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I.

INTRODUCTION

T 0

KOREA -

Zll
L^ndKorea is a mountainous peninsula, on the average approxinately 500 miles long, which
projects southward from the continent of Asia. The entire country is about the
size
of the state of Minnesota. The total area of Korea is about 85^000 square miles.
The
longest distance from north to south is about 600 miles and the average distance from
east to west about 170 miles. It is such a mountainous country that it is estimated
that only about 20% of the land can be cultivated.
At the present time the country is divided almost in half at approximately the 3Sth
parallel into Communist-dominated North Korea and the Republic of Korea, commonly known
as South Korea. To visualize South Korea, it is about the same size as "the state of Ind

iana.

Lying between the 30th and 36th parallels of northern latitude, the climate is

very similar to that of the middle-western United States north of the Ohio River.

There
are 4 seasons with somewhat severe winters in the north and relatively mild in the south.
The average annual rainfall in Korea is about 40 inches although some parts in north
ern Korea get less than half that much. There is a rainy season in the southern section
and there it is not at all unudual for 10 times as much rain to fall in July as in Janu
ary. Winter is the dry season. Summer temperatures are about the same as those of the
east coast of the United States, with the average summer temperature running about 75-60
degrees.

The Korean peninsula is bounded on the north by Manchuria and Siberia; on the east by
the Sea of Japan; on the south by the narrow Korean Strait; on the west by the Yellow
Sea.

North Korea, before the division, contains 80% of hea-vy industries and hydro-electric
power facilities, and 80-85^ of
mineral resources: South Korea is predominantly ag
ricultural, containing lighter industries and such natural resources as cement, anthra
cite coal and tungsten.

The Korean people are of an ancient and homogeneous race, distinct from both the Chi
nese and the Japanese. Thought to have descended from two racial strains, the nomadic

tribes of Mongolia and the Caucasians of western Asia, the Koreans thus have both Occi-'
dental and Oriental characteristics.

Based on the latest available figures. South Korea has a population of approximately
25-27,000,000 people. There are approximately 1,000,000 more women than men. Physic
ally, the people are generally larger and stronger than most Orientals and can be dis
tinguished by various physical characteristics.

According to the census of i949 the density of population then was about 554 persons
per square mile, which was then one of the highest in the world.

Although no official
figures are now available it is estimated that this figure has now risen considerably,
perhaps to as much as 750 per square mile due to the influx of refugees from North Korea
fleeing from Communism.
The traditional dress of Korea consists of loose vAiite robes and wide trousers for

the men and short, close fitting jackets and vividly colored long, full skirts for the .
women. However, VJestern influence is causing this traditional dress to slowly become

less popular, especially in the cities, where many people wear Western style clothes.
Rice, fish, poultry, vegetables and fruit are the principal foods in the Korean diet,
with ride being the basic diet of the majority of the people. Aside from rice the most
popular side dish is "kimchi," a highly-spiced, pickled combination of cabbage, radish
es, onions and other vegetables. The diet of Korea is quite distinct from that of China
or Japan. Japan uses much raw fish and sweetened things. China uses much oil in cook
ing. In Korea, the basic table setting for the individual consists of a large bowl of

boiled rice (about two large cups of cooked rice), and a bowl of soup, usually made of
fish stock rather than meat stock. There will then be a variety of cooked or pickled
side dishes to eat with the rice, the pickles being on a brine basis, with much use of
garlic and red pepper. Tj^ere are many variants of these. As we have mentioned before,
the basic ingredients of the pickle, "kimchi," are Chinese cabbage and a large vdiite
radish or turnip. In November every household is busy putting up its winter supply of
"kimchi," packed in earthen jars, to last them until spring. During the rest of the
year, the pickle is made from day to day, lest it spoil. Barley and millet are eaten

Korea . . . - Page 2

Vijhen necessary, but are not considered real substitutes for rice. It is quite possible
to get a balanced diet by the use of the elements in the Korean diet, but it is hardly
satisfying or appetizing to one accustomed to Western style food.
The Korean children entertain themselves in much the same way as American children do.
The little girls have see-saw, singing, rope-jumping, swinging etc., and play house just
like little American girls. The boys occupy themselves, among other things, with kite

flying and various hall-galnes. Most of the Korean games test strength, agility or per
ception.
As a result of the Korean VJar there were nearly 100,000 Korean orphans and some 284,
000 widows with 517,000 dependent children. More than 1,000,000 South Korean civilians
lost their lives and another 1,000,000 were wounded, or became invalid or just simply
disappeared.

3. GoyernmentUnder the auspices of the United Nations, the first representative government in Kor
ea' s 4,000 years of recorded history came into being in July, 194, after 40 years of
domination by the Japanese, follovred by 3 years of American military government. The
Republic of Korea, founded through free elections, was formally inaugurated on August 15,
1948, with Dr. Syngman Rhee serving as the first President. The Russians, occupying the
northern part of Korea, refused to permit participation in the elections, and set up a
puppet Communist government north of the 38th parallel. The government and constitution
of the Republic were somewhat similar to the American government and constitution, with
provisions for separate legislative, executive and judicial branches.

This government remained in power until the spring of 1959 when a revolution led by
Korean students overthrew the government. This revolution was induced by continued and
increasing corruption in the government. After a short time under an interim government
by the military, elections were again held, some changes were made in the constitution
and form of government and John Chang was elected chief executive. The new government
was unable to get a majority in the legislative branch to support its program and angered
by the governments' inability to function, a military committee of high-ranking officers
took over the governmant in an almost bloodless coup in the spring of 1961. The leader
of this government is General Pak Chung Hee. This government is now in power but is pernitting political activity and has promised there will be elections in the fall of 1963
and a new civilian government i^l take over on or about January 1, I964.
4.

Culture-

The flexibility and facility of the Korean language, its scientific, phonetic alphabet
and the early invention of movable type and good paper have provided a strong foundation
for Korean culture.

The Korean alphabetic script, known as "hangul," was invented about 1450 A.D,
Seijong and a group of Korean scholars. The Korean language includes many words
Chinese character roots, and it is the custom to write many of the Chinese-based
Chinese characters, while the rest of the sentence (noun and verb endings etc.),

by King
based on
words in
are

written in the Korean "hangul" script. The grammatical structure of the language is def
initely Korean. Its most prominent characteristic is the use of numerous noun and verb
endings which take the place of prepositions, conjunctions, relative pronound and case
and tense endings in other languages. Another characteristic is the use of honorific
words and endings to indicate the degree of politeness toward the person spoken to or
about: in other words, vrtien speaking to an older person or one of higher position you
would use one form, for one of the same age or position as the speaker another form is
used, and for one of younger age or lower position still another form is used. This then
means that there are three ways of saying the same thing. The Korean alphabet is an in
genious and simple system which should have long ago made Korea one of the most literate
nations on earth. Unfortunately, its very simplicity worked against it, for the scholars
who had spent years learning the intricacies of the Chinese characters and classics had a
vast contempt for a system of writing that "even a woman could learn," with the result
that "hangul" was largely neglected until the coming of the first Protestant missionaries

in 1884. It should be noted that among the many preparations viiich the Lord appears to
have made for the opening of Korea to the Gospel was this dormant system of phonetic

Korea . .. - PaS 3

v/riting, ready to hand^ in which the Xii-st Gospel in Korean was pi'inted. From this be
ginning, the use of "hangul" spread rapidly, particularly in Christian circles, in the
Bible and other books used by the church and in the schools conducted by the Christian
community. The first newspapers in the country were printed in "hangul" and it has
proved one of the most important elements in the educational growth in the country. As
for the spoken language, there is only one language for all Korea, with only minor diff
erences in accent and usage, such as we find in various parts of the United States.
In the fine arts, the Koreans have achieved a distinguished place among Oriental civ
ilizations. The Korean culture is an ancient one. Painting was appreciated at an early
date, but little of it survived destruction by wind and rain. The most notable except

ions are the mural paintings in the stone tombs of the 3rd to 6th century Koguryo Dyn
asty. These show examples of a highly developed pictorial art in a distinctive style,
creations which surpass anything known elsewhere in the Far East for that period. There
are ancient bells, such as the Kyungju bell, cast in 773 ? weighing about 79 tons. The

porcelains of the Koryu period (918-1392), are among the finest in the world. It is
known that the lovely Satsuma china of Japan is produced by the descendants of the Kor
ean potters whom the Japanese emperor, Hideyoshi, transported to Japan in 1592. An

early stone astronomical observatory still stands at Kyungju, dating from 647. Rain
gauges were in use in the various provinces in 1442, two centuries before they were in
use in Europe. The invention of the "hangul" alphabet in 1442, while Korea's neighbors
were still using the complicated Chinese characters was a major achievement. The use of
moveable metal type for printing was known as early as 1250, before Gutenberg began us
ing it in Europe. An encyclopedia was compiled a long time before there was such a com
pilation in the Western world. The invention of the first iron-clad warship, the famous
"turtle-boat" by Admiral Yi Soon Sin, in 1592, made possible the only defeat the Japan
ese navy ever suffered until Viorld War II. And this was long before the
"Monitor"

and "Merrimac" of our own Civil V/ar fame. Tj^gse are achievements, among many others, of
which the Korean people have a right to be proud.

Of the special and minor arts of Korea, the manufacture of lacquerware is one of the
oldest. The restraint of design in the earliest lacquer pieces shows the distinctive
artistic feeling which is characteristic of the finest Korean art.
Korea's cultural monimients, temples and other ancient architectural remnants are the
indications of the development through centuries of a highly cultivated civilization.

The period since Liberation (1945) has seen a remarkable revival of many Korean folk
arts, such as the annual national archery contests, the poetry contests, the schools for
the study of Korean folk music and dances, and a revival of ancient Korean ceramic
styles. In a more modern mood, a movie industry has developed, some of viiose work com
pares favorably with that from other countries and has won awards in the annual Asian
Film Festival.

5. 5.2IiS,Y~'
Though naturally a
cultural lands, Korea
natural 38th parallel
and an influx of some

wealthy peninsula, rich in mineral resources and with good agri

has suffered from a generation of Japanese e3q)loitation, the un
division of the nation, the unparalleled devastation of the war,
6,000,000 refugees, fleeing from Communism, into the overcro-wded
southern provinces. The Korean people, aided by over one and a third billion dollars in
aid funds from the United States and United Nations, are laboring to overcome these
difficulties.

As we have pointed out, most heavy industry, including mineral processing and hydro

electric power production, was located in the northern half of the country, (now North

Korea), v^ile the lighter consumer goods and processing industries were concentrated in
the predominantly agricultural south.

Most of the production facilities in South Korea

were destroyed during the war. However, thanks to the Korean reconstruction projects of
the United States and United Nations, flour mills, cement plants, glass factories, and
electric power plants have been built, among many others, and are now in operation, with

other such projects planned or under construction.

We have said that South Korea is predominantly agricultural, with rice the primary
food crop.

The driest month is May, when the farmers anxiously wait for the heavy rain
fall of the rainy season which makes it possible for Korea to be a rice-producing count
ry. In the souther part of the country, 2 crops a year are raised, -v^erever possible.

Korea . , - Page 4
Winter barley is planted in November, irranediately after the fall rice is harvested.
This comes up in the spring, and is harvested about the middle of June. Meanwhile, rice
seed-beds have been planted and, as soon as the barley is harvested, the rice is transplanted into these fields, to be harvested in October.

In spite of the fact that the major cities of Korea have grown tremendously, the cap
ital city of Seoul having a population of 2,000,000 and the second city, Pusan, having a

population of 1,500,000 it is still true that 75^ of the people live in country villages
and earn their living by farming. The farms are small, the largest only a few acres and
the average farm a bit less tferan 1 acre. Rice is grown v^erever water can be obtained

for paddy fields, the mountains being terraced as far up as irrigation can reach. The

annual yield of rice is approximately 14^000,000 "suk," (l "suk" is about 5 bushels). On

these small farms, mechanical farm machinery is dmpractical and too expensive to use.
The work of ploughing is done by the faithful ox, pulling a wooden plough, while the
rest of the farming work of seeding, transplanting, weeding and harvesting is done by
hand.

Aside from rice, the chief crops are barley, wheat, millet, corn and potatoes.

There is also an expanding fruit culture, particularly of peaches and very fine apples.
Such vegetables as cabbage, onions, turnips, spinach etc. are also raised. Livestock
has traditionally been raised for the sake of draft animals for the farm, rather than
for meat. In recent years some cattle have been brought in for dairy use, and much is
being done to improve the strains of poultry, pigs and goats.
Next after agriculture, the fishing industry in the waters around Korea offers the
greatest opportunity for the economic developnent of the nation. Both the cost of meat
and the difficulty of refrigeration put beef and pork beyond the means of the average
family but fresh and salted fish products provide much of the protein in the Korean diet.
The coastline of Korea, including the innumerable islands, bays and inlets, is very long,
about 11,000 miles. Also, off the coasts cold and x^rm currents meet, an ideal condit
ion for fishing grounds. There are more than 75 varieties of edible fish in Korean wat
ers, 20 varieties of shell-fish, 15 kinds of algae, and many varieties of sea animals
and useful plants.

6. Education - (The figures in this paragraph are taken from a 195^ report, the
latest available to us.)

Education in Korea is compulsory between the ages of 6 and 11, (theoretically, but
not always in practice.) In 195S there were 650,000 children enrolled in the 1st grade
of 6-year elementary schools, and the total number of school children (1-6 grades) was
3,620,000 which was almost 3 times as many as at the

time of the Liberation in 1945

There are 1,013 3-year middle-schools (junior high) and 623 3-year high schools.
Establishments for higher education in Korea include 18 universities, 33 colleges,
and 10 junior colleges. In 195B the total number of students in Korean universities was

estimated at approximately 88,000 - this being about 4.2^ of the student population. Of
these, approximately 10,500 were women. Seoul National University, Yunsei University,
Korea University, and Ewha Womens' University have been the best known degree-granting

institutions. (It has been our observation that the better colleges compare favorably
with Ajj^erican colleges but are behind in some departments, chiefly the sciences.)
5,
He
i 2. II"
The Korean people have always been extraordinarily fond of music, singing and dancing..
In the peak period of their culture, the five string harp, the flute, as well as drums
and cymbal and other percussion instruments were played.
On the occasion of various festivals, such as New Year's Day, Swing Day, and Eighth
Full Moon Festival, which are observed on the ancient lunar calendar, traditional sing
ing and dancing events take place everywhere in urban and rural communities.
The Korean people are perhaps not as sports minded as Americans but they do enjoy
soccer, baseball, basketball, boxing, wrestling, archery contests, kite-flying contests
and a unique kind of bull-fight in which two bulls vie against each other. Swinming is
a favorite recreation in the summer.

The older men play a fom of chess for hours at a time and both men and women play
card games of various kinds. There is no TV except one government station in Seoxil but
there is radio and movie theaters which show both foreign and Korean produced films.

Korea . . . - Page 5

8. Religion-

The religious life of Korea has had three traditional expressions: Buddhism^ Confuc
ianism, and Shamanism or spirit-worship. Of these. Shamanism is the oldest and most
commonly followed even today, although it, too, is rapidly dying out among the younger,
educated people. A prominent Korean historian and theologian, L. George Paik, writes,
"It comprises a vast number of gods, demons and demi-gods, the legacy of centuries of
nature-worship . . . whose powers for good or evil demand worship. An intelligent Kor
ean would maintain that he does not worship the material object but the inner spiritual

presence . . . but for the average Korean, his worship is an expression of fear. He
prays for personal benefit and for relief from trouble, but is little concerned with
moral character."

There is a wide variety of fetishes, charms and other symbols used.

There are, for example, spirits of disease and spirits of the mountain passes, often re-'
siding in certain rocks and trees and other objects. There are women, known as
"moodangs," who are considered expert in driving out spirits which trouble their clients.
There are blind men, also, known as "pansoos," who are fortune-tellers and are consulted
on many occasions. Certain local shrines are connected with phases of this worship.
There are thought to be thousands of spirits to be placated and the matter of keeping on
the right side of them is very complicated. It is not strange that this should be a re
ligion of fear. One of the early missionaries said that one thing that attracted the
Korean in the Gospels was that, as he read them, he found himself on familiar ground,
for there were stories about demons here, and he knew about demons. But the attractive
thing about the Gospels was that the record there was of demons on the r\m, and the Kor
ean was interested in finding out about a religion that would have the power to put dem
ons on the run for him, alsoI

Buddhism came to Korea in 372 A.D., and was later passed on to Japan in 552.
basic idea of Buddhism is a desire to rid the world of evil.

The

The root of evil is consid

ered to be desire. V-Ie desire things, or power, to the point vAiere we lie, steal, kill
etc., in order to get what we desire. If you eliminate the desire, you then automatic
ally eliminate the evils caused by it, according to Buddhism. The goal of Buddhism,
therefore, is to rid men of desire. Buddhism flourished in Korea during the Koryu per

iod, (9I8-I392), and became quite powerful in political affairs. The abuse of this in
fluence caused the next dynsaty, the Yi Dynasty, to outlaw Buddhism and to install Con
fucianism as the state religion.

Confucianism, properly speaking, is not a religion but a system of moral teaching and .
behaviour, based on the Five Relations: king-subject, parent-child, husband-wife, elder
and younger brother, and friend and friend. It is not known exactly when Confucianism
came to Korea, but early immigrants from China must surely have brought it with them.
Confucius, a great Chinese moral teacher who lived from 551-479 B.C.
was almost an
agnostic
in spiritual matters. His general attitude was that one should take care
of his obligations in this world first, before getting too involved in discussions of
belief regarding heaven and any future life. Dp. Paik says of him, "Confucius himself
gave little light on the problems of God, soul or immortality." Of the Five Relation
ships, the one which received the greatest stress in actual practice is the relation of

parent and child (father and son). The practical ejq^ression of this relationship is
found in the worship of ancestors. Confucius himself did not teach or practice ancestor
worship. He felt that the family was the fundamental unit of society and that filial
piety was the source of all virtues. Consequently, to have one or more sons was regard
ed as a great blessing, and this became the main purpose of marriage. If a marriage did
not produce sons, then a second wife was taken who could provide one, for only the sons
were qualified to offer the ceremonies at the grave of the ancestors which would enable
the departed souls to rest in peace. For the past 500 years Confucianism has powerfully
influenced the thinking and conduct of Korea. Dr. Paik says, "There was much that was
splendid and admirable in Confucianism at its best. As practiced in Korea, however, it
had many deplorable results: it nourished pride, it taught no higher ideal than that of
the superior man, and was agnostic and atheistic in tendency; it encouraged selfishness,
exalted filial piety to the position of the highest virtue and made this hide a multi
tude of sins; it imbued every follower with a hunger for office which resulted in simony
and sinecure. Religiously, the system taught nothing that does not go beyond what is
known and seen. Consequently, it avoided philosophical speculation; it enfeebled or de-

Korea . . . - Page 6
stroyed the faculty of faith, for its doctrine required no exercise of belief. . . How
ever, it should be remembered that it was Confucianism that formed the character of the

people and shaped the course of the ancient civilization of Korea."

In actual practice, the three religions - Buddhism, Confucianism, and Shamanism -are
mixed up together and the same person finds himself involved in all three, according to
the circumstances of the moment. At times, he will take part in the ceremonies of an
cestral worship, at times will offer Buddhist prayers, at times will call on the "mootang" for help in placating the spirits that threaten his safety and happiness. The
three are not mutually incompatible.
The Roman Catholics were the first proponents of Christianity to enter Korea, Their
first missionaries came in 1592 but Christianity did not take hold at that time, It was
not until about the middle of the 18th century that Catholicism began to take hold.
The first Protestant missionaries to Korea were the Presbyterians in 1884 and the
Methodists in 1885- Since that time many of the major denominations have sponsored
missions in Korea with greater or lesser success. The latest official governmental
figures which we have available indicate that in 1954 there were 849^608 Protestants

and 166,732 Catholics in Korea. We would assume these figures to be higher today. Of
course, no figures are now available for Communist North Korea.

The Presbyterians are by far the largest and most influential denomination. This is
due in part to the fact that they were the first to establish a work in Korea. Perhaps
another reason for their dominance is their early entrance into the field of education
in Korea. Many of those who are leaders in various fields of Korean life, although not
themselves Christians, were educated in Presbyterian schools and have some appreciation
for Christianity.
+ + + +

II.

PERSONAL

+ + +

COMMENTS

+ + + +

AND

OBSERVATIONS-

If we had been asked 15 years ago where Korea was located most of us would have had a
difficult time answering. However, today we all feel that we know quite a bit about Korea
due to the publicity it received during the Korean War and due to the fact that most of us
had some friend or relative who served in the armed forces there during that war.

V.'hen we
for we had
ions about
arrived in

went to Korea in the spring of 195B we felt that we were pretty well informed
talked to a number of people who had been there and had read numerous publicat
the land and the people. Within a few weeks, however, we found that we had
Korea with many misconceptions.

It is with this experience of ours in mind that we offer these personal comments, hop
ing that they will serve to give you a better picture of the land and the people. A num
ber of the things we will take up here we have covered factually in the first part of this

syllabus, (l. INTRODUCTION TO KOREA), but perhaps our personal reaction to the facts de
picted there will be of some value to you.
Situation-

Somehow many of us have picked up the idea, either consciously or unconsciously,

that the Koreans are an uneducated, uncultured, almost uncivilized people. Nothing
could be further from the truth. The Koreans have a cultural heritage of which they
can be justly proud.

It is difficult to compare with our own Western culture because

it is so completely different, but just because it is different does not mean that it
is necessarily inferior. In at least some respects it is definitely superior to that
of the V/estern world.

Perhaps the first thing that we should realize is that Korea is an old country, and
when we use the term "old" here we must define our usage, for "old" in Korea and "old"

in the United States are two different things. If we push our own history back as far
as Columbus in 1492, which is stretching it considerably, we still only have a historic
al heritage of some 500 years, while the Koreans have a recorded history of about 4^000
years. Here we consider something that is 100 years old to be a priceless antique,
while to the Korean, 100 years is but as yesterday. VJe have been taken by our friends
in Korea to see buildings and monuments that are over 1,000 years old and to the V/estern
mind this is difficult to comprehend. We need to keep this in mind when it seems to us
that change comes so slowly in Korea.

Korea . . . Page 7

As we have pointed out previously in this syllabus, such evidences as the Koreans'
use of moveable type, the compiling of an encyclopedia, the use of iron-clad ships,
scientific discoveries such as astronomical observatories and the use of rain gauges,

many of these things before their discovery and use in the Western world, give evidence
of a creative, inventive life, and a cultural heritage of worth and value.
It has only been in recent years, especially since the Industrial Revolution in the
VJest, that Korea has fallen behind. There are a number of reasons for this, particular
ly a number of unfortunate entanglements with China and Japan several hundred years ago
viiich caused the Koreans to withdraw from any contact with other countries and to be
come known as "The Hermit Kingdom." This continued until the past 100 years.
Once again let us point out that although the culture of Korea is completely differ
ent from that to which we are accustomed, it is not necessarily inferior just because
it is different.

2.

Political

Situation-

As we have indicated concerning the cultural situation, the political situation in

Korea, (and almost any other situation), is completely different from that which we are
accustomed to in the United States.

To even try to understand the present political situation in Korea it is necessary

to keep in mind the past centuries of her political history. Seldom has this little
country known what it was to have any real freedom and certainly not in the immediate
past which influences its political present. For centuries Korea has been a political
football, fought over and tossed back and forth between the dominant Chinese and Japan
ese empires. First one and then the other exercised a controlling interest over Korea.
At the conclusion of the Russo-Japanese War in 1905, Japan was allowed by the world
powers to take over Korea as a "protectorate." During the next 5 years they gradually
increased their domination and finally, in 1910, they formally annexed Korea. "The Jap
anese policy in Korea following the annexation was both ruthless and effective. Japan
promptly brought numerous Japanese officials, farmers and laborers into every section
of the peninsula to take over all governmental functions and to establish her grip over
social and economic life of the Korean people. Colonial exploitation followed. Law and
order, plans and regulations were promulgated but never was one designed to benefit Kor
eans. All the political rights and economic privileges were enjoyed exclusively by the
Japanese themselves, viiile the life of the average Korean was limited to bare existence.
Consequently, the Koreans bitterly resented the alien rule and denial of civil liberties
but hardly could do anything under the police and military." All political activity was
prohibited and when rebellion did break out thousands of Koreans were slaughtered or put
in prison. Meetings, speeches and all printed matter had to undergo scrupulous police
censorship. This political oppression went side by side with economic exploitation.
The Japanese missed no opportunity to crush all forms of nationalistic thinking and made
every effort to transform the minds of the Koreans to fit them for abject servitude to
the conquerors. During World VJar II the Japanese government forcibly mobilized thous
ands of Korean youths as military and labor slaves and desperately engaged in developing
heavy industries for war purposes, completely stripping Korea of her mineral and forest
products as well as large quantities of food and clothing. It was during this period
that the Japanese so intensified their exploitation of Korea in every field that the liv
ing standard of the average Korean, not high to begin with, dropped sharply.
If we will keep in mind that everyone in Korea now above the age of 25 can well re
member those days of Japanese rule it will help us in understanding some of the prevail
ing attitudes among the Koreans.
As we have pointed out previously, Korea was liberated from the Japanese after V/orld
War II and a democratic government, with Dr. Syngjnan Rhee at its head, was formed in
194S.

In 1950, the Soviet-trained North Korean army began an unprovoked attack upon South
Korea. This war lasted until July, 1953 and was brought to a close by an armistice

aggreement which was completely unacceptable to South Korea, but they could not continue
when the United Nations and the United States would not support them further in the con
flict.

Korea . . . - Page 8

The tragedy of that war^ which definitely affects all the areas of life in Korea to
day, can be shown in a few figures: more than 30,000 Americans were killed and thousands
of others wounded; the casualties suffered by troops of 15 U.N. countries were not small.

But the most to suffer were the Koreans themselves. No exact figure is available to
tell the heavy loss on the Communist side. South Korean forces suffered nearly 300,000
casualties, including the killed, wounded and missing. Further, about 1,000,000 Korean
civilians were killed; more than 100,000 boys and girls were orphaned; millions were
left homeless. The whole country was aLnost completely devastated and it will be many,
many years before it recovers. And nothing was settled; an uneasy tiuce still continues
mth powerful, modern armies still facing each other across a few miles of a demilitar

ized zone along the 3Sth parallel at about the middle of the peninsula.
The Rhee government was in power when we arrived in 1958. Although the form of the
government was democratic, in actuality it did not function that way. A strong national
police force kept the people in subjection. The government was controlled by a few men.
There was no real freedom of speech or press. Corruption in the government, which has
been the curse of Oriental society for centuries, was seen on every hand, and although
the people did not like it, they were forced to accept it through fear of reprisal. Re
sentment and disapproval had grown gradually and finally, in the spring of 1959, the peo
ple, led by the high school and college students, began to hold public demonstrations
against the government. These were put down in a series of bloody riots by the national
police, but the slaughter of many of Korea's finest young men finally aroused the Korean
people as a whole and in April, 1959 the Rhee government was overthrown. Many of the

officials were executed or put in prison and Rhee himself was forced to seek political
asylum in the United States. To an American vrfio had never seen such an uprising it was
a somewhat disconcerting thing to live through these days of rebellion. Many of the
students with vAiom we worked took part in these demonstrations and we were close enough
on occasion to hear the gunshots of the police.

A military committee took control until elections could be held again and in this
election those who had opposed Rhee politically were put in power. John Chang was elect
ed head of this government. In our personal opinion Chang had a good, workable program
for reconstructing Korea, but the various political parties were unable to come to any
agreement and no one could muster a majority in the legislative branch so the whole gov
ernmental program, except for routine functions, remained at a standstill.

In Korea we

find a multitude of small political parties, each intent upon its own narrow aims, with
no give and take between them, so that it is very difficult to muster a majority for any
program.

In 1961 a military committee, headed by General Pak Chung Hee, disgusted with the gov

ernment's apparent inability to function, deposed the Chang government in an almost

bloodless coup. T^e army swooped down upon Seoul in the early morning hours and by the

time we heard about it in Pusan the new group was already in control. It is this mili
"tary government that is now in power. Although it is a dictatorship, which is of course
repugnant to us, not everything about this government has been bad. Graft and corruption
have at least been tremendously decreased in the government and the routine functions

have been greatly improved. This is in itself a gigantic accomplishment. The control of
business and government by a certain group of men has been broken. An austerity program
has been imposed on the people in an effort to strengthen the economy and this has cert

ain good features. An effort has been made to take care of the unemployed in a program
similar to the WPA of our depression days, and as an emergency step, this is to be comm

ended. The control of the farmers by mercenary loan sharks has also been considerably
lessened by government intervention and this one step has probably helped more people

than any other single accomplishment. It is our personal opinion that General Pak is
himself a dedicated patriot, anxious to help the common people, although there is some

reason to believe that this may not be true of some of his associates and there are rum

ors that some are attempting to personally profit, which would be in line with the ageold Oriental philosophy that those in power are entitled to such profit. As the records

of history show, "power often corrupts," and there is some reason to believe that perhaps
this may be occurring in General Pak's case and he is reluctant to give up control, al

though he has recently promised that elections will be held in the fall of I963 and a
civilian government will take over on or about January 1, I964. The attitude of the av-' .

Korea . . . - Page 9

erage Korean is that of the patient Oriental, they will just wait and see. And we will
do the samel

As a student of history, it would appear to us that many of these things that are
happening in the political life in Korea today are similar to the problems and conflicts
that were current during the founding days of our own nation. With the history of subjagation and lack of opportunity for political expression which the Korean people long
endured, it will take time and education before a truly representative government will
be able to function in Korea.

From the standpoint of an American, the Korean people are incredibly poor. It is
difficult to appreciate just how dire this poverty is, even when one lives in the midst
of it. Perhaps we can comprehend part of it by examining three facets of Korean life,
the wage scale, the housing conditions and the diet.
The wage scale is almost unbelievable. Teachers are considered to be among the high

est class in Korea, (as we will show in the following section), and receive comparitively high salaries. A high-school teacher, university graduate with a number of years of
experience, will receive about ^50 to l!^60 a month on the average. Most laborers work

for less than a dollar a day. A good carpenter can be employed for (^1.50 a day.

It is

apparent that the standard of living cannot be very high with this wage scale.

The diet of the Korean people is essentially rice, not rice along with other main
dishes, but essentially rice. If possible this is accompanied by a small amount of fish
and some vegetable, and almost always at least a small amount of the pickled cabbage,
"kimchi." I^Iany, if not most, of the Korean people have only 2 meals a day.
The housing situation is acute, especially as viev;ed from an American standpoint.
Many, many Korean families live in only one room, and most in not more than tvfo. It is
only the few relatively high income families who have a house to themselves. According
to the latest available figures, the average family consists of 5.6 individuals. It is
also the quite common thing to find two generations of a family occupying the same
dwelling. This is possible only because of the style of their living. Their homes are

111

not cluttered with furniture.

They sit on the floor, eat on the floor, sleep on the

floor. In the morning the pads on which they sleep are rolled up and put away; the
small tables on which they eat are brought out only at meal time. This is a practical
way of life under their crowded conditions.

Many, many people are totally unemployed and countless thousands of others work only

part-time. Some figures which we saw recently said that 20% of the heads of families
are totally unemployed. One of the most unfortunate features of the division of the
country is that most of the electric pov/er and heavy industry are in the part known as
North Korea while South Korea has most of the agricultural lands and at the same time
the large majority of the population, who could be employed in the heavy industries are
now located in South Korea. This is one of the big reasons for the excessive unemploy
ment. The devastation of the war is also an important contributing factor. Efforts are
being made to industrialize South Korea but this takes tremendous capital, which neither
the people nor the government have, and not only must the industrial plants be built but
thermal electric plants must be built for power, for the cheaper hydro-electric power
located in North Korea is no longer available to South Korea.
As we have indicated, the poverty is extreme. Even living among these people we have
not been able to determine how some of them manage to survive. For the majority of the
people it is not a living standard, but rather a survival standard, that occupies their
thoughts. You can well imagine that when a man is absorbed with the problem of where
the next meal for himself and his family is coming from, it is rather difficult to inter
est him in spiritual things. One of the things that we have observed is that the strong

sense of family and family responsibility instilled by Confucian principles has helped
to enable some families to survive. As long as a member of a family has funds he is responsible to assist other members of the family, and the Korean sense of family extends
much farther than our ov/n idea of immediate family, reaching out to what we sometimes
refer to as "forty-second cousins."

T^^ Koreans have learned not to put so much value

on material things, and perhaps our society, with its mad rush to acquire "status symbols could learn something from them here.

Korea . . . Page 10
4. Social

Situation-

Korea, like all Oriental countries^ is cursed with a class society. The divisions
of society there are not based upon wealth but rather upon the old Confucian teachings
which go back for hundreds of years. As it has been explained to us there are four
classes of society in Korea. They are the scholars, the farmers, the soldiers and the
businessmen.

The first class are the scholars, and they are placed first because they impart the
most precious thing in the world, knowledge, to other people. Most of us would admit
that this is superior to our own V^festern idea of wealth or family bringing some super
iority.
The second class are the farmers, and as the term is used here it means those vho

own the farmland and employ others to work it for them, although it would perhaps in
clude the man who owns his ovm snail farm and works it.

These are given some standing

in the community because they produce food for the people. Most of us would agree with
this.

The third class are the soldiers, and in their usage this would mean the officer
class. We might perhaps wonder about this classification but if we remember the his
tory of t^ese people and the endless wars they have undergone then those who protect
the people would naturally receive some standing.
The fourth class are the businessmen, and their class is considered to be considerab
ly lower than the third class. To the Western mind, accustomed as we are to the import
ance of business, this relegating of the businessmen to such a low position is extreme
ly difficult to understand. The e:q)lanation given is that the businessmen produce noth
ing, merely exchanging goods from one person to another, and making a profit vrfiile doing
it.

In actual practice there is another class, the laboring class, but in the Oriental
social system these people are not even considered to be a part of the social system'.
These social distinctions, although perhaps not as rigid as the caste system of India
and although they are beginning slowly to disappear, are nevertheless strict, and those
of the higher class have as little as possible to do with those of lower classes.

The work of Korean Broadcasting Mission has developed most in the direction of the
students and teachers or professional people, and although this was not done with this

social distinction in view, nevertheless it is fortunate that this happened, for if we

are to grow in Korea we are going to have to find our leadership among this class. The

leaders in every other activity in Korean life come from the upper classes and at least
for the present, Christianity will have to do the same. Although we may not like this
social system, and although it may be contrary to Christian teaching, the situation does
exist and it will for some time. Changes will only come with long, patient teaching.

5. Religious

^ituation-

We have spoken of the three predominant religious expressions - Shamanism, Buddhism

and Confucianism - in the opening part of this syllabus. Our observation of Korean life
has been that Korea is essentially a land without an organized religion. Buddhism is
the largest organized religious group and the most authoritative figures indicate that
only 2-3j000,000 Koreans claim to be Buddhists. Of these many are not really practic
ing Buddhists. Out of some 25-27,000,000 people this is not a large percentage for the
largest organized religious group. This does not mean that the Korean people are ath
eists or anti-religious^ we might better express it by saying that they are nonreligious.
Today it is claimed that there are some 500,000 Roman Catholics in Korea. VJe do not
know just hov; accurate these figures are but our personal observation would indicate
that this is a high estimate. It is also our personal observation that Roman Catholic
ism seems to have had little influence upon the life or thought of the Korean people.

The estimate of Protestants in Korea is something over 1,000,000. This too is a

small percentage of the total population. But it is our impression that Protestant
Christianity has extended an influence upon Korean life and thought far out of proport
ion to its numbers. Perhaps the reason for this is the tremendous help they have given
in the field of education and the concern the church has shown in a material way in wel
fare and relief activities.

Korea . . . Page 11

T^e first of the work of the Christian Church came from contacts between some of our
missionaries in Japan and Korean Christians there. Prior to 1935^ John T. Chase, now
minister of First Christian Church in Downey, California, was working with both Koreans

and Japanese in Tokyo.' In 1936, Mr. Chase caine to Korea and remained until 1940, during
which time 6 congregations were established, 6 Bible schools carried on, and several
hundred baptized. This work was known as Korean Christian Mission. In 1939? John J.
Hill joined the work. During VJorld VJar II these workers had to leave Korea, but the
work was taken up again in 1948, It was again interrupted by the Korean VJar. During
1954 ^ seminary building was constructed. Much relief work was carried on after the
' war and there were many problems relating to the rehabilitation of the church work. The
best available figm'es say that the congregations grew to 75 and the seminary students
to 40.

Various problems caused both Mr. Chase and Mr. Hill to withdraw from the work and in
1955, Harold Taylor, who had.vrorked as a missionary in both China and Japan, came from
Tokyo to Seoul to direct the. viork of Korean Christian Mission. The seminary course was
organized on a series of 6-week units, which made it possible for missionary teachers
from Japan to come to help in this v/ork. In 1957> Dick Lash, now located in another
work in Kangnung, joined the work of Korean Christian Mission. Mr. Taylor found after
investigating the ^^ork in Korea that in many cases unscrupulous workers among the Korean
churches had usurped authority and that the seminary was operating on extremely low
standards with some of the teachers xinqualified in various ways and with many of the

students not high school graduates and not spiritually minded. It was decided to close
this school in 1957-58. The property was sold and new property in a more suitable loc
ation purchased. New buildings have been constructed and a new school for the training
of Christian workers was opened in April, 1963* An effort has been made, with some
success, to have a better qualified faculty and a higher standard for students. Approx
imately 40 students enrolled at the opening of the new school. With a few exceptions
these students are high school graduates and are paying tuition, a decided improvement
over 1955. Mr. Taylor is assisted in the work by Gordon Patten, who came to Korea in ,
1962.

Missionaries now working in Korea are. as follows: Harold Taylor and Gordon Patten of
Korean Christian Mission in Seoul; Dick Lash, who has a work on the east coast in Kang

nung; John J. Hill, who has returned to Korea and now works in Taejon; Bert Ellis of
Korean Broadcasting Mission on the south coast in the second city of Korea, Pusan.
Korean Christian Mission and Korean Broadcasting Mission are engaged in a program of
mutual assistance: while the Ellis family is on furlough, Mr. Patten and Mr. Taylor are

assisting the Korean staff of Korean Broadcasting Mission in Pusan; upon the return of
Mr. Ellis he will assist as time permits with the teaching of the new school sponsored
by Korean Christian Mission in Seoul, Other mutual projects are planned or under con
sideration.

A monthly magazine, "One Way," has been published by Korean Christian Mission since
1957 and workers of Korean Broadcasting Mission have made contributions to this.
The work of Korean Broadcasting Mission.will be considered in detail in the follow
ing section of this syllabus.

Although it is difficult to get accurate

figures, it is believed that in 1959 (lat

est figures we have available), there were 80 congregations, 45 chupch workers and about
2,000 members of the Christian Church in Korea. One should bear in mind that all of
these congregations are small, with not more than two or three, if that many, having as

many as 100 members.

Few of them are fully organized after the New Testament pattern

with a multiplicity of elders and deacons.

To some these results may seem disappointingly small but we believe that with the new

school in Seoul and various new approaches to old problems, the work has a bright future
in Korea, While the progress has been slow in comparison to some of the work here in
America, distinct progress has been made and we believe it will continue to grow and in
crease. Let us remember that, I^Ir. Chase, our first missionary to Korea, went there only
27 years ago and the work has been twice interrupted and devastated by wars during the
intervening years.

Korea . .. _ Page 13
staff, however, for the actual broadcasting. As the staff became more proficient some
of the programs were turned over completely to them, with the missionary supervising and
checking from time to time. It is hoped that this part of the work can expand in that
direction.

These programs were continued until some months before we came home on furlough, when
Bert became ill, and it was necessary to cut the work schedule.
The radio programs
have not continued during his furlough, due to the fact that no missionary is on the
field as e3q)ected, and the Korean staff cannot yet carry on the complete schedule. It
is intended to resume the broadcasts when we return to Korea.

A fortunate business arrangement was worked out with the station, whereby with a small
investment and assistance to the station, the mission was able to broadcast at a greatly
reduced rate,
arrangement has continued until the present time and the mission now
has broadcasting time paid for some time ahead. Mr. William Grouse, a Christian busi
nessman of Havertown, Pennsylvania has been of invaluable assistance in this, investing
both his time and money sacrificially.
HLKU operates like a radio station in the States with popular type broadcasting which
attracts the listeners and a government survey has estimated that in the evening hours
the station has 80^ of the listening audience in the Pusan area. A conservative estim
ate would place this at over 1,000,000 listeners. The mission's program is heard at one
of the best times in the evening schedule.
Oj^e of the disappointing things at first was the lack of mail response to the radio
programs but it was found that this is characteristic of the Korean listener. A survey

made by Korean workers of the mission going door to door in a district picked at random
in the city of Pusan found that the large majority of those interviwed listened to the
program every evening. It has also been our experience that when visiting or on busi

ness anyvrtiere in the area, if the name of the program or mission is mentioned, the peop
le recognize it and tell us that they listen regularly to the program. Although the
mission is new and small it is better known than most of the missions in the area.

Rad

io has had great prestige value for us and this is helpful in the Korean work.
From the above findings we believe that the best way to utilize the radio work is to

put Korean workers in the field, visiting the homes, capitalizing upon the introduction
the radio program has obtained. This has not been done to any degree because of the
press of other activities. Another missionary is needed who will take the responsibil

ity for supervising the program and directing and training the Korean workers in their
activities. Radio has already proved its value in the work but it has not been capital
ized upon as it could be if there were more workers.
2.

Student

Work-

The student work began with Bible classes in the home of the missionary. This was
expanded after the mission had a permanent location with classes meeting 4 or 5 nights
a week.

The student work really came into its own, however, when Miss Suh Jueng Doh was added
to the mission staff. Miss Suh is a university graduate with a degree in Religious Ed

ucation, 27 years of age (1963) and before joining the mission was secretary of the Pus
an branch of the YWCA, one of the largest and most respected Christian organizations in

Korea, After working with us for about a year she asked that she might be immersed, and
is an outspoken exponent of the Restoration position. She was a Presbyterian, in fact
a member of a third-generation Christian family, which is as far back as Christianity

goes in Korea. She is one of the most capable workers we have ever known and her sweet,
patient Christian character makes her a joy to associate with.
Soon after joining the work she began organizing student Bible clubs.

These clubs

meet once each week in the chapel for Bible study and devotional expression. At the
present time there are 4 high school clubs and 1 college club with a total of about 125

students enrolled. In addition to these meetings the groups have been meeting together
on Saturday afternoons twice a month for a Bible course taught by Gordon Patten on his
visits to Pusan. Social gatherings are held from time to time and once each month the
clubs meet together for a joint service. These clubs are similar to the youth activities
in America except perhaps for a greater emphasis upon a regular Bible study course.

Kope^ . . . - Fage: 14

Oy.Q of the best activities has been a suinmer 'camp held for four days at a seaside re

sort in the svpiier of I96I. A total of 75 students spent these ds^s. in activities sam^

iiar to American .church camps. Harold Taylor, 'Bp. and Mrs. Han' (Bp, Hail is president

of one of Korea' s fine universities)!,. Mr. Ghoo viio is principal of one of Pusan's best

hi^' schools. Brother Lm who ministers to; a leper cor^regation of alniost 1,000' membeiv
.ship, Bert and Marge Bllis,. and members' of the mission's Korean staff assisted Miss' 5^^
in this program. There were 11 baptized at the cipse of camp. It is hoped to mafce this
an annual feature of the .student work.

I^. and 'Mrs. Ellis would like to spend the major portion of their tdme m their re-^

tTL^ii to Korea in the deveiopmht of this student work. Under Miss Suh'''.s direction it is

planned to develop .and print program arid study materials which will be furni^ed to vol

unteer workers in various parts of Korea vAio will develop: these clubs in their oi^ area.

Plans caii for bringing these workers to Pusan for a short course from^ time to time in
the development of these clubs.

Gur fima.11 congregation, now known aw the Tong K'wang Church, from its location in the

Toiig Kwang area downto'wn in Pusan, had its beginning in the Ellis home. As we noted
previously, services were moved to a downtown rented hall in September, 1959 end then to
pur present location in February, I96O.

Contacts were made throu^ our Bible classes and radio announcements. A Bible class

was held at 10:00 each Sunday mprning. A series, of lessons was worked out e3q)lain^
the nature of sin, vhy we need a Saviour, how the sacrifice of Christ atones for sin,
how "we can receive Christ as our Saviour and other basic truths.

A manuscript was pre

.pared 3ja both English and Korean and co.pies were mailed to each one on our mailar^ list
during the week previous to the lesson. After the lecture on Sunday morning by Bert,
the questions on the emsm sent out "with the lesson were discussed and ans'wered and the
students corrected their papers and discussed the questions and- answers.

Most of those

attending are high school or college students or teachers or others with college 'education

gently

are well-educated and have keen, inquiring minds.

They study the lessons dili

come prepared for the discussion. VJe have tried to teach one basic truth in

each of these lessons.

This class of late has been studying a detailed series of less

ons on the life of Christ,

It is necessary to know exactly what you believe and *diy if

you are to convince this class of people. We are pleased that we have been able to
reach this, class of Koreans, for our churches, at least in recent years, Imve made little
or no impression on this class, and in this class-ridden society if the church is to
have successfi^ leadership it will have to come from this class.
Before we left Korea on furlou^ some 50 people had been baptized and others have
been baptized since that time. The work of the church has been handicapped in that we
have not been able to find a Korean minister with the proper New Testament background
or one who is teachable and in ^om we could place our trust and confidence. There is
very little spirit of evangelism among the Korean preachers we have met. Somehow beccaning a minister has attained class status and our eaqperience has been that once they
have attained this status, many of the Korean mluiisters choose to sit down and rest on

their position and make little or no contribution to the life and growth of the church.
Because of this it has been necessary for Bert to do the preaching a large part of the
time, usi^g .aH' interpreter, and this is not the best for the church. During our fur
lough, Mr. Le and
Kim of the mission staff, have been doing some of the preaching

and in the end this may be the answer to this problem.

We are hopeful that the new

school in Seoul will help.

Although it has not yet been done we feel that there are now those in the congregat

ion capable of serving as deacons and we plan to have the church select deacons and b&gin to set the church in order v^en we return to Korea. It will still be some time before we will have qualified elders.

This work of church planting can also be a full time project.

Because of the lack of

back^ound it takes a ^eat deal of time in training leadership mHoo can take the respons
ibility for the. church.

We have started only this one congregation but the field is

wide open for establishing others in the Piisan area if there is someone ^vAio would be in

terest^ in taki^ over this pa^ of the work of the mission.

Korea .. . - Page 15

After moving to our permanent location we began to notice the large number of child
ren playing in the street in front of the building when we came down on Sunday morning.

We decided that one of the best ways to introduce ourselves to the immediate neighbor

hood would be by starting a Bible school for the children.

The first Sunday morningj

August 28, i960, there were 70 present. The group grew rapidly and when we left Korea
there was an enrollment of 350 children with an average attendance of about 250.

children range in age from 4 years up through the 6th grade.

The

The preschool children

and Ist graders meet in our office room on the 2nd floor with Miss Suh teaching. They
average about 100 in attendance. The older ones meet in the chapel with I'-ir. Kim Duk
Sung directing.

They average about 150 in attendance. Mr. Kim is 23 years of age, an

excellent childrens' teacher, and well liked by the children. He also serves as our
second assistant as well as directing the childrens' work. He also is a third generat

ion Christian, formerly a Presbyterian, and was immersed after a long study of the
Bible.

There are 3 sessions for the children, Sunday morning and evening and Wednesday even

ing. As there
for us to plan
prepares these
pare and print

are no Korean materials available suitable for our work it is necessary

the lessons, prepare the teaching materials and take-home papers. Bert
in English, then Ilr. lee and Mr. Kim translate them into Korean and pre
them with the other member of our staff, Pak Sung H, assisting. Pak is
a high school boy who works for the mission in the daytime and goes to school at night.
He will be graduating from high school in the spring of 1964 and hopes to be able to go

on to college. He is a good student, fine worker and of excellent Christian character.

Pak had no Christian background but became a Christian after working with us for over a

year and a half. We look forward to his being of great assistance to us in the years
to come.

The work with the children has been extremely rewarding.

No one can posuibly imag

ine the difference that Christian teaching has made in these children during the time

they have attended this school. Even the look on their faces has undergone a notable
change.

Although we have started only one school there are many, many areas in Pusan where
other such schools could be started.

With some supervision, preparation and encourage

ment, our high school and college students could supervise such schools in outlying
communities, using the materials we have prepared. Here again another missionary is
needed to adequately supervise and enlarge this part of the work.
5.

Correspondence

Correspondence study was begun in September, I96O, We have 3 courses of 10 or 15

lessons each now available in the Korean language and others in preparation.
ons are sent out one at a time ^^rith an exam.

The less

The lesson must be studied, the exam com

pleted and then sent in for grading. Miss Sufe grades the lessons and adds personal
comments and then sends them back vdth the new lesson.

prehensive exam is given.

At the end of the course a com

Those satisfactorily completing the course are awarded a cer

tificate, sent a simple award and encouraged to start the next course.
available are "God's Plan For Your Salvation,"

The courses now

"The Church," and "The Christian Life."

At present we have them mimeographed on the Korean "toshiban," a crude duplicator hand
ling only one sheet at a time. The stencils are cut by hand. When funds are available
we want to have modern equipment so this can be done in quantity.

At the present time

about 100 students are enrolled in various parts of Korea.

Perhaps this is a good place to say more about Mr. Lee Ki Nam, our chief interpreter,

who prepares most of our publications.

In addition to doing our interpreting, Mr. Lee

handles the business affairs, helps with the broadcasting and assists with almost every
area of the work. He is 37 years of age, married, a university graduate and former high
school teacher. He is a third generation Christian, a refugee from North Korea. His
ability is excellent and he has a wonderful, kind Christian character.

The correspondence work has been limited by our printing methods and the time our
workers have available to service the replies.

V.'e do not feel that at present we can hand

handle many more at a time for it already takes a great deal of Miss Suh's time. Here
again, if another missionary were available to supervise and extend this work, and to

Korea . . . - Page 16
train workers we know that thousands could be enrolled in these courses. If workers
could be trained and sent out into the field to contact these students this would be a

good method of forming a nucleus for a Bible class and eventually a congregation.

Our plans are to return to Korea as soon as health and financial conditions permit. Bert

had a major abdominal operation in Ap^ilj 1963 but is rapidly recovering and the doctors
say there is no reason why we should not return to Korea. However^ 4 or 5 months have been
lost due to this illness so that we will not be able to return in September, 1963 as we had
planned.

Fii^ances have always been a problem.

The work expanded so rapidly that the funds have

never kept pace x-zith the expenses. It has been necessary for us to live on less than half
of our salary, xvhich is not large to begin with, in order to put funds into the work. At
present we must send ^300 a month to Korea to pay salaries of the Korean workers and other
expenses of the vjork while still maintaining ourselves here in the States.

monthly pledges are sorely needed if this work is to expand and continue.

Additional

V/e will be glad

to come to any congregation and discuss the work and show slides of the various activities.

More missionaries are desperately needed to take over some of the activities outlined

above. If you are interested, let us hear from you. Our son John, xdio will graduate from
high school in 1964 and then attend Milligan College, has announced that he plans to return
to work in Korea after he finishes his education. He will be available for speaking dates
and for summer camps. This is the only definite recruit for the work at the present time
and it v;ill be several years before he is prepared.
The opportunities are unlimited. In addition to xdiat we have mentioned there are many
others. A group of independent undenominational preachers has asked us to conduct Bible
studies for them. An independent church located on one of the islands in the Mokpo harbor
on the West coast, has asked us to come over and help them evangelize another island where
there is no church. A preacher of a large congregation, interested in the New Testament
position, has asked us to conduct Bible studies for his congregation. V/e just simply cann
ot take advantage of these and other opportunities unless' we have additional help, both
xvorkers and financial.

The Lord has graciously blessed the first 5 years of the work of Korean Broadcasting
Mission. His people have supported the work nobly and with continued prayers and contrib
utions, and the continued leading of the Holy Spirit we know that great things are in store
in the future.

(May we suggest that you keep this syllabus on file? Additions will be made from time to
time. If your name is not on our mailing list for our news-letters, please see that it is
given to us and we x^ill place you on the list. If you have questions about any of this mat
erial, write to us.

Thank youl)

Korea , . , - Page 17
IV.

OUR

NEEDS

BEFORE

RETURNING

T'O

KOREA-

1. Supplies,

Equipment,

Etc. -

Korean Language Typewriter (To be purchased in Korea)

$ 250

Standard Office Type;\nriter (To be purchased in Korea)

Motor Scooter (Possibly can be purchased in Japan enroute to Korea)
Gestetner Duplicator (Nov/ being purchased on monthly payments from

225
250

General Fund)

350

Scope and Color Change and Equipment for Duplicator

Portable Typewriter (Now being purchased on monthly payments from

100

General Fund)

110

DeJur Stenorette Dictating Machine (Now being purchased on monthly

payments from General Fund). . . . . ..
Offset Printing Press, with Copier etc. (Used, if in good condition)
Film Strip Library (Approximately 200 strips at about 4' 3*50 each)
Film Strip Projectors ( Two at about 435 each)

. 285
700
70

Refrigerator

250

Gas Stove

100

Visual Aid Supplies and Teaching Materials

. .. . . ,

400

Jeep (Can possibly be purchased in Korea) . '

1200

For Housing Deposit

For Passage to Korea

1000
850

'

For Shipping Charges to Kor-ea

Miscellaneous Supplies and Equipment

..

Tape Recorder (Can possibly be purchased in Japan enroute to Korea) .. . . . . .

2. Additional

h:

Pledge s

T o

Support

Mr. Lee Ki Nam, (Interpreter, preacher, teacher

and business manager)
Mr. Kim Duk Sung (interpreter, teacher, in charge
of childrens' work)
Miss Suh Jueng Doh (Directs student Bible clubs,

The ' Work-

Salary

$55 per month

Salary

$45 "

" .

Salary

150 "

"

correspondence work, and assists

in radio production)
Mr. Pak Sung II (Printer, general office help,
purchasing agent and general

assistant)

Salary

$40

Rent for Office and Chapel

Postage and Supplies

$60

Equipment (Purchased as needed but averaged out monthly)

$50

TOTAL

Per month

600
500
250

orca

fLLlS 7>M

P^H4P\

February 13, 1974

The first graduation exercises or a new graduate studies program in theology in Korea,

directed by Bert Ellis, was held in Pusan evi January l^^with nine candidates receiving
Master's degrees.

This program is operating in association with Berean Christian College

of Wichita, Kansas, with that college conferring the degrees.

Dr. Charles Bachman, pres

ident of Berean Christian College, accompanied by his wife, came to Korea to confer these
initial degrees personally. The Bachmans also visited in Tokyo with the Harold Sims fam
ily and in Osaka, Japan with the Ray and Lonnie Mings families.

They were guests of Bert

and Marge Ellis in Pusan and the Gorden Patten family in Seoul, Korea.

The program, designed by Bert Ellis in conjunction with Dr. Bachman, began two years

ago in association with a non-denominational seminary in Pusan where Mr. Ellis had been

teaching for some^ten years. Due to various difficulties in the first year of operation

of the program it'was decided to separate from the Korean seminary and offer the studies
independently.

The program is now offered solely under the direction and control of Mr.
independent

Ellis.

During the first year of the/operation twenty-two students were enrolled. Enroll

ment is now being held for the school year beginning in March, 1974, with plans to have
classes in Seoul and Taegu as well as Pusan.

If the expansion proves successful classes

will eventually be held in five population centers throughout Korea.

This program is unique in many ways.

Classes are offered at each center one day a

week with a total of six to eight hours of classes that day.

This nwans that the students

complete the required thirty-two hours of study for the Master's degree in four to five

semesters.

By only having classes on one day and by having classes in regional centers,

busy pastors and teachers are able to continue with their responsibilities in their home
areas and yet continue their education.

This is very helpful in Korea as almost without

exception the graduate theological schools are located in the capitol city of Seoul and
students in other areas find it almost impossible to continue their education.

Another

factor which makes this program needed is that theological education at the undergraduate

level in Korea is universally academically poor, with rare exceptions, and further study
is greatly needed by the pastors and teachers.

Another factor is that with perhaps one

exception the graduate schools are all denominationally related, catering mainly to their
own denomination. One of the beqt features of this program is that it is practically

eIlIS NgWS RELEASE - Feb. 13, 1974 - Page 2

financially self-supporting; student fees are sufficient to pay teachers, rental fees for

physical facilities, and other associated costs. Most of the teachers are already employ
ed at other schools and are able to teach a few hours weekly in this program for lecture

fees, a practice which is quite common in Korea. Church buildings and presently existing
school rooms are available at small rental cost thus keeping costs at a minimum.

It is

hoped to keep the costs low enough so that any man or woman can attend, and at the same
time avoid large foreign subsidies.

Students are enrolled from most of the major denominations in Korea.

Unfortunately,

our own brotherhood does not have many qualified Korean teachers for such a program, so

at present some denominational men must be used on the teaching staff. The very best
teachers among the conservative Christians in Korea are Invited to assist and the mission
aries do all the New Testament teaching. John Ellis, who is presently in graduate school
at Wheaton College after having graduated from Milltgan College will be returning to Korea
to assist his father with the teaching and direction of the program. By having classes

only one day a week at each regional center, it is planned that either Bert or John Ellis
will be able to teach at each center.

The teachers presently being used or in prospect

for this year hold degrees from such schools as Westminster, Bropsie, Princeton, Union,
Clifton (England), Faith, and others. A determined effort is being made to keep the
standards up to an international level for such studies. There are prospects for as many

as fifty students in the three centers planned for this year. Various Korean church lead
ers have expressed interest in the program and thanked Mr. Ellis for this effort to further

educate local pastors.

Mr. and Mrs. Ellis are

^
shntt, six months furlough hsQlnninQ in^June

and will be glad to discuss this program with interested churches and individuals. They
have been in Korea since 1958 and are presently in the fifth year of this term on the
field. Address on the field is: Bert Ellis, P- 0. Box 141, Pusan, Korea 600 (AIRMAIL,

PLEASE). Forwarding agent, for almost seventeen years, is: Miss Loraine Lindsey, Cabool
State Bank, Drawer M, Cabool, Missouri 65689.

ENCLOSED PICTURE - Faculty and the degree candidates who received Master's degrees at

the first graduation of Berean Christian Center in Pusan, Korea on January 17, 1974. Dr.
Charles Bachman, president of Berean Christian College, Wichita, who conferred the degrees
and Dr. Bert Ellis, director of the Korean program, are seated second and third from the
left in the picture.

l;"

D
Bert, Marge & John Ellis

Miss Loraine Lindsey

0 Box 141

Cabool State Bank

Pusan, Korea 600

Drawer M,
Cabool, Moo 65689
APRIL, 1974

NEWSLETTER

GREETINGS!

We begin another school year and thanks to all of you who have prayed for and supported
us financially during the past year! Thanks also for all the cards and letters! We deep
ly appreciate your remembrance of us in so many ways! Bert's health is improving but he
has to be careful not to tire himself too raucho The cold weather was longer than usual
this year and has
GRADUATION

been a bit hard on usi

EXERCISES -

Graduation was held Jano 17, 1974 for the first group in our graduate studies program^.
We had 9 candidates to receive Master's degrees, 8 men and one ladyo Dro Charles Bachman,
president of Berean Christian College, Wichita, Kansas, and his wife were our guests for
the week with Dr Bachman conferring the degreeso We are glad to have this association
with Berean College whereby they honor the work here and confer their degreeo This helps
us to attract superior, qualified students which we simply cannot do when we cannot give

degreeso As we have said before, it is almost impossible to get permission from the Kor
ean government to give degreeso Dro & Mrs Bachman spent a few days in Tokyo with the

Harold Sims family, in Osaka with the Mings family, a week in Pusan, a couple of days in
Seoul with the Patten family and then a couple of days in Hawaii with the Gallaghers on
the way homeo Although their trip was short they had a chance to get a small view of a
part of the Far Easto The students here, as well as ourselves, greatly appreciated their
taking time from a busy schedule to comeo They were royally entertained in Korean homes
and restaurants and on sightseeing tripso Our graduation ceremony was excellent, best we
have ever participated in in Korea; a large crowd was present and was much impressedo
Thanks to the Bachmans and all you others who made it possible!
NEWS

OF

THE

NEW

SCHOOL

YEAR -

We had 22 enrolled during the past year, our first year Of these, 9 graduated, and
several dropped out either of their own accord or by requesto We aim to keep our stand
ards high and if they cannot, or will not, do the work, they will be asked to drop outc
This is not Korean custom, for once having entered a Korean school one seldom fails to
complete the course! Consequently there is no incentive to work and many totally un
qualified persons manage to graduate We do not intend to have this It is a bit diffi
cult for the students to accept our attitude but after a while they come to appreciate
it and are proud of the work completed and the degree earned

NEWS

OF

THE

NEW

SCHOOL

YEAR (Continued) -

Page 2

We are presently about to complete the first month of the new school year^ We have 34
students enrolled in Seoul and 24 in Pusano We have been careful in accepting only those
students who are qualifiedo The process of receiving and screening applications both for
students and teachers has been a time consuming one
We did not have enough students from the Pusan-Taegu area to warrant a class at each
place so we are meeting only in Pusano We probably could have enrolled a few more if we
had gone ahead with plans for Taegu but this can wait another yearo
The total is thus 58, which we feel is a goodly number particularly for graduate studentSo These are practically all mature men and women who have been in the Lord's v7ork
for some timeo One requirement for admission is that they be actively engaged in work at
some church or school They greatly need this continuing education as undergraduate
theological education in Korea is at a low level in many ways
Bert is teaching at both Pusan and Seoul, making the trip to Seoul each week Trans
portation costs are so high we cannot fly so it means a 5^ hour bus trip each way! Pray
for these new classes and for us as we teach!
CONCERNING THE KOREAN GIRL FOR WHOM WE APPEALED -

The young lady for whom we appealed in our last letter, died in the hospital suddenly
after some 7 weeks of hospitalization She never recovered consciousness but the doctors
had felt there was some slight sign of response only the day before she died We feel
better about her knowing that we had done everything possible to prolong her life Her
mother became very ill while the girl was in the hospital and hed to have major surgery
the day following the girl's funeral We assumed these expenses also Thanlcs to those
who have sent help There is still a large deficit in paying this bill and we will ap
preciate your help
FURLOUGH PLANS -

We have been hoping to take a short furlough this year but various circumstances are
causing second thoughts Bert will be teaching in Seoul so we will not be able to leave
as early as we had hoped Also the extra expenses recently have made our financial situ
ation so
precarious we do not presently see how we can maintain the work here and al
so pay our expenses in the U S at the same time We do need to get away for a while;

we are now past 4% years in this term and have not had even a fev; days vacation in all
that time so we are tired, physically, mentally and spiritually! We must have addition
al support or we will not be taking a furlough
FINANCES -

A financial report for 1973 is enclosed for all our supporters This shows clearly our
financial situation We do not know of anyone who does more work on this amount of money!

Prices here are out of sight: gasoline, $160 per gallon; coffee, about $400 a pound;
electricity, up 507 over last year; propane gas, up 1007 over last year, 2007 this term;
wages, up almost 1007 during this past term We know you have had price rises in the U S
but ours are
badly but he
cannot do so
ate since we

much
must
much
have

more severe! John will be ready to come after June and we need him so
have support; we have supported him through 6 years of college and we
longer on our salary The situation financially is at its most desper
been in mission v/ork and you all know we have never had an excess of

funds! We will deeply appreciate any further help you can give Because you are our best
friends and have supported us faithfully we feel we can ask you to pray and consider in
creased assistance to the Lord's work here

The opportunities here are great!

THANKS AGAIN! -

Again we thank you all for all that you have done to keep the Lord's work going here
We are more optimistic about the prospects here than we have ever been There are several
prospects we would like to discuss with you further The graduate school appears to be
taking off well We just hope we can keep up with it! Pray for us!
Faithfully yours.

(For Bart, Marge & John Ellis)

rcc us T TUAIN CUUISTiAN WCUUEUS!

BALANCE, December 31, 1972

$480.87

RECEIPTS (1973)
January
February

1,621.82

March

1,091.15
2,093.42
1.371,91

994.48

April
May

699.15
770.32

June

July

1,367.33

August

September

967.98

November

1,324.34
1,252.99

December

1,535.50

.October

$ 15,090.39

TOTAL

TOTAL RECEIPTS, 1973

$ 15,090.39
$ 15,571.26

DISBURSEMENTS (1973)

5,000.00
3,228.03

Ellis Salary
Korean Salaries

Maintenance & Repairs (House,

printing machines, etc.)
Transportation (Business only, Ellis
6c staff workers)
Supplies 6c Equipment

489.07
743.27

1,232.11
900.00

^Pension Fund

Postage 6c Promotion

610.93

Taxes (Korean customs tax, etc.)

Rent (Church building)

160.00
300.00
328.70

Utilities (Church 6i office)

Hospital Expenses (Bert)

Hospital Expenses (Korean girl)
+John Ellis (Expenses)

1,040.00
900.00

600.00

$ 15,532.11 TOTAL EXPENSES

BALANCE, December 31, 1973 $ 39.15
* Until 1972 Pension Fund dues were paid from personal funds.

+ John has worked for the mission for 10 years without any salary, receiving only

part of his expenses when actually on deputation work- ihis year we allowed
him $50 monthly, all of which came from funds designated particularly for him
from the churches.

(Our salary, as usual, runs behind. We are actually due $500 monthly, or $6,000
a year. This year we received $5,000- As of Dec. 31, 1973 our salary is just
25 months behind.)

We greatly need increased support. John will be ready to come to Korea after com
pleting his graduate work in June and needs support. With drastically increasing
prices in Korea we need additional funds in order to do the same amount of work as
before and we are planning increased activity which will take additional funds.
Please consider these needs when you plan your missionary giving!

CHRISTIAN ceNiek.

P. 0.

1(^1

" P^^iM^, \Ctyu^

t. Sent SUu
;^\JG 2 0 t974

Dear Claudia and Bill:

Greetings from Korea!

August 8, 1974

Claudia, this Is one of those two for one letters again; I need

some books but you can share the rest of the letter with Bill.

A friend of ours, a professor at Fusan University, is working on a graduate thesis and

cannot find his research materials anyplace In Korea. He has tried to order books In
regular government channels but they have refused to grant him the $ exchange In order
'to do so. We are trying to come to his rescue. 1 am enclosing the list of books on a
separate sheet.

I hope you can obtain at least part of them as a favor to us.

You

need not discount these as I know It wlllbe a lot of extra effort for you. Please let
us hear from you as soon as possible about them. I will send you a check as soon as
you let me know the cost.

Things are going well here except that we are not able to take our furlough as planned.
We had hoped to be in the U. S. by now but you can see we are not. Then we had planned

to leave in December and stay about 6 months but that plan Is out now, too. We feel bad
ly about It for many reasons. For one thing we are tired. Next month we complete our
5th year of this term and we have not had. any vacation whatsoever all during that time.
It is not only physical tiredness, but emotional and spiritual tiredness, too. We hope
now to get to the U. S. either In June, or December, of 1975, for about 6 months. Our
work presently does not seem to allow a longer furlough.
The graduate program Is going well. We had more than 6o students enrolled In Fusan and
Seoul the past semester and finished the semester with 51 taking exams. Some dropped
out along the way when they found they had to work and that we were not playing games.
(In the Korean system It Is difficult to enter a degree-granting school but once having
entered, no one falls!) We are keeping this program on a small scale at present. We do
not plan to enroll any new students until the present class has graduated, December,
1975, then we will enroll a whole new class. This permits us to be very selective, to
cut down costs by using fewer professors, and to have more oversight of what Is going
on.

It also lessens the possibility of hostility from the established seminaries who

could possibly cause us trouble with the Ministry of Education. We could easily enroll
as many as we want as there seems to be no limit to the number who are Interested. Our

greatest difficulty is In saying "No." These students come from all denominations and
I had the privilege of teaching a course In Acts to them the past semester. They were
amazed at the things they learned! I was amazed at their ready reception of the truth
when It is Scripture based. This semester I will be teaching a course In John's Epist
les and possibly Eccleslology. The students range In age from the late 20*8 to more
than 60 years of age. Of the students this year, 8 were from the Church of Christ. This
should be a blessing to the church here as our preachers are so poorly educated with
almost none of them having any graduate work at all and their undergraduate work at the
lowest level. (I won't get started on that score!)

We have a new proposition under consideration at the moment. An elderly Fresbyterlan

minister, 64 years of age, whom we havyknow^ almost all he 16 years we have been here

CL ancuUccitc

would like for us to cooperate in running and eventually take over when he retires, a
middle school and,a high school which he operates. . Practically all schools above pri

mary level here are run-on''private funds with tuition fees paying the epcpenses* In fact,
the better s'chools'are a lucratiVd business. His problem is that his middle school is
a night school, particularly for poor boys and girls who work during the day time so it
barely pays its way,, and his high school only began this year, actually receiving its
llcensa after the school year started, so, the enrollment is quite low and it will not
begin to pay for itself for another 'yehr. He needs about $10,000 to pay for increased
building costs during the year the school was building, then about $300 monthly for the
next year to pay running expenses until more students are enrolled to make up the defi

cit.

We would take control immediately if we raise the money.

It is not really much

money but,when you run on the edge of bankruptcy as we do all the time it is a lot of

money.

We are going to try to do it' as this is a teemendous opportunity.

The Presby

terians, the dominant church here, have found such schools to be one of the best evan

gelistic agencies.

There is already a church at the middle school and one will be start
ed at the high school. The high school is located in an area of the city that is rapid
ly building up.
Revival Fires is coming out for a big campaign this month here. Two of the three miss
ionaries here were not in favor of it, thinking it ill-timed and ill-advised but we were
not consulted until the plans were all made and then were informed what we should do to

"co-operate." I understand they asked the Japan missionaries and churches about coming
there and were trxmed down, so they did not give us a chance to turn them down. I be
lieve it will be another fiasco to add to the sad history of mission work in Koreal
Hope everything is going well with you folks. We are hoping to see you if we ever get
to the States. I have many things to talk about, Bill.

Let me know about the books, Claudia. Our prayers and best wishes to both of you.
Faithfully yours,

.'' ,j.l i.--"

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Dear Co-Workers:

September, 1974

we are greeting you again from Korea although we had hoped by

this time to be greeting you in person. Various factors made us believe that this is not

the most propitious time for furlough so here we are In the 6th year of this term, more
than 16 years since we first came to Korea, It does not yet appear v/hen \/e shall take a
furlough but we shall keep you advised. Thanks to all of you v;ho sent invitations to vis
it and we shall keep these on file. Bert was also asked to speak on both the North Ameri
can Christian Convention and National Missionary Convention programs and had to refuse.

Our graduate studies program closed the 1st semester of the year the last of July with
52 students taking the exams, 25 in Pusan end 27 in Seoul, We ware pleased v/ith the re
sults as out of 4 subjects being offered only 3 men flunked e^^en one subject, and we can
assure you we were strict, something which is uncommon in Korean seninaries. Common pol

icy in Korean schools is that it is only necessary to warm a chair the required semesters
kand not always the required semesters) and one graduates. We refuse to come dov.-n to this

level. We also Insist the students maintain a B- average to receive a degree end this has
aroused some discontent from those who received lower gradeso They agitated to force the
professors to revise the grades upward! This is typical of Korean preachers, to seek to
place the blame elsewhere than where it belongs! We are not yielding for we feel that to
stand firm on matters of principle is equally as important as teaching in the classroom.
It is possible we may lose some students by our fina stand in such matters but the ones
who are left will profit from the example. We are presently in the fall semester which
will close about the middle of December, Lord willing.

Conditions here politically and economically are in an uproar as you have no doubt ob
served through the news media. " You cannot really be aware of just how upset things are.
The economy has taken a real jolt. First, the oil pries hike triggered off all sorts of
price rises. Korea produces no oiil at all so the price hike just shot up overnight. Gas
oline is presently about $1.80 per gallon end fuel oil and gas in proportion. This in
creased production costs in all industries and was immediately passed on to the consumer, .
not gradually but overnight In a government controlled economy. Politically there is a
great unrest between Korea and Japan and as Korean economy depends laregly on Japanese in

dustry and investments this also stirs thing up. To preach the Gospel when society is in
an uproar is extremely difficult. We continue plugging away and are overjoyed to see
some results of the vrorking of the Word and the Spirit in men's hearts.

We have mentioned before the yoiing Church of Christ minister, Mr. Won Man Suk, who was
our undergraduate student and v^ho also received his Master's degree last year. Mr. Won
Is an outstanding student and also has done one of the most progressive pieces of work
among the churches here. Although he is practically blind he puts the other ministers

to shame with his studies and church work. We are wondering if there is any way to help
him medically. We are told there is no possibility in Korea but possibly in the U, S.
he could be helped. He has retlnitls pigmentosa and our understanding is that only a
transplant of the retina will help him. We would appreciate any information which might
be given from any of you who read this. Consult the medical men in your congregation and
see what advice they can offer. We cannot stress too much what a blessing it would be to
the Lord's work here if something could be done for this mart. Please assist us in this!

News from KOREA !

SEPTEMBER, 1974, NEWSLETTER - Page 2

Our news from John is not exactly what we would like to repot.

John has been reluctant

to take money from our low salary to do his college work and as our needs have been great
er this year with no increase iii income he felt he must take a hand. Therefore he took a
job to take care of his own needs and the job has taken more time than it should so he was
unable to finish his thesis as planned. Both John and his parents are happy that he is
not presently financially dependent but it has changed our plans for the immediate future.
This is one reason for our change in furlough plans. For other personal reasons he. does

not feel he can come to Korea at this time so we are trying to readjust our plans to take
care of the work-load that has cropped up. John will be glad to hear from his friends.
He is still at the same address: 818 N. Siimmit, Wheaton, Illinois 60187. The telephone is
listed in the name of H. L. Youngberg.

Life here is never without its problems and challenges. We have some at the moment we
wish we could sit down and talk with you about for they can hardly be conveyed in a lett
er. We do ask that you pray for our special needs of wisdom just at the moment. There is
a strong leading toward our considering a move from Pusah to Seoul. We would much rather
stay in Pusan but we are considering what is best for the Lord's work here. Please pray
that we shall make the right decision. The move, if it is made, would not be immediate,
but must be considered within the next 6 months.

Our financial needs continue as always. We have indicated the impacts on the economy
here. This means that all prices and Wages are soaring. We must be fair with our Korean
workers and so we have raised some salaries and will raise others.

Office rent when we

moved recently was double What we paid previously and for about one-fourth the space I
Our ovm day to day needs are met, but we must confess it is with sacrifice. We have had
one pay raise in 16 years and presently our salary stands just 2 years behind. It is
hard to work when you are constantly beset with financial problems. Just to send out
this letter to a selected, small list costs about $75 in postage; this is one reason we
do not mail more often. For Western goods we pay on the average of 3 to 5 times what you
pay and on some things more. We use as much from the Korean market as we can but cannot

always supply our needs from Korean sources. Just a few items as examples: coffee, $3.50
a pound; shortening, $4.50 for a 3 po\md can of a cheaper brand; breakfast cereal, medium
sized box, $1.50 etc., etc. Needless to say we do without many things. We just thought
we should share our situation with you. How else can you pray for us significantly?
We are anxious to see you all and hope our furlough plans will work out. It presently
appears it will be at least another year before we can make it. Our gracious thanks to
all of you who continue to support the Lord's work here. Without your help we could not
carry on. May God bless each one of you real goodl
Let us emphasize that there are several small crises approaching momentarily and we
need your prayers.

Don't forget usI

Faithfully yours,

Lorine Lindsey

Sevt
S&U
For Bert, Marge & John Ellis

Cabool State Bank

P. 0. Box 141

Drawer M
Cabool, Missouri 65689
(All funds to Loraine)

Pusan, KOREA 600