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Heart and Soul: Christians praying for one Korea

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A Christian woman prays in Seoul

25/01/2019 GMT

Christians praying for one Korea

BBC World Service - Heart and Soul, Christians praying for one Korea

Smuggling the bible across the Korean border

Christians living in South Korea are on a crusade for reunification with the North.

The secretive state of North Korea is routinely named as the worst place in the world to be a Christian. Fuelled and bank-rolled by American evangelists, Christianity has experienced massive growth in South Korea. For the most part it is laser-like-focused on the establishment of one Korea, so all Christians on this peninsular can pray without fear. 

There are an estimated three hundred thousand Christians in North Korea all praying secretly, knowing that if they are found out they will be taken away to one of the country's notorious labour camps.

Rebecca Henschke hears how Christians in the South smuggle in bibles and broadcast Christian messages for the secret worshippers, who are preparing for the day that they will be able to spread God's word openly into the North and beyond.

But not all Christians here around Seoul want unification – North Korea is still the enemy for them and they have witnessed the south become a prosperous, developed, well-educated country. 

Relations between North Korea and the US are continually surprising and conflicting. The role of the millions of Christians in the south could be vital; for many of them reunification is God's will, regardless of what the politicians decide.

Presenter: Rebecca Henschke
Production: Rebecca Henschke and Hyunah Kang

Picture credit: A Christian woman prays in Seoul/Getty Images

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