View source for Kyung-Chik Han

{{Short description|South Korean pastor (1902–2000)}}
{{Infobox clergy
| honorific_prefix = [[The Reverend]]
| name             = Kyung-Chik Han
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals||[[Bachelor of Science|B. S.]], [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]], [[Bachelor of Divinity|B. D.]]|size=100%}}
| image            = Rev.Kyung-Chik Han and Seung Moo Ha(Theologian).jpg
| caption          = Kyung-Chik Han, left, in 1991.
| alt              = 
| birth_name       = {{nowrap|Han Kyung-Chik}}
| birth_date       = {{Birth date|df=yes|1902|12|09}}
| birth_place      = Kan-ri, [[Korean Empire]]
| death_date       = {{death date and age|df=yes|2000|04|19|1902|12|09}}
| death_place      = [[Seoul]], [[South Korea]]
| residence        = 
| nationality      = Korean
| other_names      = Pastor Han
| citizenship      = Republic of Korea
| alma_mater       = {{unbulleted list | [[Soongsil University]] | [[College of Emporia]] | [[Princeton Theological Seminary]]}}
| occupation       = Cleric, theologian, author
| parents          = Do-pung Han & Mrs Lee
| religion         = [[Christianity]] ([[Presbyterianism|Presbyterian]])
| church           = [[Presbyterian Church of Korea (TongHap)]]
| ordained         = {{unbulleted list |1933|}}<ref name="ordaination date">{{cite web |title=South Korean Pastor Wins Templeton Prize |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1992/03/14/south-korean-pastor-wins-templeton-prize/ |website=orlandosentinel |publisher=Religious News Service |access-date=21 November 2018}}</ref>
| writings         = [https://search.library.utoronto.ca/details?8319747/ Kyung-Chik Han collection], [https://books.google.com/books?id=S-1XtAEACAAJ May the Words of My Mouth]
| congregations    = [[Youngnak Presbyterian Church]], Seoul
}}

{{Infobox Korean name
|hangul=한경직
|hanja={{linktext|韓|景|職|}}
|rr=Han Gyeong-jik
|mr=Han Kyŏngjik
}}
'''Kyung-Chik Han''' (9 December 1902 – 19 April 2000)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://search.library.utoronto.ca/details?8319747 |title=Kyung-Chik Han collection |website=University of Toronto Libraries |accessdate=May 26, 2018}}</ref> was a South Korean [[pastor]] and [[church planter]] and the recipient of the 1992 [[Templeton Prize]] for Progress in Religion.<ref>[http://www.templetonpress.org/sirjohn/templetonprize.asp Templeton Foundation Press: Sir John Templeton] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080104073638/http://www.templetonpress.org/sirjohn/templetonprize.asp |date=2008-01-04 }}</ref>

== Biography ==
Han was born in Kan-ri, [[Pyongwon County|P'yŏngwŏn County]], [[Korean Empire]]. He graduated from [[Soongsil University]] ([[Bachelor of Science|B. S.]] 1925), the [[College of Emporia]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] 1926), and [[Princeton Theological Seminary]] ([[Bachelor of Divinity|B. D.]] 1929). Ordained in 1933 by the [[Presbyterian Church of Korea]], Han later founded [[Youngnak Presbyterian Church]] in 1945, which he pastored until 1973 and served as a Pastor [[Emeritus]] for until his death. At the time that he received the [[Templeton Prize]], membership of [[Youngnak Presbyterian Church]] had grown to 60,000 making it the largest [[Presbyterian]] church in the world and the church had fostered about 500 sister churches worldwide.<ref>[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE3D9173CF931A25750C0A964958260 CHRONICLE - New York Times<!-- Bot generated title -->] ''[[New York Times]]''</ref>

== Legacy ==
Kyung-Chik Han is primarily known for his leadership and humility. While Youngnak is no longer the biggest church in [[South Korea]], it is, however, the most prominent Protestant church in the country. Like Kyung-Chik Han himself, his church's earliest ministry was primarily to northern defectors and this remains a hallmark of Young-nak church to this day.

A significant party of his ministry involved humanitarian work with children during the Korean War. This was well underway when American evangelical, Robert Pierce, visited South Korea. The two worked together to build the foundations of World Vision, the world’s largest humanitarian organisation today. 

When he was awarded a Templeton Prize, he sold it and gave the money to charity. When he retired he moved to a modest cabin in the mountains and ensured that his sons did not receive the inheritance from his ministry or assume his position as many ministers in Korea do. There is a small museum at Young-nak Church in his honour.<ref name="Kyung Chik Han legacy">{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Andrew |title=A Crisis of Integrity in Seoul, the Megachurch Capital of the World |url=https://crcc.usc.edu/a-crisis-of-integrity-in-seoul-the-megachurch-capital-of-the-world/ |website=UFC-Dornife |publisher=University of Southern California |accessdate=25 April 2020}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
*''Just Three More Years to Live! The Story of Rev. Kyung-Chik Han''. 2005 {{ISBN|89-5721-439-9}}
{{Templeton Prize Laureates}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Han, Kyung-Chik}}
[[Category:Templeton Prize laureates]]
[[Category:1902 births]]
[[Category:2000 deaths]]
[[Category:Princeton Theological Seminary alumni]]
[[Category:South Korean Protestant ministers and clergy]]
[[Category:South Korean Presbyterians]]
[[Category:College of Emporia alumni]]
[[Category:Academic staff of Soongsil University]]