Growth, Decline, and Transformation of South Korean Protestant Churches Public

Abstract

Growth, Decline, and Transformation of South Korean Protestant Churches
By Byung Whun Choi


South Korean Protestantism had experienced surprising growth in membership
since it was introduced at the end of the nineteenth century. In 1920, the Protestants made
up 1.4 percent of the total population. By 1995 Protestantism rapidly increased to 19.7
percent of the population. However, since the mid 1990s most Protestant denominations
in South Korea have experienced a decline in membership. According to one survey, the
Protestant population in South Korea decreased from 8,760,300 in 1995 to 8,616,000 in
2005. The purposes of this thesis were to analyze the growth and decline of the South
Korean Protestant church, investigate the problems that caused the decline of
membership, and suggest tasks to transform the churches. For these purposes, in the first
chapter, the particular Korean historical contexts in which the growth and decline of
Protestant churches that took place were analyzed. In the second chapter, three factors in
the South Korean Protestant churches-church growth syndrome, church individualism,
and conservative theology were discussed. Next, problems caused by these three factors
and their roots were explored. Lastly, in the third chapter, four tasks to transform South
Korean Protestant churches were suggested to move beyond these problems.

Growth, Decline, and Transformation of South Korean Protestant Churches
By
Byung Whun Choi
Thesis Committee Chair: Ellen Ott Marshall, Ph.D
A thesis submitted to the Faculty of the
Candler School of Theology
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
Master of Divinity
2011

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 1. History of the Church Growth Declination in South Korean Protestant Churches

A. Introduction

B. Six Periods of the Korean Protestant Church History

1. 1884-1893

2. 1894-1904

3. 1905-1945

4. 1945-1960

5. 1960s-1990s

6. 1990s-2000s

C. Conclusion

CHAPTER 2. Investigation the Problems in South Korean Protestant Churches

A. Introduction

B. Three Factors of the South Korean Protestant Churches

1. Church Growth Syndrome

2. Church Individualism

3. Conservative Theology

C. Conclusion

CHAPTER 3. Transforming South Korean Protestant Churches

A. Introduction

B. Four Tasks to Transform the South Korean Protestant Churches

1. Having New Ecclesial Models

2. Having Principles of Interdependence and Partnership

3. Integration between Proclamation of the Gospel

and Social Responsibility

4. Changing Church Growth Pattern from Quantity-Oriented

to Quality-Oriented

C. Conclusion

CONCLUSION BIBLIOGRAPHY

About this Master's Thesis

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• Permission granted by the author to include this thesis or dissertation in this repository. All rights reserved by the author. Please contact the author for information regarding the reproduction and use of this thesis or dissertation.

School	Candler School of Theology
Department	Divinity
Degree	MDiv
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Mot-clé	History of Korean Christianity South Korean Protestant Churches Church Growth Church and Society
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Marshall, Ellen Ott, Emory University
Committee Members	De Souza, Wesley L, Emory University Kraftchick, Steven, Emory University

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