Toward a Prophetic Contextual Theology for Korea

Engaging the Academy, the Nation, and the Church

Abstract

This essay proposes a new direction for South Korean contextual theology. It argues that the two most important forms of contextual theology, minjung theology and holistic blessing theology, are becoming increasingly irrelevant ever since South Korea became a wealthy, liberal democracy. The author calls for the construction of a prophetic contextual theology grounded in a proper Christology,
ecclesiology, and eschatology. This will be a theology that stresses the universal scope of God’s judgement and the church as the locus of salvation, which includes a new kind of society and ruler ship. A prophetic contextual theology, in short, will be the application of Christology to society, to the state, and to public life in general.