1977 National Evangelization Crusade

Background

During the 1970s, Korean Protestantism grew rapidly in membership, and a series of large united evangelistic rallies took place. The 1973 Billy Graham Crusade in 1973 and Explo '74 in 1974 were both held at Yeouido Plaza and drew large crowds. Both events, however, were closely tied to foreign evangelists or international mission organizations. These experiences reportedly fostered a conviction that the Korean church could also hold a large united gathering without foreign assistance. "National evangelization" was a slogan calling for the gospel to be proclaimed to the entire Korean people in order to bring the whole nation to Christian faith. During this period, conservative churches used it widely to promote evangelism.

Course of Events

• Preparation: Revivalists from various denominations (preachers who traveled from church to church leading revival meetings) took the lead in forming an interdenominational organizing body. The chairman of the crusade is reported to have been the Rev. Shin Hyun-kyun, a revivalist from the Holiness Church.
• August 1977: The rally was held over several days at Yeouido Plaza in Seoul. Each day featured preaching, tongseong gido (simultaneous audible prayer), and praise. All of the speakers were Korean pastors and revivalists, which is regarded as the most significant difference from the earlier rallies.
• Scale: Large numbers of church members reportedly gathered in the plaza each day. Attendance figures, however, vary depending on the organizers' announcements and the counting methods used, and the exact numbers require verification.

Outcomes and Influence

The crusade stands at the midpoint of the series of large Yeouido rallies held in 1973, 1974, and 1980, and it is regarded as a stepping stone to the 1980 World Evangelization Crusade. It became a model for interdenominational gatherings planned by the Korean church itself. It also contributed to the subsequent growth of evangelistic campaigns and revival meetings in local churches, and it is frequently cited as emblematic of Korean church growth in the 1970s and 1980s. Some observers hold that later large united events, such as the 1984 commemorative projects for the centennial of Protestant missions in Korea, were prepared on the foundation of this experience.

Assessment

Evangelicals regard the crusade highly as an event demonstrating that the Korean church, which had long relied on the assistance of foreign missions, could undertake evangelism on its own. They also see it as a prominent expression of the revival tradition, with its emphasis on prayer and repentance.

There are also critical perspectives. The rally took place under the Yushin system (the prolonged rule of the Park Chung-hee government in place from 1972). During that period, some churches and believers, centered on the National Council of Churches in Korea, took part in human rights and democratization movements (the church and the democratization movement). Critics contend that the large evangelistic rallies, by emphasizing individual salvation and the expansion of church membership, remained silent about social realities. Others argue that holding the rally in a large government-owned plaza raises questions about the relationship between the regime and the church (church and politics). Some also view it as one of the starting points of a growth-oriented mindset that prioritized numbers and scale. In response, those who led the crusade have maintained that evangelism has always been the church's essential mission.