The Arrest of a Korean Pastor During Martial Law

In one of my earlier entries, I mentioned that Christianity had played a pivotal role in Korea's anti-Japanese resistance movement.

But it is also apparent that the religion had also played a not insignificant role in (South) Korea's battle against authoritarianism, particularly during the Park Chung Hee era which lasted from 1961 to 1979.

In an account from Letters from South Korea, Reverend Eun Myong Ki of Nammun Church in Chunju city in Chulla Bukdo province was said to have been arrested in 1973 for several "misdemeanors".

These include leading a team to oversee the counting of ballots after Park Chung Hee narrowly defeated Kim Dae Jung, instigating a public meeting, regularly maintaining an anti-government posture, and opposing government restrictions on the freedom of the people.

Reverend Eun was also described as particularly outspoken in his opposition to the declaration of martial law and further constitutional revisions that aimed to entrench Park's arbitrary powers.

When he reportedly noted that "the Emergency Martial Law is for the permanent extension of the present regime masquerading behind the name of unification", authorities accused him of "spreading rumors".

As a result of Reverend Eun's arrest, the number of worshippers were said to have increased substantially.