Mission Church Does Some Seoul Searching

Hostage crisis has Korean Christians pondering direction

By Caroline Zimmerman, Newser User

Posted Aug 15, 2007 3:39 PM CDT

(Newser) – As 19 South Korean aid workers wallow in a Taliban prison camp, many in the world community are openly wondering why they were in Afghanistan in the first place. Even as they pray for the release of their fellow parishioners, members of a suburban Seoul church are dodging critics who say their charity mission ignored official warnings about traveling to—let alone proselytizing in—the war zone.

South Korea's burgeoning Christian community—a quarter of the population—has been active in pursuing overseas charity work, but officials confess there's dissent in the ranks. "Even before this incident, debate was under way whether we should be more cautious," a church spokesman said. And the hostage crisis, which has gripped the country for nearly a month, has many urging a scale-back of the overseas missions.

[Images (6)]

[Videos (1)]

A South Korean Christian woman prays during a service demanding the safe return of South Koreans kidnapped in Afghanistan at a church in Seoul Sunday, July 29, 2007. The family of a South Korean pastor... (Associated Press)

A South Korean Christian wipes her tear after the mass calling for the release of South Korean hostages, mebers of their church who were kidnapped in Afghanistan, at Saemmul Community Church in Sungnam,... (Associated Press)

South Korean Christians march after a special service to commemorate the 62nd anniversary of the peninsula's Liberation Day from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule in Seoul, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2007. About... (Associated Press)

Yoido Full Gospel Church, in Seoul. With over 800 000 members, it may be the single largest Christian congregation in the world. (Public Domain)

A South Korean Christian prays during a service demanding the safe return of South Koreans kidnapped in Afghanistan at a church in Seoul Sunday, July 29, 2007. The family of a South Korean pastor killed... (Associated Press)

In this image made from a video aired by Al-Jazeera TV channel on Monday, July 30, 2007, one of seven female South Korean hostages held by the Taliban in Afghanistan is seen. A group of 23 Korean Christian... (Associated Press)

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Exclusive video of Korean hostages in Afghanistan 30-07-07 (AlJazeeraEnglish (YouTube))

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Mission Church Does Some Seoul Searching