This paper provides a critical theological and ethical examination of how the rapid numerical growth of the South Korean evangelical church in the late 20th century paralleled—and consciously assimilated—the national economic growth narratives articulated by President Park Chung-hee. Drawing from scholarly analyses, this study demonstrates how the Korean church reinterpreted societal aspirations for economic prosperity into theological affirmations of spiritual blessings and revival, thus converting the secular growth-driven ideology into a distinctly religious ethos.
A recent study on Korean mega-churches reveals that this phenomenon was not merely coincidental; rather, the Korean church intentionally mirrored and internalized capitalist principles, strategic marketing techniques, and business-driven methodologies propagated by the developmental dictatorship. Through the theological lens of H. Richard Niebuhr’s typology, particularly the “Christ of culture” position, the paper argues that the Korean church, despite its proclaimed theological resistance to cultural assimilation, paradoxically aligned itself with a narrative deeply entrenched in the pursuit of economic success.
Furthermore, the proposal incorporates Stanley Hauerwas’s ethical framework, emphasizing the church as a community of virtue and character formed by fidelity to the biblical narrative rather than cultural norms. Hauerwas’s critique highlights significant ethical concerns: the Korean church’s embrace of economic narratives has distorted gospel principles, commodified faith, and weakened ecclesial integrity, resulting in serious moral and spiritual challenges.
Consequently, this paper calls for an urgent theological reassessment, advocating for a renewed ecclesial focus on cultivating distinctly Christian virtues rooted explicitly in the narrative of Christ’s life, ministry, and teachings. Such an ethical recalibration is critical not only for South Korean evangelicalism but also provides significant lessons for global Christian communities encountering similar cultural and ideological temptations.
This study, therefore, aims to contribute to contemporary theological ethics by identifying and addressing the pitfalls of cultural assimilation within Christian practice, promoting an ecclesiology that fosters authentic spiritual formation and moral character reflective of the gospel message.