[People] Leading Light in Christianity Devoted to Anti-dictatorship and Human Rights Movement

Rev. Kim Kwan-Suk, who died on the 4th at the age of 80, was a leading light in Korean Christianity. He dedicated himself to democratization of Korea and human rights movement as a general secretary of the National Council of Churches in Korea (KNCC) and president of the Christian Broadcasting System (CBS).

The late Rev. Kim had cared for souls focusing on missionary work aiming at salvation of society, and he played a decisive role in propagating a practical theology in Korean Christianity in cooperation with Rev. Kim Jae-Joon since the 1960s.

He was born in Hamheung, Hamgyongnam-do in 1922, and was a man of 180 cm tall stature who was always smiling. He became a pastor after graduating from Hanshin University in 1949, and started his pastoral work from 1952 after finishing his studies at Union Theological Seminary and Syracuse University in America.

He earnestly engaged in social issues since he became the director of KNCC in 1968. Working for 12 years for KNCC, he made it a center of struggle for human rights. He was imprisoned in 1975 for protesting against constitutional revision that allowed a 3rd term for the President and the founding of the Yushin constitution.

As president of CBS from 1980 to 1987, he never lost his fortitude in the face of the mighty 5th Republic government through radio broadcasting. He was the first president of Saenuri Paper from 1990 to 1996, and spiritually backed Korean Christianity as a chairperson of KNCC seniors from 1999 to last year.

As acquaintances say that `He preferred pastoral work than leading` he kept political circles at a distance. The only exception was that he became the standing chairperson of the Unification Promotion Committee in 1990, which was launched for unifying the split opposition parties for the presidential election.

Known as a man of integrity, he said, "Christianity should repent first as it fell into the mire of materialism and closed its eyes on social injustices." In his later years he urged conversation and love between South and North Koreas by saying, "Reunification will be beyond our control in near future."

Meanwhile the New Millennium Democratic Party lamented on the 5th, commenting "The late Rev. Kim was our living conscience who fought for democracy against despotic powers."

Jeong-Hoon Yun digana@donga.com