Friendship transcending religious faith
By Choe Chong-dae
Korea has become a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, and multi-religious society. People in Korea are free to lead a religious life according to their own choice and convictions, whether as adherents of the major religions, namely Christianity, Buddhism and Confucianism, or other religions. They peacefully coexist with Korean native religions such as Cheondo-gyo (Dong-hak) and Won Buddhism. From the early 1980’s and even recently in Seoul, I have encountered many young missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who speak Korean fluently. They are volunteer members of the Church and come to Korea as missionaries to do a lot more than refute myths about the Church. They work and study very hard to form friendships, to teach their faith and perform public service.
While serving in Korea, many missionaries familiarize themselves with Korean customs and culture and establish an everlasting relationship with Korea. They have come to know much of the cultural diversity in Korea.
Seemingly, they are very polite and wear classic dark suits with white shirts and ties, and that iconic name badge with “Elder (Last Name)” or “Sister (Last Name)” and the full name of the church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
They offer to give people a copy of The Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ and to explain to people about their faith. They want people to get baptized so people can feel peace and happiness in this life, as well as live with eternal families in heaven.
I came across a group of missionaries at a gathering in the middle 1980’s. Although I told them that I am an adherent of a native religion of Korea, they enthusiastically explained to me about the faith of their religion. Having realized the fact that I am an ardent believer of Cheondo-gyo, they have become interested in my religion, which played an initiative role in pioneering the modern history of Korea.
Their interests in Korean native religions have led some of them, along with other missionaries under guidance of a professor, an expert of Korean studies from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah in the US, to visit the headquarters of the Cheondo-gyo in Seoul.
The university was established by Brigham Young, second president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who had led the settlement of the church in Utah, 1875. Originally named Brigham Young Academy, the school’s mission was to train teachers for public schools.
It was elevated to university status in 1903. The flagship Missionary Training Center of the church is located in Provo, Utah, adjacent to the campus of Brigham Brigham Young University owned and operated by the church.
Remarkably, Clayton M Christensen, Professor Emeritus at the Harvard Business School of Harvard University who is best known for his theory of“ destructive innovation” served as the a volunteer full time missionary for Latter-day Saints (LDS) in Busan in the early 1970s while attending at Brigham Young University.
Returning home, a missionary expressed to me his interest in studying native religions of Korea. He even asked me if Cheondo-gyo could provide a scholarship for him to research the principle of Dong-hak (Eastern Learning).
Originally called "Donghak" or Eastern Learning, Cheondo-gyo (Heaven Way), was established by Choe Che-u, better known by his pen name Su-un in Gyeongju, the ancient capital of the Shilla Dynasty in April 1860.
It quickly became Korea's most influential indigenous religion in modern times. Its basic philosophy is that "everybody possesses God in mind of people," which proclaims equality against discrimination. It was an attempt to restore dignity to the masses while duly improving their standard of living with a sense of worth.
The Chondo-gyo religion played a significant role in the development of Korean nationalism by striving for Korea's freedom and democracy and promoting an egalitarianism which had suffused the “Tonghak Farmers Revolution'' against unjust government in the year of Gabo, 1894. Chondo-gyo also led a persistent struggle against Japanese colonial rule from 1910 to 1945, and instigated the March First Independence Movement’ of March 1, 1919 with both funds and leadership. Although the movement did not bring independence, it turned into a nationwide non-violent demonstration seeking a restoration of Korean sovereignty.
During the Korean War in the 1950’s, LDS servicemen first brought the Church's teaching to Korea. Kim Ho-Jik, a doctoral student at Cornell University in New York learned of the Church and was baptized in 1951. He returned to Korea shortly thereafter and worked with LDS servicemen to share the Church with others. The first four people were baptized in 1952 in Busan.
The first official missionaries arrived in Korea in 1956. The Korean Mission was established in 1962 with seven branches of the Church. The missionaries devoted themselves to teaching English to many Koreans while they engaged in missionary work.
Having served in Korea, the LDS missionaries carried home a wealth of knowledge, colorful memories and valuable experiences that set the course of their life, firm faith in God and an exposure to the cultural diversity of Korea.
LDS missionary work has been more successful in Korea than in many other non-Christian Asian countries. The previous missions to Korea by other Christian denominations possibly prepared Korean people for LDS missionary work.
Furthermore, the Confucian values embedded in Korean culture have influenced Korea in keeping and maintaining high-quality genealogical records. The Church's emphasis on genealogy and family history allows Korean members to respect and honor their ancestors by completing ceremonies for them in LDS temples.
Presently, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has approximately 90,000 adherents with 350 missionaries in Korea.
Transcending religious faith, I keep good friendship with Elder Wendell Wheeler and Sister Yvette Wheeler who serve as Public Affairs Representatives for the Church at the Korea Service Center, along with some others of its members.
My wish is that LDS missionaries who serve in Korea would help spread the diverse aspects of our unique culture abroad.