Seoul Theological University

Overview

Seoul Theological University is a private theological university in Sosabon-dong, Sosa District, Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province. It trains pastors and church workers for the Korea Evangelical Holiness Church (abbreviated in Korean as Giseong) and is commonly known in Korean as Seoul Sindae. Although the school is now located in Bucheon, it retains "Seoul" in its name because it was originally founded there. The university describes itself as heir to the eighteenth-century revival movement of John Wesley and to the nineteenth-century American Holiness movement, a religious movement that stressed the call for Christians to live holy lives. The articles of incorporation of the university's educational foundation reportedly state that its education is to be conducted in accordance with the tradition and doctrine of the Korea Evangelical Holiness Church.

Founding and History

• Opening: The Oriental Missionary Society (OMS), a mission organization rooted in the American Holiness movement, began evangelistic work in Korea in 1907. When a school was needed to train Korean evangelists, the society opened a Bible institute on March 13, 1911, at its Gospel Mission Hall in Mugyo-dong, Seoul. The school is commonly called the Kyungsung (Gyeongseong) Bible Institute. Its first principal was John Thomas (J. Thomas), the OMS director for Korea. Kim Sang-jun and Jeong Bin, early evangelists of the Korean Holiness Church, are also described as founders.
• Chungjeong-ro and Ahyeon-dong period: In the early 1910s the school moved to the area of present-day Chungjeong-ro and Ahyeon-dong in Seoul. As enrollment grew, a large new brick school building was constructed in 1921. That same year, a revival meeting held at the school is said to have grown into a revival movement throughout the Holiness Church.
• Kyungsung Theological Seminary and closure: In 1940, under the Japanese colonial government's Professional School Ordinance, the school was reorganized as the four-year Kyungsung Theological Seminary, with Lee Myung-jik as principal. In December 1943 the Japanese authorities forcibly dissolved the Holiness denomination on the grounds that it refused Shinto shrine worship and taught the doctrine of the Second Coming. The school was closed at that time.
• Reopening and university status: After Korea's liberation in 1945, the school reopened as Seoul Theological Seminary. During the Korean War it operated temporary facilities in Busan. In 1959 it received government approval as Seoul Theological College, and Lee Myung-jik became its first president. An educational foundation was established in 1964.
• Relocation to Bucheon and name change: In the 1970s the school moved to its present campus in Bucheon. Many sources date the move to 1974, though some give 1972. In 1992 the school changed its name to Seoul Theological University.

Major Activities

The undergraduate program was originally centered on the Department of Theology. Later additions included the Department of Religious Music (1977; now the Department of Church Music), the Department of Christian Education (1978), and the Department of Social Work (1981; now the Department of Social Welfare). Since the 1990s the university has also added general academic departments, including child care, early childhood education, Chinese, and contemporary music. A general graduate school was established in 1971, followed in 1980 by the Graduate School of Theology, which trains pastors. The university has also operated graduate schools in counseling, social welfare, ministry, and missions. Its affiliated Institute for Christian Theology publishes an academic journal and maintains exchanges with scholars in Korea and abroad. The school newspaper, Seoul Sinhak Daehakbo (Seoul Theological University News), was founded in 1976.

Denominational Affiliation and Organization

The school was initially founded and operated by the Oriental Missionary Society. Later, as the Korean Holiness Church grew and the Korea Evangelical Holiness Church became independent of the OMS, the denomination took over the operation of the school. Today, as the theological educational institution of the Korea Evangelical Holiness Church, it teaches the denomination's theology and religious tradition, including holiness and Wesleyan theology. It is also listed as a member school of KAATS, an association of theological schools.