Kang Won Yong
Encyclopedia
Dr. Kang Won Yong was a Christian
leader, pioneer of the ecumenical
movement in Korea
, and an advocate for peace and reconciliation in the Korean peninsula.
In 1945, Kang established the Kyoung Dong Presbyterian Church in Seoul
. This church would become the starting point for the spread of the Presbyterian Church within South Korea. After this, he served as General Secretary of the Korean Student Christian Federation in 1948. In 1964 and again in 1980, he was President of the National Council of Churches in Korea.
In 1962, Kang founded the Korean Christian Academy to facilitate dialog between South Korea's many religions. He served as its director and president. Through the Academy's committee for interfaith dialogue, Yong sponsored over one hundred meetings among leaders of South Korea's six leading religions. As a result, he was arrested in 1979 by the National Intelligence Service of Korea
for alleged subversive activity.
Kang served two terms as President of the Christian Conference of Asia
from 1968 to 1983. From 1975 to 1983, he was a member of the Central Committee and of the Executive Committee of the World Council of Churches
. In the early 1970s, he took initiative and contributed towards the founding of the ecumenical academy Association of Christian Institutes and Study Centres in Asia (ACISCA). Also in the 1970s, Kong lead movements for human rights and democracy in Korea, holding hundreds of dialogs with military leaders to encourage reconciliation and a return to democratic process.
Kang promoted interfaith dialog towards reconciliation in a divided Korea, serving as president of the Asian Conference on Religion and Peace, and a Chairman of the Korean Foundation for Working Together.
Yong was an advocate of ecumenism and cooperation between religions. He worked to provide ways for the church to reach the disenfranchised in Asia so that it could provide a voice for them.
Kong was awarded the Niwano Peace Prize
in 2000. In 1998, he was selected as one of the 24 people who helped shape Korean history in a public poll conducted by Manifestation d'Art Nouveau International et Forum. He was awarded the Mugunghwa Medal of the Order of Civil Merit by the Government of South Korea
posthumously. He died in 2006, survived by his wife and three children.
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
leader, pioneer of the ecumenical
Ecumenism
Ecumenism or oecumenism mainly refers to initiatives aimed at greater Christian unity or cooperation. It is used predominantly by and with reference to Christian denominations and Christian Churches separated by doctrine, history, and practice...
movement in Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, and an advocate for peace and reconciliation in the Korean peninsula.
In 1945, Kang established the Kyoung Dong Presbyterian Church in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
. This church would become the starting point for the spread of the Presbyterian Church within South Korea. After this, he served as General Secretary of the Korean Student Christian Federation in 1948. In 1964 and again in 1980, he was President of the National Council of Churches in Korea.
In 1962, Kang founded the Korean Christian Academy to facilitate dialog between South Korea's many religions. He served as its director and president. Through the Academy's committee for interfaith dialogue, Yong sponsored over one hundred meetings among leaders of South Korea's six leading religions. As a result, he was arrested in 1979 by the National Intelligence Service of Korea
National Intelligence Service (South Korea)
The National Intelligence Service is the chief intelligence agency of South Korea. The agency was officially established in 1961 as the Korea Central Intelligence Agency , during the rule of President Park Chung-hee's military Supreme Council for National Reconstruction, which displaced the...
for alleged subversive activity.
Kang served two terms as President of the Christian Conference of Asia
Christian Conference of Asia
The Christian Conference of Asia is a regional ecumenical organisation representing 17 National Councils and 100 denominations in 21 countries:- Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Laos, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan,...
from 1968 to 1983. From 1975 to 1983, he was a member of the Central Committee and of the Executive Committee of the World Council of Churches
World Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
. In the early 1970s, he took initiative and contributed towards the founding of the ecumenical academy Association of Christian Institutes and Study Centres in Asia (ACISCA). Also in the 1970s, Kong lead movements for human rights and democracy in Korea, holding hundreds of dialogs with military leaders to encourage reconciliation and a return to democratic process.
Kang promoted interfaith dialog towards reconciliation in a divided Korea, serving as president of the Asian Conference on Religion and Peace, and a Chairman of the Korean Foundation for Working Together.
Yong was an advocate of ecumenism and cooperation between religions. He worked to provide ways for the church to reach the disenfranchised in Asia so that it could provide a voice for them.
Kong was awarded the Niwano Peace Prize
Niwano Peace Prize
Niwano Peace Prize is given to honor and encourage those who are devoting themselves to interreligious cooperation in the cause of peace,and to make their achievements known...
in 2000. In 1998, he was selected as one of the 24 people who helped shape Korean history in a public poll conducted by Manifestation d'Art Nouveau International et Forum. He was awarded the Mugunghwa Medal of the Order of Civil Merit by the Government of South Korea
Government of South Korea
The Government of South Korea is divided into executive, judicial, and legislative branches. The executive and judicial branches operate primarily at the national level, although various ministries in the executive branch also carry out local functions. Local governments are semi-autonomous, and...
posthumously. He died in 2006, survived by his wife and three children.
Books published
- I Believe in Christ
- The New Era of the Builder (1949)
- Ruins of the Appeal
- Free the truth
- Life and Religion
- From Seeds (1993)
- I Believe I Have Faith (1998)
- History in the Hills (2003)
- The Dialog for Gangwon Province
- Gangwonyong Collections