Christianity introduction

This introduction provides context for the section on Christianity in Korea. It is hard to underestimate the extensive influence of Christianity on Koreans and Korean culture. Almost a third of all South Koreans are practising Christians. The rate of conversion in the post–Korean War period was particularly high. Missionary contacts with the Korean people were a vitally important influence on the direction of Korea’s subsequent development. Missionaries established important institutions of learning that have gone on to dominate South Korea’s university system. They also played a critical role in researching the language, culture, and history of the Korean people and transmitting this information to the outside world.