The Korean Healing Movement

CONTENTS

Introduction 1

1. Ik-du Kim 7
Life and Ministry 7
The Formation of the Healing Theology 12
Healing Theology 19
Evaluation of the Contribution of Kim’s Healing Ministry 36
Conclusion 43

2. Seong-bong Lee 45
Life and Ministry 45
The Formation of the Healing Theology 52
Healing Theology 66
Evaluation of the Contributions of Lee’s Healing Ministry 81
Conclusion 87

3. Yong-gi Cho 89
Life and Ministry 89
The Formation of the Healing Theology 96
Healing Theology 121
Evaluation of the Contribution of Cho’s Healing Ministry 137
Conclusion 149

4. A Korean Healing Theology 151
Faith 151
Prayer 159
Repentance 170
Atonement 175
Spiritual Warfare 182
Pneumatology 188
Han and Emotional Healing 191

5. Conclusion 199

Bibliography 201
Appendix 1 223
Appendix 2 225
Appendix 3 227

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jun Kim is a Korean Pentecostal scholar, currently serving as the Academic Dean and a faculty member at Asia Pacific Theological Seminary in the Philippines, as well as the Vice-president of the Asia Pentecostal Society. An ordained minister with the Korean Assemblies of God, Jun Kim has been engaged in missionary work in the Philippines since 2004. His research interests include Asian Pentecostalism and divine healing movements, with a focus on historical theology.

WHAT THE AUTHOR TELL US ABOUT THE BOOK:

1. **Inspiration Behind the Book**:
The decision to pen this book emerged as a natural reaction to the pressing need for developing Christian theologies tailored to the Global South's unique landscape. Acknowledging the profound impact of Global North's Christian theology on the Korean Church, it also recognizes the theological tensions and dilemmas stemming from the clash between Korean worldviews and the imported doctrines of Western churches. This discord has often led to the marginalization of the Korean interpretive lens when engaging with the Triune God, deemed unreliable or unbiblical. This book arises from the necessity to meticulously explore the intricate dynamics of the Korean Church, aiming to construct a theological foundation that resonates with Korean sensibilities without compromising its rich cultural and religious heritage.

2. **Distinctiveness of the Book**:
This work distinguishes itself as among the pioneering studies to probe the Korean healing movement in English, offering a systematic portrayal of Korean healing theology. It adopts an interdisciplinary stance, blending historical insight with theological discourse to navigate the Korean Church's unique contexts and unravel the essence and validation of Korean healing theology.

3. **Importance of the Subject**:
The divine healing movement stands as a cornerstone of the rapid expansion of the church in Korea, transcending its origins as an indigenous initiative to face marginalization and skepticism, particularly from cessationist perspectives within the Korean Christian community. This book responds to the critical need for a historical and theological examination of the Korean healing movement's genesis and evolution, advocating for a broader understanding of divine healing beyond Pentecostal confines and embedding it within the practical realities of believers' lives. It calls for theological dialogue that navigates the complex web of cultural, religious, political, and economic forces influencing the Korean Church, aiming to preserve its positive contributions.

4. **Impact on Ministry**:
This book seeks to enlighten Korean Christians about the healing movement's pivotal role in their spiritual heritage, encouraging its continuation beyond denominational lines and revitalizing spiritual vitality. It aspires to equip global Christians with theological frameworks that allow them to engage in healing ministries that are biblically sound and culturally attuned to their inherent worldviews.

5. **Additional Relevance**:
Beyond its immediate contributions, this book serves as a valuable research model for similar endeavors in the Global South, offering a methodological template for theologizing practices and beliefs prevalent within global churches. It represents a step towards self-theologizing in a way that respects and integrates the lived experiences and spiritual practices of believers worldwide.

In this insightful book, the author, a Korean Pentecostal scholar, embarks on a deep exploration of the theological and historical evolution of the Korean healing movement. Through meticulous analysis of three pivotal figures—Ik-du Kim, Seong-bong Lee, and Yong-gi Cho—the study delves into the key contextual forces that have shaped their healing theologies and practices within the Korean Church. This work offers a systematic examination of the distinctive features of Korean healing theology, aiming to furnish readers with a robust theological framework for understanding Korean healing practices. Furthermore, it seeks to equip 21st-century spirit-empowered Christians with theological safeguards for their beliefs in divine healing, thus providing a valuable resource for anyone interested in the intersection of faith, culture, and healing.

The author is to be congratulated for this important, well-written, and groundbreaking study of three prominent healers in Korean Christianity. The ministries of Ik-du Kim, Seong-bong Lee, and Yong-gi Cho spanned the twentieth century, and each brings a unique perspective. Such a comprehensive study that focuses on the theologies of these representative healers has not been done before in English. Dr Kim uses significant archival material, most of which is in the Korean language, to develop a Korean theology of healing that is accessible to the English-speaking public. This is essential reading for understanding the Korean healing movement.
Dr Allan H Anderson, University of Birmingham

The Korean Healing Movement investigates three historic healing evangelists in Korea, representing different confessional traditions in various periods. Through this theological comparative study, Jun Kim constructs a Korean healing theology, taking both the socio-political context and the theological tradition of each Christian healer. This fine research will provide a model for other similar inquiries, particularly from the global South.
Dr Wonsuk Ma, Executive Director of Center for Spirit-Empowered Research, Distinguished Professor of Global Christianity

Jun Kim maintains that the healing movement is a key component of Korean Christianity historically. The influences contextualizing the rise of this movement were not exclusively Christian, but Kim rightly notes its profound relevance for Christian theology. Using Ik-du Kim, Seong-bong Lee, and Yong-gi Cho as key interlocutors, Kim expertly discusses the various issues involved in constructing a holistic theology of healing. This is contextual theology at its absolute best, not only for Pentecostals, but for all those interested in the prominent themes emerging from Christianity outside the West.
Dr Frank D Macchia, Professor of Systematic Theology, Vanguard University

This is a well-researched book, supported by a wide bibliography. It is coherent, readable, interesting, clear, succinct and analytical. This is much more than a
historical book, though the biographies of the people concerned are detailed and instructive, because they are set in their socio-political-economic and religiocultural
contexts which provide the opportunity to appreciate the impact they had and what influenced them. The section exploring a Korean healing theology explores key elements, supported by detailed research, which were evaluated judiciously. Not only is this book valuable and fascinating, it also provides a first-class template for similar examinations of key healers in other countries.
Dr Keith Warrington, Academic Dean, The New International University, Director of Word and Spirit, and Reader in Pentecostal Studies, Regents Theological College