Our History

Our Beginning—Preserved in a Letter (1912–1914)

The first Korean to dedicate himself to Jehovah, Beom Sik Kang, sent this letter of thanks to Brother Charles Taze Russell.

The beginning of our history is preserved in a single letter of appreciation. The August 15, 1914, issue of The Watch Tower published a letter from Brother Kang Pom-shik, recognized as the first dedicated Korean brother. Writing to Brother Charles Taze Russell, he expressed: “I thank God that He sent our beloved Brother R. R. Hollister here with the Glad Tidings and saved me.” The good news was reaching a land long closed off to the outside world. This small beginning marked the first step in a journey of faithfulness spanning more than 110 years for Korean brothers and sisters.

Japanese Occupation: the First Great Test (1939–1945)

Early Witnesses in Korea who refused to participate in emperor and Shinto worship remained resolute, even in the face of death.

Twenty-five years after the first seeds of truth were sown, the brothers faced their first major trial. On June 29, 1939, Japanese police arrested 33 Jehovah’s Witnesses across Korea for refusing to worship the emperor or worship at Shinto shrines. The brothers and sisters endured brutal torture and harsh imprisonment, and some even died in prison. In the years after the occupation ended, their faithful example moved some to accept the truth.

Rising Again Amid the Ruins (1949–1954)

Not long after the occupation ended, the Korean War broke out. Even amid war and ruins, the brothers never stopped Jehovah’s work. In 1949, missionaries arrived in Korea, including Gilead School graduates Brother Don Steele and his wife. In 1952, The Watchtower was officially registered for publication. The Korean branch was formally established in 1953. Then, in 1954, the first district convention was held in Seoul and was attended by 1,245 people—far exceeding the expected 700—with 284 baptized.

Don and Earlene Steele, along with six other Gilead graduates, were sent to Korea as missionaries in 1949.

The old covers of the Watchtower magazine, which was first registered in Korea in September 1952.

Brother Steele and other members of the congregation who attended the first regional convention in Korea, in 1954.

70 Years of Conscience — Faithful to the End (1953–2020)

Another trial awaited the Korean brothers as they recovered from the ruins of war. Since South Korea enforced conscription, no one could be exempt from military service. In 1953, Brother Park Chong-il set an example of Christian neutrality by refusing military service. Over the nearly 70 years that followed, more than 19,000 Korean brothers followed the same faithful course, spending a combined total of over 36,000 years in prison. In some cases, a son entered prison for the same reason before his father was even released.

Their endurance gradually sparked a wave of change. Finally, on June 28, 2018, the Constitutional Court ruled that the Military Service Act, which did not recognize alternative service, was incompatible with the Constitution. On November 1 of that same year, the Supreme Court, in a full-bench decision, acquitted those refusing military service based on conscience. Consequently, an alternative civilian service program was implemented in October 2020. However, the duration of service is twice that of active military service, and the living conditions in dormitory facilities resemble those of inmates. While most brothers have chosen to accept this alternative service, some are currently standing trial for refusing the program. Regardless of their decision, all continue serving Jehovah faithfully with a clean Christian conscience.

Some of the brothers released from detention after the Supreme Court of Korea found in 2018 that conscientious objection was not a criminal offense.

The first group of brothers to enter alternative service, in October 2020, saying goodbye to their families.

Meeting the International Family (1963–2019)

Korea first opened its doors to the worldwide brotherhood in 1963, when more than 400 international delegates from 19 countries visited for the “Everlasting Good News” International Convention. This was one of the largest tourist groups to enter the country at that time. The convention, where 612 people were baptized, was an unforgettable moment for the brothers and sisters. The joy of international conventions continued over the years as 29,000 gathered and 2,002 were baptized at the 1973 “Divine Victory” Convention. Subsequent international conventions were held in 1998, 2009, 2014, and 2019.

Twenty-nine thousand people attended the 1973 “God’s Victory” international convention in Korea, and 2,002 were baptized.

The “Love Never Fails” international convention in 2019.

And Again, 2027

The faith expressed by one brother in a single letter has led us to this day. More than 110 years after the first seeds of truth were sown, South Korea is now home to 1,239 congregations and over 100,000 publishers. As we look ahead to 2027, we eagerly await the joy of welcoming the worldwide family once again and writing a new chapter of faithfulness together.