서부순복음교회

What if the very first church in Korea held secrets whispered only in Korean? Here, before Saemoonan Church, those secrets echo. Saemoonan Church stands as a testament to faith’s beginnings in Korea. It was founded on September 27, 1887, by Reverend H.G. Underwood. Imagine a small group, just fourteen Korean Christians and their pastor, gathered in a Chungdong home. This humble beginning marked the birth of organized Christianity in the country. The first services were held in a traditional Korean house near Underwood’s residence. The congregation grew quickly. Soon, a new church building was needed, across from Gyeonghui Palace, where a City Bank now stands. Finally, in 1910, Saemoonan Church found its permanent home at this very spot. Saemoonan Church didn’t just grow within its walls. It birthed other churches, spreading its influence throughout Seoul and the Gyeonggi area. Key figures shaped Saemoonan’s journey. Elder Song Sunmyeong in 1904, Reverend Seo Kyeongjo, one of Korea’s first seven reverends, after 1910, and Reverend Cha Jaemyeong, the first Head Pastor in Korea, in 1920. Reverend Kim Yeongju led the church after liberation from Japan but met a tragic end during the Korean War. Revival came with Reverend Kang Sinmyeong in 1955. The Underwood Memorial Hall was built in 1967. The current church building rose in 1972, a symbol of the growing congregation. Saemoonan Church’s legacy continued under Reverend Kim Dongik, with overseas missions and the establishment of the Vladivostok Seminary. Reverend Lee Sooyoung, appointed in 2000, focused on expanding educational programs. Saemoonan Church isn’t just bricks and mortar. It’s a living story of faith, resilience, and the power of a whispered prayer in a language once foreign, now deeply rooted in Korea’s soul.