The relationship between mission and imperialism has been one of the central themes which recur throughout missiology, in particular, mission history. In the case of the Korean Church, this theme also has particular significance for church history in that it was related to the origin of the Korean Church, especially the Korean Protestant Church. This study attempts to examine this theme, with special reference to the World Missionary Conference in Edinburgh, 1910. It is because, first, the Korean Church was established in the context of imperialism; second, in Korea did arise an irregular case of the relationship between mission and imperialism, namely, western mission versus non-western imperialism rathallthan normal one, namely, western mission versus western imperialism; and third, the abovementioned Edinburgh Conference was held at the peak period of imperialism, from the late nineteenth century to the early twentieth century.
Since the last year was the centennial of the Edinburgh Conference, the Conference was almost thoroughly investigated. In this context, it may also be well worth exploring the Conference from the perspective of the relationship between mission and imperialism. In particular, this study tries to grasp the reality of the Korean Church at the period under consideration, through unearthing archival material, that is, the draft reports to the Commissions of the Edinburgh Conference, which have rarely been utilized in the hitherto studies.
In conclusion, this study makes it clear that the western mission, including the western mission working in the non-western imperial context, in the pre-World War Ⅱ period was largely under the influence of the ideology of imperialism, although mission could not totally identify with imperialism. It is against this backdrop that arises a question of whether the end of imperialism means the end of mission. This is why the post-colonial period exacts a new paradigm of mission.

• 안교성(장로회신학대학교) | Ahn, Kyo Seong