Korean Contemporary Christian music
Encyclopedia
Korean Contemporary Christian music (or Korean CCM) refers to Contemporary Christian music
written or played in South Korea
. Due to the dramatic growth of Christianity in Korea
, CCM has been gaining popularity among Korean Christians.
, missionaries from the United States
brought gospel
songs to Korea. Most of the songs were from US Church schools and Southern gospel
songs popular in 1950s and 60s.
On November 2, 1969, at Gyeongdong Church in Seoul
, Korean pop singers (Cho Young Nam, Choi Young Hee and Twinpolio) sang gospel songs on Sunday service, which was controversial among Korean Christians.
In 1971, Jo Young Nam translated a US gospel song, "Just a Closer Walk With Thee", and released it to public. From the following year, Jo started to release CCM albums.
In 1974, Roman Catholic nuns released an album which contained songs translated from US gospels. The songs were pop music
with Christian content.
Yesujeondodan was founded in 1973 by a missionary, Oh Dae Won. Yesujeondodan not only translated a lot of gospel songs to Korean
but composed their own CCM songs.
In late 1970s, CCM songs started to blossom in Korea due to Christian celebrities and the growth of Yoido Full Gospel Church
.
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
written or played in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. Due to the dramatic growth of Christianity in Korea
Christianity in Korea
The practice of Christianity in Korea revolves around two of its largest branches, Protestantism and Catholicism, accounting for 8.6 million and 5.1 million members respectively. Roman Catholicism was first introduced during the late Joseon Dynasty period...
, CCM has been gaining popularity among Korean Christians.
History
After the Korean WarKorean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, missionaries from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
brought gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
songs to Korea. Most of the songs were from US Church schools and Southern gospel
Southern Gospel
Southern Gospel music—at one time also known as "quartet music"—is music whose lyrics are written to express either personal or a communal faith regarding biblical teachings and Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music...
songs popular in 1950s and 60s.
On November 2, 1969, at Gyeongdong Church in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, Korean pop singers (Cho Young Nam, Choi Young Hee and Twinpolio) sang gospel songs on Sunday service, which was controversial among Korean Christians.
In 1971, Jo Young Nam translated a US gospel song, "Just a Closer Walk With Thee", and released it to public. From the following year, Jo started to release CCM albums.
In 1974, Roman Catholic nuns released an album which contained songs translated from US gospels. The songs were pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
with Christian content.
Yesujeondodan was founded in 1973 by a missionary, Oh Dae Won. Yesujeondodan not only translated a lot of gospel songs to Korean
Korean language
Korean is the official language of the country Korea, in both South and North. It is also one of the two official languages in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in People's Republic of China. There are about 78 million Korean speakers worldwide. In the 15th century, a national writing...
but composed their own CCM songs.
In late 1970s, CCM songs started to blossom in Korea due to Christian celebrities and the growth of Yoido Full Gospel Church
Yoido Full Gospel Church
Yoido Full Gospel Church is a Pentecostal church on Yeouido in Seoul, South Korea. With about 1,000,000 members , it is the largest Pentecostal Christian congregation in South Korea, and the world...
.
Notable artists
- Yesujeondodan (예수전도단)
- Ongijangi (옹기장이)
- Kim Su Ji (김수지)
- Soriel (소리엘)
- Virus (바이러스)
- Cheon Gwan-woong (천관웅)
- Disciples (Music)
- Sohyang (소향)