Korea, Land of the Morning Calm

Korea is known by its' people as "The land of the morning calm."  We have been intrigued by the Korean culture this week and have immensely enjoyed every experience.  We have found Koreans to be calm, respectful and generous.  We are amazed by how quiet the volume can be in a crowded subway, bus or airport terminal.   Their tremendous respect for elders and the value placed on honor is reflected in the low crime rate, the quick response of a young person to offer their seat to an elder in the subway and the calm pace of life.

Korea is also filled with contrasts.  The young people dress casually, often with trendy, bright colors and punk hair styles, while the older generation dress conservatively.  We noticed this strong contrast while visiting The Yoido Full Gospel Church, where the young worship leaders wore jeans and t-shirts and the older pastors wore suits.

The landscape in Korea is stunning. The lush, green backdrop and surrounding oceans and rivers compliment the ancient temples and palaces nestled amidst grandiose metropolitan buildings.  We were shocked to learn that in 1971, when the nation was plagued with poverty and military rule, there were very few trees in the countryside.  Koreans were so desperate for fuel that they were forced to cut down most of the trees.

The "overnight success story" of South Korea following The Korean War, with its' rapid development from third world to first world, is a wonder to millions around the world.  However, Loren Cunningam, the founder of Youth With a Missions (YWAM), credits the success of South Korea to the unprecedented growth of the church.  In "The Book That Transforms Nations," Loren shares the incredible account of the churches' direct impact on the culture.

"If you visit South Korea today, you'll find hundreds of thousands filling churches every morning at 5:00 am to pray and read their Bibles for two hours before heading to work.  Weekly all-night prayer meetings and spiritual retreats to fast and pray are common. As a result of all this fervor, believers and churches have multiplied, quickly changing the spiritual landscape.  Biblical influence has permeated every area of Korean society.  Signs of healing are the great strides the nation has made in technology, education and literacy.  Whereas a bicycle was a luxury in 1971, South Koreans are now at the forefront of technology and manufacturing, exporting automobiles and electronics.  In fact, Koreans use the Internet more per capita than any over country.  South Korea's push to get everyone online is part of a bigger picture - a commitment to making sure everyone gets an education.  Ten of the eleven largest megachurches in the world are in Seoul." (page 78)

This is our final blog post from "The Land of the Morning Calm."  We have posted a few of our photos which we believe capture the heart of Korea.  Tomorrow we will pack our bags and return to our "home, sweet home" and our next post will be written from California!