Kyung-Chik Han
- April 19, 2000
- 97 years
About Kyung-Chik Han
Kyung-Chik Han, 97, Korean pastor.
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60 Seconds Life Story
Kyung-Chik Han was a renowned South Korean pastor and church planter whose influence spanned decades.
Kyung-Chik Han
d. 2000
60 Seconds: Kyung-Chik Han's Life Story
A documentary overview of South Korean pastor and humanitarian Kyung-Chik Han, founder of Youngnak Presbyterian Church.
Transcript
Kyung-Chik Han was a renowned South Korean pastor and church planter whose influence spanned decades. Born in 1902, he studied at Princeton Theological Seminary before being ordained in 1933. In 1945, Han founded the Youngnak Presbyterian Church, which grew to become the largest Presbyterian congregation in the world with 60,000 members. During the Korean War, his commitment to humanitarian work led him to partner with Robert Pierce to help found World Vision. Han was a recipient of the 1992 Templeton Prize, a prestigious honor he immediately donated to charity. Known for his profound humility, he retired to a modest mountain cabin. He passed away on April 19, 2000, at the age of 97, leaving behind a legacy of service and spiritual leadership.
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Visual credits: Generated illustration by The Deaths Archive (Generated illustration, not a photograph) · This image is available from the New York Public Library's Digital Library under the digital ID G91F115_046ZF: digitalgallery.nypl.org → digitalcollections.nypl.org (Public domain) · Generated illustration by The Deaths Archive (Generated illustration, not a photograph) · Self-photographed (Public domain) · Dantegráfico / Pixabay (Pixabay Content License) · Library of Congress (Public domain) · Generated illustration by The Deaths Archive (Generated illustration, not a photograph)
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Full Biography
|Kyung-Chik Han (9 December 1902 – 19 April 2000) was a South Korean pastor and church planter and the recipient of the 1992 Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion.
Biography
Han was born in Kan-ri, P'yŏngwŏn County, Korean Empire. He graduated from Soongsil University (B. S. 1925), the College of Emporia (B.A. 1926), and Princeton Theological Seminary (B. D. 1929). Ordained in 1933 by the Presbyterian Church of Korea, Han later founded Youngnak Presbyterian Church in 1945, which he pastored until 1973 and served as a Pastor Emeritus for until his death. At the time that he received the Templeton Prize, membership of Youngnak Presbyterian Church had grown to 60,000 making it the largest Presbyterian church in the world and the church had fostered about 500 sister churches worldwide.
Legacy
Kyung-Chik Han is primarily known for his leadership and humility. While Youngnak is no longer the biggest church in South Korea, it is, however, the most prominent Protestant church in the country. Like Kyung-Chik Han himself, his church's earliest ministry was primarily to northern defectors and this remains a hallmark of Young-nak church to this day.
A significant party of his ministry involved humanitarian work with children during the Korean War. This was well underway when American evangelical, Robert Pierce, visited South Korea. The two worked together to build the foundations of World Vision, one of the world's largest humanitarian organisation today.
When he was awarded a Templeton Prize, he sold it and gave the money to charity. When he retired he moved to a modest cabin in the mountains and ensured that his sons did not receive the inheritance from his ministry or assume his position as many ministers in Korea do. There is a small museum at Young-nak Church in his honour.
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyung-Chik_Han
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Kyung-Chik Han's archived record and the sources above.
1.In which location was Kyung-Chik Han born?
- A.Kan-ri, P'yŏngwŏn Countycorrect
- B.Emporia, Kansas
- C.Pyongyang, North Korea
- D.Seoul, South Korea
Kyung-Chik Han was born in Kan-ri, P'yŏngwŏn County, Korean Empire.
Source: Biography section
2.What degree did Kyung-Chik Han earn from Soongsil University in 1925?
- A.M.A.
- B.B.S.correct
- C.B.D.
- D.B.A.
Kyung-Chik Han graduated from Soongsil University with a B.S. degree in 1925.
Source: Biography section
3.In what year was Kyung-Chik Han ordained by the Presbyterian Church of Korea?
- A.1933correct
- B.1945
- C.1929
- D.1925
Kyung-Chik Han was ordained in 1933 by the Presbyterian Church of Korea.
Source: Biography section
4.What church did Kyung-Chik Han found in 1945?
- A.Youngnak Presbyterian Churchcorrect
- B.Seoul Global Church
- C.Central Korean Church
- D.First Presbyterian Church
Kyung-Chik Han founded Youngnak Presbyterian Church in 1945.
Source: Biography section
5.Until what year did Kyung-Chik Han serve as pastor of Youngnak Presbyterian Church?
- A.1985
- B.1965
- C.2000
- D.1973correct
Kyung-Chik Han pastored Youngnak Presbyterian Church until 1973.
Source: Biography section
6.What major award did Kyung-Chik Han receive in 1992?
- A.Nobel Peace Prize
- B.Templeton Prizecorrect
- C.Global Leadership Medal
- D.Humanitarian Award of Korea
Kyung-Chik Han was the recipient of the 1992 Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion.
Source: Biography section
7.At the time Kyung-Chik Han received the Templeton Prize, how many members did Youngnak Presbyterian Church have?
- A.20,000
- B.60,000correct
- C.45,000
- D.80,000
When he received the Templeton Prize, membership of Youngnak Presbyterian Church had grown to 60,000.
Source: Biography section
8.Kyung-Chik Han collaborated with which American evangelical to build the foundations of World Vision?
- A.Robert Piercecorrect
- B.Billy Graham
- C.Norman Vincent Peale
- D.Rick Warren
Kyung-Chik Han and American evangelical Robert Pierce worked together to build the foundations of World Vision.
Source: Legacy section
9.To whom was the earliest ministry of Youngnak Presbyterian Church primarily directed?
- A.University students
- B.Northern defectorscorrect
- C.Refugees from the South
- D.Government officials
The earliest ministry of Youngnak Presbyterian Church was primarily to northern defectors.
Source: Legacy section
10.What did Kyung-Chik Han do with the money from his Templeton Prize?
- A.Sold it and gave the money to charitycorrect
- B.Built a new church wing
- C.Donated it to a university
- D.Used it for his retirement
When he was awarded a Templeton Prize, he sold it and gave the money to charity.
Source: Legacy section
11.Where did Kyung-Chik Han move when he retired?
- A.A modest cabin in the mountainscorrect
- B.A mansion in Seoul
- C.His family home in P'yŏngwŏn
- D.The Youngnak Church residence
When he retired, Kyung-Chik Han moved to a modest cabin in the mountains.
Source: Legacy section
12.What stance did Kyung-Chik Han take regarding his sons and his ministry?
- A.He ensured they received his financial assets
- B.He ensured they did not receive his inheritance or positioncorrect
- C.He required them to be ordained before his death
- D.He ensured they inherited his position
Kyung-Chik Han ensured that his sons did not receive the inheritance from his ministry or assume his position.
Source: Legacy section
13.In what year did Kyung-Chik Han pass away?
- A.1992
- B.2005
- C.1998
- D.2000correct
Kyung-Chik Han lived from 9 December 1902 to 19 April 2000.
Source: Biography section
14.What is the status of Youngnak Presbyterian Church today according to the text?
- A.It is now a museum dedicated to Korean history
- B.It has been closed to the public
- C.It is the most prominent Protestant church in South Koreacorrect
- D.It remains the largest church in the world
While no longer the biggest church in South Korea, Youngnak is the most prominent Protestant church in the country.
Source: Legacy section
15.What exists at Young-nak Church in honor of Kyung-Chik Han?
- A.A public park
- B.A small museumcorrect
- C.A large statue
- D.An annual scholarship
There is a small museum at Young-nak Church in honour of Kyung-Chik Han.
Source: Legacy section
16.What was the primary focus of Kyung-Chik Han's humanitarian work during the Korean War?
- A.Work with childrencorrect
- B.Medical aid for the elderly
- C.Providing housing for soldiers
- D.Food distribution for the military
A significant part of his ministry involved humanitarian work with children during the Korean War.
Source: Legacy section
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