According to Christian Daily Korea, the Korean Christian History and Culture Centre opened on August 12th in Seoul’s Empion district, marking the 140th anniversary of the Protestant mission in Korea.
Built at a cost of around 10 billion won ($7.2 million) from the National and City Fund, the facility includes a permanent underground exhibition hall, a second-floor special exhibition room, a multi-purpose hall, a reading room and an archive. Its major holdings include a 1906 postcard for missionary Rosetta Hall, a complete set of originals from the Korean Mission Field Journal, a hibiscus embroidery map by Namgun EOK, and a New Testament translated by James S. Gale. The exhibits cover a wide range of Korean church history, including mission work, democratization movements, and the development of faith and culture.
Beautiful moments of faith, a permanent exhibition documenting Christian social activities from the early 2000s to the early 2000s. The special exhibition, entitled “A very ordinary weekend,” is a participatory quest for rest and leisure. Meanwhile, Joseon from Korea to Joseon connects Korea’s modern overseas missions with the gospel work of Western missionaries during the Joseon era. The Center also plans to participate in the Humanities Program, Academic Seminars, Don’t Training and the Christian Museum Network.
In a sermon at the opening ceremony, Pastor Young Hoonly of Yoidufuru Gospel Church spoke in Poem sal 78:4 with the title of what God did and said that Korean Christians wanted to have a sense of history and identify and fulfill God’s will. “I pray that the Republic of Korea will develop alongside Christians who have historical consciousness,” he said.
Centre Director Jen said the facility aims to present a history of the Korean Church that welcomes visitors from all backgrounds, including non-Christians, and demonstrates supportive work, service and partnership with society.
Rev. John Hyuk Kim, president of United Christian Church in Korea, noted that while most Christian museums focus on early mission periods, the new centre covers history from the 19th century to the present day. “We can get a panoramic view of Christian history, including its contribution to establishing a free democratic state after liberation, and learn about the gospel of God,” he said.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se Hoon said that Christianity has helped establish the foundation of medicine and welfare in the country, focusing on the 140th anniversary of South Korea’s mission this year. “Today’s opening is a memorial to pass on Christian history to future generations and hopes to be a place for faith education that continues to share the role of Christianity as light and salt to all citizens,” he said.
Eunpyeong district mayor Kim Mi Kyung said Christianity has contributed to the development of South Korea’s modern history beyond its religious role, and hopes the centre will serve as a “platform connecting the past, present and future.”
The ceremony ended with ribbon cutting attended by senior officials, followed by commemorative trees planted by the son Rev. Dal Ik, a member of the foundation’s board of directors, and senior pastor at Seoul Church.
