North Korean Defector Says Christianity Grows Amid Extreme Persecution and Cruelty

Kim Chung-seong
Kim Chung-seong, a North Korean defector and a Christian missionary, adjusts a microphone during a radio broadcast at a radio station in Seoul, South Korea, April 21, 2016.  Reuters/Kim Hong-Ji

A defector from North Korea said Christianity is growing in the country despite the government's brutal efforts to suppress it.

Kim Chung-seong, who spoke at the World Summit in Defense of Persecuted Christians held on May 11 to 12 in Washington, D.C., said the government fears the spread of the gospel.

"The one thing that the North Korean regime fears the most, and is afraid of, is the spreading of the Gospel," he said, according to the Catholic News Agency. "Because the Bible and the Gospel speaks the truth. Once the light shines in the dark room, there is light in the room."

"They [the government] will do anything to prevent the spread of the Gospel in North Korea," he said, adding that the government even set up a "façade" organization called the Korea Christian Association to lure the believers.

"But] as you can see, we cannot block the sunlight with our hand," he said.

The Christian missionary, who made it to South Korea in 2004 after a long and arduous journey that deserves a story of its own, now hosts a Christian radio program. The show, under the Far East Broadcasting Company, targets North Korean audience with the gospel message and gospel music.

Many people are being set free by listening to his radio program. Ko Ji-eun, also a defector, said she listened to it while hiding in China. When she made it to South Korea in 2015, she met another defector who listened to the show in North Korea, where owning a radio that can be tuned to channels other than the state channels is illegal.

"North Koreans are now using Chinese earphones not to expose themselves to authorities," Ko told Reuters. "Many people inside North Korea are listening to this radio a lot."

Kim hopes that Kim Jong-un's regime will be toppled.

"He has to go otherwise North Korea will never be free," he told Mirror. "I hope one day the North and South will be reunited as one to live in peace as Germany once did. I pray to see it in my lifetime."

At the summit, Kim asked believers worldwide to pray that North Korean Christians would be able to spread the gospel even more and that religious freedom would be upheld in North Korea.

"It is my prayer that all the international Christian communities will pray for those North Korean Christians to really help and engage them to spread the Gospel, not only through the works of the underground Church network, but also through the government and request for this religious freedom that they are earnestly praying for," he said, according to CNA. 

    Most Popular
  • Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Faith-based films often receive mixed reactions, and The Last Supper is no exception. The movie attempts to bring a fresh perspective to one of the most iconic moments in Christian history, but does it succeed? Some reviews from critics and audiences provide insight into its strengths and shortcomings.

  • ‘The Chosen’ Season 5: The darkest season yet—What to know before watching

    The wait is over—The Chosen is back with its fifth season, and this time, things are getting intense. The new episodes dive straight into the final days of Jesus’ life, covering some of the most emotional and dramatic moments in the Bible. If you’ve been following the series, you already know that The Chosen isn’t just about retelling familiar stories—it’s about bringing them to life in a way that feels real.

  • Massacres in Syria: Over 1,000 dead, including Christians and Alawites

    Syria’s coastal regions have been devastated by a series of massacres, with reports indicating that over 1,000 people—many from Christian and Alawite communities—have been killed in brutal attacks. Entire families have been wiped out, and survivors are fleeing in search of safety as sectarian violence escalates.

  • Kim Sae-ron and Wheesung: The tragic irony of Korean society and the principles of happiness

    Not long ago, the media was in an uproar over actress Kim Sae-ron’s passing. Just months before, the same people who had relentlessly criticized her for her DUI incident were now expressing sympathy, saying, "The world was too harsh on her." The irony is impossible to ignore.

  • Newsboys move forward as a quartet after Michael Tait’s departure

    After more than a decade as the lead singer of the Newsboys, Michael Tait has officially parted ways with the band, marking a significant shift in the Christian rock group’s lineup. The remaining members—Jeff Frankenstein, Jody Davis, Duncan Phillips, and Adam Agee—have assured fans that they will continue forward, embracing a new season of music and ministry.