Pray for South Korea

In the late 1950s, South Korea was one of the poorest countries on earth. Thirty-five years of Japanese rule from 1910 to 1945 stripped the land of its resources and exploited its rich rice fields to feed a growing empire. Just five after World War II, the Korean War decimated infrastructure, killed millions, and displaced millions more. To the world’s amazement, in the 30 years that followed this destruction, South Korea’s economy became one of the top 15 in the world. A shift from agriculture to industry and a massive increase in education brought South Korea great prosperity. This transformation became known as the “Miracle on the Han River,” turning the river that flows through the capital into a symbol of the nation’s success. Today, the sidewalks that lie beside the flowing, blue waters are lined with flourishing greenery and a rainbow of colored lights that shine brightly at night.

Since reaching prosperity, South Korea’s economy has begun to face a serious problem in declining birth rates. High living costs and an intense work culture discourage families from having more children. Economic growth is slowing as the number of South Korea’s working-age adults shrinks. The nation’s youth also face intense academic pressure. Hoping to secure high-paying jobs for their children’s future, families spend large portions of their income on education. This pressure follows children into adulthood as they step into grueling work environments. Meanwhile, the threat of North Korea consistently looms over South Korea. The Korean Demilitarized Zone that famously separates the two countries is the most heavily fortified border in the world. Every South Korean man must serve in the military for at least eighteen months, and North Korea’s nuclear program and authoritarian rule have made reconciliation very difficult.

In its past, while South Korea was marked by wars and destruction, a passionate, faithful Church persevered and brought Christianity to where it is today — 30 percent of its population now identifies as Christian. Its fruitfulness has made South Korea one of the largest missionary-sending countries in the world. However, interest in spiritual conversations is decreasing, as increasing numbers of young Koreans identify as nonreligious. Even as people come to faith through evangelism, church attendance continues to decline, and congregations continue to age. Though society offers them great freedom and public visibility, numerous Christians have grown comfortable with previous successes and allowed spiritual apathy to creep into their congregations. Despite these setbacks, faithful Koreans continue to work and pray fervently for the good of the Church.