“Korea National Prayer Breakfast” and Protestant Leaders’ Prophetic Consciousness during the Period of Military Dictatorship (1962–1987)

Yohan Yoo,Minah Kim

doi:10.3390/rel9100308

Abstract

This paper illuminates the prophetic consciousness of Korean Protestant leaders by examining the “Korea National Prayer Breakfast” (Gukgajochangidohoe, 국가조찬기도회) that they hosted, particularly during the military regimes. In explaining the motivation for and intention of this special religious event in the political arena, most scholars have emphasized the Protestant leaders’ political ambition and their agendas to get the government support and expand their power in Korean society. However, we should take heed of the leaders’ religious aspirations to make the country righteous in God’s sight. They attempted to have a good influence on the inner circle of the military dictatorship, which some Christians regarded as an evil force. Though they preached to and prayed for the military regimes, their sermons were often unpleasant and challenging to the presidents and their associates. The Protestant leaders wanted to play the role of John the Baptist rebuking Herod Antipas rather than the compliant chief priests and scribes serving Herod the Great.

Highlights

A New Perspective on the Korea National Prayer Breakfastᅬ) was first hosted and organized in 1966 by prominent pastors of Korean Protestant churches
A New Perspective on the Korea National Prayer BreakfastThe Korea National Prayer Breakfast (Gukgajochangidohoe, ᄀ ᆨᄀ ᅮ ᅡᄌ ᅩᄎ ᆫᄀ ᅡ ᅵᄃ ᅩ회) was first hosted and organized in 1966 by prominent pastors of Korean Protestant churches
Since leading authorities in Korean Protestantism, along with many Korean political leaders who are Christian or sympathetic to the Christian faith, have gathered together every year to pray for the country

Summary

A New Perspective on the Korea National Prayer Breakfast

ᅬ) was first hosted and organized in 1966 by prominent pastors of Korean Protestant churches. 40, 42; Though President Park was not a Christian and did not have a specific religion, he showed respect to Korean Protestant leaders by attending the Korea Presidential Prayer Breakfast. By paying attention to the particular religious aspirations of the early organizers of the National Prayer Breakfast to have God’s will be done on earth or, more concretely, to make Korea into a righteous and just country, we will confirm that religion can exercise influence on other areas in a society and cause its changes. Greeley asserts that even in our “modernized, Those who first organized and hosted the Korea National Prayer Breakfast were evangelical Protestant pastors, though they tried to include non-evangelical Christians in the Prayer Breakfast meetings It was American and Canadian evangelical missionaries who exerted critical influence on the beginning of the Korean Protestant churches in the late 19th century. We will scrutinize their religious anguish and aspiration that are seen in their sermons, prayers, speeches, and writings

Theological Views of the First Organizers

National Prayer Breakfast Organizers’ Prophetic Consciousness

Findings

Conclusions