who we are

About Seoul Union Church

Seoul Union Church is the oldest Protestant church in Korea with a rich history dating back to 1885.

As an independent, international, non-denominational, English-speaking church, we are united in a common mission to gather as God's people, grow in understanding of God's Word and grace, and reach out to serve others with the love of Jesus Christ.

We continue to see the global impact of Seoul Union Church as we live with a passion to see others come to know Jesus Christ.

Seoul Union Church is a self-supporting church with no ties to any
denomination and is committed to tithing 10% of its income to support local and global missions.

Seoul Union Church Characteristics

1. We are a Christ-centered church. 

We recognize Jesus Christ as the Head of the Church and the final Authority on all matters of preaching, policy, and practice. No one human leader has undue authority- rather authority and responsibility are shared by those recognized by the congregation as being mature and wise and raised up by God to leadership positions. We believe in servant leadership under the control of the Holy Spirit.

 

2. We are a Bible-centered church. 

We do not look to human pronouncements or denominational positions but rather to the Word of God for our beliefs and our principles. Anyone who desires to become biblically and theologically literate can do so over a period of time.  

 

3. We are a faith-centered church. 

We believe in prayer and we operate by faith, believing that God’s work done in God's way will never lack God's support. Christians are specifically instructed in Scripture in their responsibility to financially support their church, but we do not pressure people to give. Giving records are kept confidential and people are accepted without regard to their financial worth. We encourage each person to make sacrificial giving a lifestyle choice.  

 

4. We are a service-oriented church. 

We believe that service is an important factor in spiritual growth. While we have hired a church staff, much of the work of the church is done through lay volunteers. Each board, commission, and committee is chaired by a volunteer lay person. 

 

5. We are a family-oriented church which makes every effort to equip God's people to live effectively in Christian families. 

Our children's and youth ministries place an emphasis upon growing young people God's way; yet our programs are designed to augment, not compete with, parental responsibilities.  

 

6. We are an English-speaking, international, expatriate-oriented church. 

Whether living in Korea short-term or long-term, we recognize that expatriates need a place to call home. We value the unique calling that expatriates have as they come to Korea as missionaries, Christian workers, educators, military personnel, business leaders, and spouses. We also seek to welcome the unchurched person with open arms and the truth and beauty of the gospel.

 

7. We are a culturally-relevant church. 

We believe that we should be salt and light to the dark and dying generation in which we live. We strive to be not only an oasis, but also a launching pad. 

 

8. We are a tolerant church within the parameters of scriptural guidelines. 

Our congregation is made up of people from various nationalities as well as differing denominational and non-denominational backgrounds.  While we understand that believers differ on many issues, we hold to scripture as the final and absolute authority in the believer’s life.

 

9. We are an interdependent church. 

Though autonomous in our governing structure, we willingly associate with other churches in Korea and elsewhere to accomplish greater Kingdom goals. 

OUR TEAM

Chung Soo Kim

Missions

Chung Soo Kim

I earned my GED for middle school in 1978 and high school in 1979.  I then  pursued my Bachelor’s Degree in English language and literature by self-study and earned my degree in 1997.  I then enrolled in a Master’s degree program in Christian Education at Campbell University Divinity School in North Carolina for two semesters in 2002 Fall and 2003 Spring.
After serving in the Korean Army from December 1981 until June 1984, I taught English at various private institutes until 2002.  I then volunteered at FEBC (Korea Far East Broadcasting Company) from 1996 through 2002 and has been serving as the manager of International Relations there since 2003.


I have been a faithful member of Seoul Union Church since 1984 and have been coordinating our church’s mission outreach both locally in Korea as well as globally.
I am proudly married to Ok Ja Lee. We have two children who are now adults.  Our daughter, Gloria, lives in Barrington, IL and our son, Jung Hoon, is currently employed in a small company in Korea. We also have three grandchildren; Genna (6), Prairie (6), and Aspen (3)

 

IMG_9351

Secretary

Younghi Lee

I have been working at SUCh as a secretary for 22 years. Serving SUCh is an honor and blessing for me. God blessed this country by sending missionaries and awakening the Korean people. I cherish the history of SUCh and the people who dedicated their lives for this country.

TESTIMONIES FROM OUR MEMBERS

Yuran

Member

Yuran

Hi, my name is Yuran. People in modern society are sincerely searching for satisfaction in their lives. Like most young people, I really enjoyed hanging out with my friends and talking about current events, etc., but l never felt real love, joy, or lasting fulfillment. However, after accepting Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior, my heart was filled with peace, and I came to know God’s mercy and grace in a new and special way. If anyone is feeling like I did and wants to experience God’s joy, I want to invite to Seoul Union Church. God bless you!

Aubrey1

Member

Aubrey

Hello, my name is Aubrey and I am from the United States. I began attending Seoul Union Church in the fall of 2022 when I first came to Korea as a student. SUCh and their beautiful members were an answer from God to my prayers. When I first arrived, I had no community and they welcomed me and surrounded me with the love and warmth of Christ. I am so grateful to be a part of this church, and to be able to be participating in its continual growth!