Korean Pentacostal Movement: Focusing on the Historical Reflection on the Spirituality and Growth of the Yoido Full Gospel Church). Hanguk gidokgyo yeoksa yeonguso sosik (Newsletter of the Institute for Korean Church History) 82: 4-18.

28.

Prescott, J. R. Victor. 1965. The Geography of Frontiers and Boundaries. Chicago: Aldine.

29.

Song, Ki-Tae. 1992. “Yeoseong sinja yeongu” (A Study of Female Believers). Mokhoe-wa sinhak (Pastoral Ministry and Theology) (April).

30.

Yi, Mahn Yol. 1973. “Hanmal gidokgyoin-ui minjok uisik hyeongseong gwajeong”(The Ethnic Identity Formation Process of Korean Christians atthe End of Joseon Dynasty). Hanguksaron (Theory of Korean History) 1:335-405.

Korea Journal