A historical and theological investigation of the Healing Movement in Korea: with special reference to Ik-du Kim, Seong-bong Lee, and Yong-gi Cho

The thesis aims to explore the theological foundation of the healing movement in Korea. For the proposed research, the lives, ministries, and perspectives on healing of Ik-du Kim, Seong-bong Lee, and Yong-gi Cho are discussed in detail with the following goals: 1) to discover healing theologies in the teaching and practice of the three selected healing practitioners; 2) to identify the contextual factors which were influential in the formulation and adoption of the healing theologies; 3) to investigate the theological core of the Korean healing movement formed by the three healing practitioners; 4) to critically evaluate the theology and contributions of the healing movement. For these tasks, I used an interdisciplinary study that utilizes historical and theological approaches. In the course of this study, the healing theologies and the contexts in which their healing theologies were developed are the focus of the research. This helps one to understand to what extent the healing movement in Korea was influenced by internal and external sources and discusses how to conceptualize and justify the theological core of the Korean healing movement.
The thesis shows several significant findings regarding the origin of the Korean healing theology formed in its distinctive contexts. Moreover, the theological core of the Korean healing movement was constructed and discussed systematically. The study as an in-depth theological investigation of the Korean healing movement needs to be evaluated in a positive way that aims at constructing and critically analysing the theological data of the Korean healing movement, because recent research on the healing movement in Korea has been mostly historical in nature. As my research provides an in-depth understanding of the formation of the Korean healing theology and the theological backbone of the Korean healing movement, it contributes to the development of local theology to help Korean Christians discover their theological identity. This theological contribution can also lead to expanding the global theology of divine healing through the spectrum of Asian (Korean) Pentecostal/Charismatic beliefs.