The influence of Sun-ju Kil, Ik-du Kim, and Young-do Yi on Protestantism in Korea

Abstract

This dissertation examines the three greatest Korean evangelists in the early twentieth century when the gospel came to Korea and settled down. As known widely, the Korean church has grown rapidly and marvelously for the last one hundred years. There were many factors causing such a growth. The writer strongly believes that the most influencing factor is the native people whom God used for the Korean church. Those native evangelists are Sun-ju Kil, Ik-du Kim and Yong-do Yi.

God used these three native servants, not only for making the Korean church rapidly grow, but also for establishing the characteristics of the Korean church which are still clearly seen in the church today. They are the leading role models in the Korean church's growth. Without mentioning them, it is impossible to discuss the rise of Protestantism in Korea.

This dissertation is composed of six chapters. Chapter one deals with the matter of introduction. Chapter two explains Korean social realities in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century, which is the context where Protestant evangelism occurred. Social, religious, and political situations and developments in Korea at that time will be examined to see how those impacted Korean Christianity.

The next three chapters examine the three evangelists (Sun-ju Kil, Ik-du Kim and Yong-Do Yi). Each chapter will be made up of each evangelist's biographic sketch, theology of evangelism, evangelistic methodology, and analysis and critique. The final chapter will consist of summary and synthesis of the evangelistic stream of Sun-ju Kil, Ik-du Kim, and Yong-Do Yi.