Kim Ho Jik
Encyclopedia
Kim Ho Jik was the first Korea
n convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and was a key figure in opening South Korea to missionary
work of the LDS Church. Kim was also vice-minister of education in the administration of South Korea
n president
Syngman Rhee
.
Kim was born at Pyoktong
in what is today North Korea
. For a time while a youth, Kim studied at a Buddhist monastery
. As a teenager Kim moved to Suwon
. He graduated from Suwon Advanced Agricultural and Forestry School (수원고등농림학교) in 1924. In 1925, Kim became a member of a Protestant church and began studies at Tohoku University
in Japan
from which he graduated in 1930. Kim then served as president of Sookmyung Women's University
for a time. In 1946, Kim took charge of the Suwon Agricultural Experimentation Station.
Kim began work on a doctoral degree at Cornell University
in 1949. During this time, Kim was isolated from his family, as they stayed behind in Korea, and were affected by the Korean War
. Kim was introduced to the LDS Church by Oliver Wayman, a fellow Cornell graduate student who was also a member of the church. Kim was baptized on September 29, 1951. The baptism was performed in the Susquehanna River
, the same body of water in which Joseph Smith, Jr. and Oliver Cowdery
were baptized
in 1829.
Kim returned to Korea in 1952. He was appointed vice minister of education by South Korean president Syngman Rhee
. Other positions Kim held after his return to Korea were a professorship at Hongik College, dean
of animal husbandry
at Konguk University, and the vice chairmanship of the Seoul
City Board of Education. Kim also served as president of the National Fisheries College at Pusan. Kim was also a member of the Korean National Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Kim's children, Kim Tai Whan and Kim Young Sook, were among the first four people baptized into the LDS Church in Korea on August 3, 1952. Kim baptized his other two children, Kim Chun Sook and Kim Shin Hwan on January 3, 1953.
On August 2, 1955, Kim was set apart
as the president of the Korean District
of the LDS Church by apostle Joseph Fielding Smith
. Among those influenced by Kim's leadership of the church was Han In Sang
, who became a general authority
of the church. Kim held the position of District President when he died.
In about 1970, Kim's widow, Pil Kun Park, joined the LDS Church.
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...
n convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and was a key figure in opening South Korea to missionary
Mormon missionary
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
work of the LDS Church. Kim was also vice-minister of education in the administration of South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n president
President of South Korea
The President of the Republic of Korea is, according to the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, chief executive of the government, commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and the head of state of the Republic of Korea...
Syngman Rhee
Syngman Rhee
Syngman Rhee or Yi Seungman was the first president of South Korea. His presidency, from August 1948 to April 1960, remains controversial, affected by Cold War tensions on the Korean peninsula and elsewhere. Rhee was regarded as an anti-Communist and a strongman, and he led South Korea through the...
.
Kim was born at Pyoktong
Pyoktong
Pyoktong is a kun, or county, in northern North Pyongan province, North Korea. It lies in the valley of the Yalu River, and borders China to the north. Within North Korea, it is bounded by Tongchang in the south, Changsong in the west, and Usi county in Chagang province to the east...
in what is today North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
. For a time while a youth, Kim studied at a Buddhist monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
. As a teenager Kim moved to Suwon
Suwon
Suwon is the provincial capital of Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. A major city of over a million inhabitants, Suwon lies approximately south of Seoul. It is traditionally known as "The City of Filial Piety"....
. He graduated from Suwon Advanced Agricultural and Forestry School (수원고등농림학교) in 1924. In 1925, Kim became a member of a Protestant church and began studies at Tohoku University
Tohoku University
, abbreviated to , located in the city of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture in the Tōhoku Region, Japan, is a Japanese national university. It is the third oldest Imperial University in Japan and is a member of the National Seven Universities...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
from which he graduated in 1930. Kim then served as president of Sookmyung Women's University
Sookmyung Women's University
Sookmyung Women’s University is a private university in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea. Founded in 1906, Sookmyung is Korea’s first royal private educational institution for women.- History :...
for a time. In 1946, Kim took charge of the Suwon Agricultural Experimentation Station.
Kim began work on a doctoral degree at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
in 1949. During this time, Kim was isolated from his family, as they stayed behind in Korea, and were affected by the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. Kim was introduced to the LDS Church by Oliver Wayman, a fellow Cornell graduate student who was also a member of the church. Kim was baptized on September 29, 1951. The baptism was performed in the Susquehanna River
Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
, the same body of water in which Joseph Smith, Jr. and Oliver Cowdery
Oliver Cowdery
Oliver H. P. Cowdery was, with Joseph Smith, Jr., an important participant in the formative period of the Latter Day Saint movement between 1829 and 1836, becoming one of the Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon's golden plates, one of the first Latter Day Saint apostles, and the Second Elder of...
were baptized
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
in 1829.
Kim returned to Korea in 1952. He was appointed vice minister of education by South Korean president Syngman Rhee
Syngman Rhee
Syngman Rhee or Yi Seungman was the first president of South Korea. His presidency, from August 1948 to April 1960, remains controversial, affected by Cold War tensions on the Korean peninsula and elsewhere. Rhee was regarded as an anti-Communist and a strongman, and he led South Korea through the...
. Other positions Kim held after his return to Korea were a professorship at Hongik College, dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of animal husbandry
Animal husbandry
Animal husbandry is the agricultural practice of breeding and raising livestock.- History :Animal husbandry has been practiced for thousands of years, since the first domestication of animals....
at Konguk University, and the vice chairmanship of the 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...
City Board of Education. Kim also served as president of the National Fisheries College at Pusan. Kim was also a member of the Korean National Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Kim's children, Kim Tai Whan and Kim Young Sook, were among the first four people baptized into the LDS Church in Korea on August 3, 1952. Kim baptized his other two children, Kim Chun Sook and Kim Shin Hwan on January 3, 1953.
On August 2, 1955, Kim was set apart
Setting apart
Setting apart is an ordinance or ritual in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints whereby a person is formally chosen and blessed to carry out a specific calling or responsibility in the church....
as the president of the Korean District
District (LDS Church)
A district of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative unit composed of a number of congregations called branches. A district is a subdivision of a mission of the church and in many ways is analogous to a stake of the church. The leader of a district is the...
of the LDS Church by apostle Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr. was the tenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1970 until his death. He was the son of Joseph F. Smith, who was the sixth president of the LDS Church...
. Among those influenced by Kim's leadership of the church was Han In Sang
Han In Sang
Han In Sang was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1991 and 1996. Han was the first Korean Latter-day Saint to become a general authority of the LDS Church....
, who became a general authority
General authority
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a general authority is a member of certain leadership organizations who are given administrative and ecclesiastical authority over the church...
of the church. Kim held the position of District President when he died.
In about 1970, Kim's widow, Pil Kun Park, joined the LDS Church.