Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Seoul (Agenzia Fides) – The South Korean Government has imposed limits on issuing visas for Korean Christian missionaries who want to go abroad, especially to countries in the Middle East and Central Asia, which are mostly Islamic. Local sources advise Fides that the measure has created resentment within the Christian community, especially in those Protestant Christian groups which promote a far-reaching missionary movement: in fact, it is estimated that each year about 1,000 Christian lay missionaries, of different denominations, travel abroad to evangelise, often becoming part of research groups, in cultural activities and collaboration on development.
According to the Korean Government, the measure serves to protect the image of the nation and the and security of the Korean community in diaspora, which is one of the largest in the world: there are more than five million Koreans residing abroad, spread across five continents. Activities of “overly-aggressive proselytism”, even in those Islamic countries where it is prohibited, may create prejudice and hostility towards the entire community of Korean immigrants.
The government has made reference to some precedents: a few days ago Uzbekistan deported a Korean Christian preacher who was conducting unauthorised missionary activity. Last year, seven other Korean Christians suffered the same fate. Korea received an official complaint by the Government of Uzbekistan. In 2009, a Korean pastor was expelled from Morocco, while other missionaries went to Mauritania and Pakistan. In 2007, the Taliban kidnapped 23 Korean Christian volunteers in Afghanistan and two of them were killed. In 2004, a Korean missionary was shot in Iraq by an Islamic terrorist group. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Seoul has thus justified the new measures by the fear of further kidnappings or killings of Korean civilian, explaining the need to ensure the protection and security of Korean expatriate citizens. The Christian missionary groups in Korea have criticised this move, talking about “undue desire for control of missionary activities.” (PA) (Agenzia Fides 17/2/2011)
