It is appatent that Kyung-Chik Han was an eunormously influential person in the history of Korean Christianity, especially in the era since 1945. Nevertheless, historical studies on his life and thoughts hame not been as vigorous as those of Park Hyeongryong, Kim Jaejun and Han Sangdong who lived contemporaneously as Han. Historians have paid a little attention to Han in a sense that he preferred a life as pastor rather than as a professor, school founder, or a social reformer. Han lived through the turbulent times of the Greater Korean Empire, the Japanese colonization, the United States Military Governance in Korea, and the Korean Government thereafter. Encountering the national turmoil of Korea, he lived to fulfill the calling given by God. Although Han was not born into a Christian home, he attended Sunday school and grew up learning theology taught by the church. He was truly a pioneer in leading the first generation of Christian education in Korea. Through the teachings of the Christian patriots, Han was able to learn not only theology but patriotism; the love for his country. Passion for evangelism was also instilled in him by the missionaries in Korea. The warm welcome and the sharing of Jesus’ love by Christians in the U.S. lead a young foreign student, who had lost a country, to encounter the saving love of God during the most devastating time in his life to devoting his life to God. Upon his return to Korea, he did not stop proclaiming the love for Jesus, the love neighbors, and the love for one’s nation even though he was under severe surveillance of the Japanese government. Moreover, he lived his live an he proclaimed. He believed that transformation of the mind could pave a way to a solid nation and this transformation can only be achieved by the Christian belief. Hence, he poured all his energy into evangelism. During his ministry at Youngnak Presbyterian Church, Han triggered movements for the national evangelism and the spiritual transformation. He also participated in various evangelization movements in Asia and in the world as a representative of Korea. Although he kept his distance from the communists’ government of North Korea, he continued to send rice of love to aid the North Koreans from malnutrition. His ministry drew the attention of religious societies in the world and he was awarded the Templeton Prize. Kyung-Chik Han indeed is the only Korean religious leader whom the world respectively acknowledged.

• 김은섭(숭실대학교) | Kim, Eun Seop