The National Regional Children's Center Association held a results-sharing event and exhibition in Seoul on October 28 to highlight support for 3,288 children with borderline intellectual functioning. The association says the initiative involved 17 performing agencies and 118 social welfare centers across South Korea. Approximately 825 experts provided services to help these slow learners improve social adaptation skills. The event emphasized the importance of collaboration among families, schools, and communities. Organizers stated they plan to expand customized support and strengthen regional cooperation networks for sustainable assistance.
Translated from 한국어
Read more →
Illustrative photo
Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Manish Shah on UnsplashPersecuted church
Christian families in a region of India have been evicted and had their homes damaged after refusing to renounce their faith. Reports indicate incidents occurred in villages during October. Perpetrators removed roofs and threw out belongings because the families would not participate in tribal religious rituals. Human rights activists attribute this to conflicts between traditional customs and Christian beliefs. The ICC criticized local police for failing to protect victims' property and religious freedom, despite constitutional guarantees. A pastor noted that families now face threats and loss of livelihood.
The Kukmin Ilbo Mission reports on the hardships faced by scholar Tak Myeong-hwan for exposing unlicensed seminaries and cults in South Korea. After publishing books on these groups, he endured threats, police detention, and civil lawsuits. The outlet details how he was forced to sell his home and issue public apologies under pressure from cult members and church critics. Despite these severe personal and financial losses, he continued his work to protect the Korean church from fraudulent religious institutions.
Moriah Church in Busan, South Korea, held a donation ceremony on October 28 with Goodwill Store to support disabled employment and environmental protection. Pastor Park Sang-chul and store manager Kim Shin-myung presented 700 items collected by congregants through a permanent donation box. The initiative aims to create jobs for people with disabilities while reducing carbon emissions. According to the outlet, the donated goods will be sold at affordable prices, generating social value equivalent to one month of wages for a severely disabled worker. This effort marks the second such partnership among churches in the Busan area.
The 2027 World Youth Space Mission Conference departure ceremony will take place on November 3 at Jeju Seongan Church in South Korea. The event focuses on the role of AI and youth in modern missions. Notably, Jung Young-gyo, current moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Korea (Hapdong), and Chae Young-nam, former moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Korea (Tonghap), will participate together. This collaboration highlights unity across denominations. Speakers will discuss how AI impacts Christian life and evangelism. Organizers expect the gathering to foster cooperation among Korean church leaders and youth for future global missions.
Translated from 한국어
Read more →
Illustrative photo
Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Raimond Klavins on UnsplashGood news
In South Korea, religious and environmental groups held a seminar regarding floods in Nepal. Speakers argued that the local church should approach aid not as charity, but as repayment for historical carbon emissions. Nepal contributed minimally to global greenhouse gases yet suffered significant deaths. Experts highlighted the country's poor climate responsibility ranking and urged long-term partnership and increased financial contributions to the UN Loss and Damage Fund rather than one-time donations.
World Vision, in partnership with Amorepacific, Jindo Education Office, and Origin Design, held a two-day career camp for 27 students at Seokgyo Middle School in Jindo, South Korea, on October 22-23. The program aims to bridge regional gaps in career information by offering mentorship and job experiences, including a visit to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. Participants used online platforms to identify interests and created career design sheets. World Vision stated that the initiative expands on previous pilot projects to help youth proactively shape their futures despite local constraints. The organization plans to continue supporting these students through ongoing mentorship activities.
On October 29, the International Church Growth Institute (CGI) hosted a screening of the documentary 'Young Cho Yong-gi' at the Jerusalem Sanctuary in Seoul, South Korea. The event was part of the CGI's 50th-anniversary World Church Growth Conference, which gathered approximately 20,000 attendees from over 50 countries. The film details the life of the late founder Cho Yong-gi, tracing his journey from a tuberculosis diagnosis to establishing Yoido Full Gospel Church. Pastors from Ghana, Singapore, and Hong Kong praised the documentary for revealing the struggles and spiritual roots behind the church's global expansion, noting its value for understanding the origins of the Pentecostal movement.
The Church Reform Coalition issued a statement on October 29 criticizing the reinstatement of Kim Myung-jin as senior pastor of Light and Truth Church. Kim was convicted by the Supreme Court for abuse and legal violations but resumed his role seven months after release. The coalition labeled this a violent act against victims and accused the Presbyterian Church in Korea and Pyeong Yang Presbytery of protecting their own. They demanded Kim step down, six supporting pastors apologize, and church members revoke the appointment. The group argued that framing criminal abuse as spiritual training constitutes gaslighting and ignores the lasting trauma suffered by victims.
The Christian Methodist Church in South Korea held its second Social Service Award ceremony on October 29 at Kwanglim Church in Seoul. The event recognized organizations and individuals for serving marginalized communities. The Holy Volunteer Team received the Scranton Award for improving housing conditions. Other recipients included the Namyun Methodist Women’s Mission Union for neighborhood support, the Cheongju Love Meal Sharing Group for free food delivery, Incheon Gojan Church, and the Love Naver Hamgab Community. Individual honorees were Elder Han Yeon-hee and youth member Cho Je-i. The awards honor the legacy of missionaries like Asbury and Scranton.
The World Reformed Fellowship held its seventh global congress on October 29 at Love Church in Seoul, South Korea. Leaders from over 60 countries discussed the authority of Scripture, the role of artificial intelligence in ministry, and the spiritual heritage of Korean churches, including morning prayer and discipleship training. WRF President Robert Norris urged pastors to remain faithful successors to the apostles. The event aimed to share theological resources and address modern challenges facing the global Christian community.
Lee Tae-il, director of Sunhan Mind Dental Clinic in Seoul, South Korea, provides free dental treatment to homeless individuals and foreign students. Although he initially planned to become a long-term missionary abroad, he returned to Korea after realizing his calling was different. He now runs a clinic that supports staff for overseas service while offering free care to locals and immigrants. Lee views his medical skills as a responsibility to serve others rather than a personal blessing, continuing to support missionaries in the Middle East and Southeast Asia with supplies.
Translated from 한국어Also reported by 1 other outlet
International church leaders met in Seoul, South Korea, on October 29 for the International Church Growth Institute's 50th anniversary conference. Speakers including Hendrik Bosdier, Satish Kumar Pakanati, Disan Wickramaratne, and Young-hoon Lee emphasized passing faith to the next generation. They urged pastors to prioritize disciple-making, personal integrity, and caring for individual congregants over mere numerical growth. The group stated that true revival requires obedience to the Holy Spirit and active engagement in evangelism rather than relying solely on past traditions or facilities.
An opinion piece in the Kukmin Ilbo argues that South Korea must protect religious facilities from displacement during urban redevelopment projects. The author states that churches and temples serve as vital community welfare centers but are often forced out due to a lack of specific legal provisions in the Urban and Residential Environment Improvement Act. Although a 2026 government interpretation allows for alternative sites, local practices and court rulings frequently ignore these guidelines. The article calls on the National Assembly, the presidential office, and the judiciary to establish clear laws and dispute resolution mechanisms to ensure fair relocation and prevent social conflict.
A seminar honoring the late theologian Byun Sun-hwan was held outdoors at the Korean Methodist Theological University in Seoul on October 27 after the university denied indoor venue access. Organizers reported that approximately 100 attendees faced disruption from about 40 opponents who shouted slogans and sang hymns to block the event. The gathering featured speeches by pastors Hong Seung-pyo and Park Sung-yong, who examined the historical context of Byun’s 1992 excommunication. Pastor Jin Kwang-soo also spoke, praising Byun as a significant scholar. This marks the second conflict regarding events related to Byun at the institution this year.
Richard Bogonon, founder of Make Known, visited Seoul, South Korea, to promote his 'The Word One to One' evangelism method. He argues that traditional church events fail to connect with younger generations who view Christianity negatively. Instead, he advocates for simple, one-on-one Bible reading as a daily cultural practice. Bogonon shared examples from South Africa where this approach shifted congregational focus toward sharing the Gospel. He emphasized that the Gospel itself has power, not human rhetoric. His mission aims to transform church culture by encouraging believers to build relationships with non-Christians through shared scripture study rather than formal programs.
A South Korean court has ruled that the Church of God, designated as a cult by major denominations, must demolish a building under construction in the Gamil district of Hwaseong and return the land to the Korea Land & Housing Corporation (LH). The Suwon District Court Gyeonggi Branch ordered the church to pay approximately 6.31 billion won to the LH. The ruling addresses a dispute over a religious plot where the church allegedly paid excessive premiums during a 2020 purchase, violating public housing regulations that restrict resale for profit. The court also mandated the cancellation of ownership transfer registrations associated with the site.
The late Tak Myung-hwan, founder of the International Institute for Religious Issues in South Korea, endured persistent threats and legal battles while exposing groups masquerading as orthodox denominations. According to his memoirs, he received death threats and had explosives planted in his vehicle after issuing statements against cults. He also faced defamation lawsuits and injunctions for articles identifying these groups as heretical. Despite pressure from organizations using legitimate church names to deceive believers, he continued his investigative work to protect the public from religious deception.
Kim Myung-jin, a pastor sentenced for facilitating abuse at Light and Truth Church in Seoul, was reinstated on October 27. He was released early in March after serving part of a two-year sentence for forcing members to endure harsh conditions. Former moderators and church leaders attended the service, defending the reinstatement as a church choice rather than a disciplinary failure. Victims expressed deep distress, noting a lack of genuine apology or accountability. The Presbyterian Church in Korea (Hapdong) Pyongyang Presbytery maintained that no canonical violations occurred, describing the contested actions as training. This event highlights ongoing tensions between legal convictions and church governance in South Korea.
Translated from 한국어
Read more →
SermonWave writes its own short summaries and links to the original reporting. Every story belongs to the outlet that reported it. About World News · Our sources · RSS feed
