Bongsu Church

Bongsu Church (Korean: 봉수교회) is a Protestant church in the Konguk-dong of the Mangyongdae District of Pyongyang in North Korea.[1]

Bongsu Church
봉수교회
Exterior of the church
Bongsu Church
LocationKonguk-dong, Mangyongdae, Pyongyang
CountryNorth Korea
DenominationProtestant
Weekly attendancemore than 300
History
FoundedSeptember 1988 (1988-09)
Architecture
Years builtrebuilt in 2008
Construction cost$4.3 million
Specifications
Capacity1,200
Number of floorsthree
Administration
DivisionKorean Christian Federation

It is one of just a handful churches in the country and one of only two Protestant churches, the other one being Chilgol Church.[2] Bongsu Church was originally constructed in 1988 and was the first church built in the country during communist rule. The church was relocated to a larger building in around 2008 and now offers seats for 1,200 persons. It is debated whether the attendance consists of genuine Christians in the country or not, but service has been observed by visiting foreigners.

History

The original Bongsu Church was built in September 1988.[3] At the time, it was the first church built in North Korea after the Korean War, during which all churches in the North were destroyed,[4] and the first one built during communist rule as well. It was opened just ahead of the 1989 World Festival of Youth and Students that was held in Pyongyang. The church was built to showcase freedom of religion in North Korea,[3] amid international pressure concerning the issue.[5] The construction cost half a million won (250,000 dollars) and was funded by Christians from overseas.[3] Until the 1990s, there was no Christian cross on top of the church. One was added when visiting foreign Christians pointed out the omission.[6]

The church has since been rebuilt and relocated in 2008,[7][1] for a price of four billion won (4.3 million dollars), paid entirely by the South Korean Presbyterian Church Association.[8]

In 1992, when Kang Yong-sop, who acted as the chairman of the Korean Christian Federation, oversaw the church, Billy Graham paid a visit there to preach.[9] Graham preached at the church again in 1994. Billy's son, Franklin preached in 2000 and 2008.[7] Billy Graham's wife Ruth has also made a public speech at the church.[10] Other visiting preachers include South Korean Han Sang-ryeol, who visited in 2010 without the authorization of the South Korean government.[11]

Operation
The church seats 1,200 persons.

Service takes place at 10 am every Sunday.[12] Sometimes tourists have arrived only to find the church closed at that time. Others report that the sermons consist of political rhetoric.[9] Whether or not the local congregation are authentic believers has been debated.[5]

South Korean pastor Soh Kyung-suk describes his observations during visits: "There were little signs of spontaneity during a service. I also found no child in attendance and no Bible study groups there, and we were even banned from talking to North Korean service participants ... What was most startling was that church officials didn't even know any hymns at all."[5]

Bradley K. Martin, author of Under the Loving Care of the Fatherly Leader, also described his visit to the church. The congregation sang "Jesus Loves Me" and many seemed to know it by heart. Preaching and prayer were on political themes such as Korean reunification and nuclear non-proliferation. Churchgoers, according to Martin, were not Workers' Party of Korea members and all of them had removed their Kim Il-sung lapel pins.[13] "This church is a sacred place. We call it the 'house of heaven'. That is why political symbols are not allowed", a church employee explained.[14]

The church is Protestant, but no denomination is specified.[15] It is overseen by the Korean Christian Federation.[16]

The congregation was about 300 strong on Sundays before the church was enlarged due to increase in attendance.[8] Now the church seats 1,200 persons. The building has three stories.[8] The church is staffed by a head minister, a vicar, eight elders, five deacons and fourteen deaconesses.[3] The church runs a theological seminary for 12 people,[2] in a separate building in the premises.[17]

The church has an associated noodle factory, which is supported financially by the Presbyterian Church of the United States,[9] and a bakery.[18]

See also

References
  1. Ri Myong-guk (September 2016). "A Day of Religious Life". Democratic People's Republic of Korea. No. 728. pp. 38–39. ISSN 1727-9208.
  2. "2012 International Religious Freedom Reports: Democratic People's Republic of Korea". U.S. Department of State. 20 May 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  3. Kang Jae Hyok (29 November 2006). "A Church for Security Agents: Bongsu Church in Pyongyang". dailynk.com. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  4. Sai R. Park (15 December 2010). The Good Doctor: Bringing Healing to the Hopeless. InterVarsity Press. pp. 47–. ISBN 978-0-8308-5673-2.
  5. Kim Hyung-jin (18 May 2007). "Does genuine religious freedom exist in communist North Korea?". english.yonhapnews.co.kr. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  6. Park Hyun Min (13 June 2006). "Only 'Kim Il Sung-ism' in North Korea...What About North- South Religious Talks?". Daily-NK. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  7. Vu, Michelle A. (4 August 2008). "Graham Preaches Rebirth in Christ at North Korean Church". Christian Post. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  8. "Worshippers at Pyongyang's only church are communist elites". World Tribune. 8 December 2006. Archived from the original on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  9. Corfield 2014b, p. 38.
  10. Corfield 2014a, p. 15.
  11. "South Korean pastor Han Sang-ryeol preaches to North Koreans during Sunday service at the Bongsu Church in Pyongyang". Townhall.com. Reuters. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  12. Corfield 2014b, p. 37.
  13. Worden, Robert L. (ed.). North Korea: A Country Study. Area Handbook Series (5th ed.). Washington: Government Printing Office. p. 117. ISBN 978-0-16-088278-4.
  14. "Pohjois-Korea muistaa Suurta Johtajaa". Ajankohtainen kakkonen (video) (in Finnish). YLE. 23 May 1995. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  15. Foster-Carter, Adrian (23 December 2000). "Pyongyang Watch: Some of that old-time religion". Asia Times Online. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  16. Morse Tan (24 April 2015). North Korea, International Law and the Dual Crises: Narrative and Constructive Engagement. Routledge. p. 73. ISBN 978-1-134-12243-1.
  17. EKD (20 November 2015). "EKD: 12. A visit to Christians in North Korea – EKD: Evangelical Church in Germany". ekd.de. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  18. "Ecumenical leaders visit North Korea". archive.wfn.org. United Methodist News Service. 20 November 2003. Retrieved 28 February 2016.

Works cited
  • Corfield, Justin (2014a). "Bell, Ruth McCue (1920–2007)". Historical Dictionary of Pyongyang. London: Anthem Press. pp. 15–16. ISBN 978-1-78308-341-1.
  • — (2014b). "Churches". Historical Dictionary of Pyongyang. London: Anthem Press. pp. 37–38. ISBN 978-1-78308-341-1.
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