Rev. Kyung-hwan Ko, the newly inaugurated president of the Christian Council of Korea (CCK), has announced plans to hold a forum in May to publicly criticize the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) and its upcoming global conference in South Korea.
Ko officially assumed his role as the 28th president of CCK during an inauguration and thanksgiving service held on Feb. 15, 2025, at Full Gospel Wondang Church in Goyang, South Korea. In his inaugural speech, he reflected on the challenges and revival CCK has experienced over the years.
During his address, Ko noted that internal disputes had previously led to confusion within CCK, causing several organizations and denominations to withdraw. However, he affirmed that the federation has now recovered, with 65 denominations, 21 organizations, and as many as 24,500 churches rejoining.
He expressed special gratitude to pastors and believers who remained committed to CCK during turbulent times, emphasizing that its revival was not due to individual efforts but to the faithfulness of these Christians. “Today, we are not cutting a cake to celebrate,” he said. “Instead, we express our appreciation to those who stood firm in protecting CCK.” He then invited the congregation to stand and applaud them.
Criticism of WEA: “Preaching Another Gospel”
Looking ahead, Ko announced plans for a spiritual prayer meeting on Feb. 26, followed by the "Han Kyung-jik Forum" in early April to reaffirm CCKfounding principles. In May, the federation will host a special forum featuring renowned theologians to expose what he described as WEA’s theological issues.
Ko asserted that WEA’s theological stance does not align with biblical truth. “WEA stands for the ‘World Evangelical Alliance,’ but the gospel it preaches is not the gospel of the Bible; it is a different gospel,” he stated, declaring that CCK would oppose it until the end.
Additionally, he warned that if WEA proceeds with its planned conference in Seoul, CCK will establish a special committee of theologians and pastors to release a "White Paper on WEA’s Apostasy," detailing its theological concerns. He also referenced the 2013 World Council of Churches (WCC) assembly, which was criticized for promoting ancestral rites and religious pluralism, stating that CCK intends to reexamine that controversy.
Urging Korean Churches to Stay Vigilant
Ko cautioned future church leaders against opening the door to WCC and WEA. “In the next 10 to 20 years, some megachurch pastors may, for the sake of personal recognition, advocate for hosting another WCC or WEA conference. To prevent this, we plan to publish a white paper to remind churches to remain vigilant,” he said.
He further pledged that CCK would work to safeguard the Korean church from the influence of communism, socialism, and heretical ideologies, calling on all believers to pray and support this mission.
Political Leaders Praise Christianity’s Role in Korean Society
The inauguration ceremony was attended by numerous church leaders and political figures. Seong-dong Kweon, floor leader of the ruling People Power Party, was present to offer his congratulations. “The modern history of Korea cannot be separated from the influence of Christianity,” he said. “Whenever our nation faces a crisis, Christians have stood up in prayer and action to support the country.”
Kweon further noted that South Korea is currently experiencing severe political and social divisions and emphasized the need for faith to bring hope and stability. He urged Korean Christians to pray earnestly for national revival, stating, “I believe Rev. Kyung-hwan Ko has been called to play a key role in reviving Christianity in Korea.”
(Source: Christian Today KR, Christian Daily International)
