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Region · East Asia
Korean Peninsula
One people divided: in the south, one of the top missionary-sending churches; in the north, Christians persecuted like in few places in the world.
2 countries
31 peoples
11.2% evangelicals
The 2 flags of the region. Tap one to open the country.
Gospel reach among the 31 peoples
15Unreached · 48.4% of peoples
16reached peoples
11.2%evangelicals (weighted average)
- 48.4% Unreached (15)
- 0% Minimally reached (0)
- 12.9% Superficially reached (4)
- 29% Partially reached (9)
- 9.7% Significantly reached (3)
Largest unreached peoples:
Korean 26.2M
Deaf 308K
Central Thai 103K
The Bible in the languages of the region
30languages spoken
25With complete Bible
5Without complete Bible
- 83.3% With complete Bible (25)
- 16.7% Only portions of the Bible (5)
Source: Joshua Project and Progress.Bible. Estimates, may vary. Compiled from the data of each country in this region.
What it is
The Korean Peninsula comprises two countries that share the same language, ancient history and culture, but today live in opposite realities: South Korea and North Korea. Divided since the Korean War in the early 1950s, the two nations followed radically different paths, one of openness and growth, the other of total isolation.
South Korea became one of the greatest examples of evangelical church growth in Asia in the twentieth century, with large churches, missionaries sent around the world and a strong Christian presence in public life. North Korea is the opposite: one of the most closed regimes on the planet, where practicing the Christian faith in public can cost a person freedom or life, and where the cult of the country’s leader occupies the place that religion would hold in other settings.
Together, the two Koreas have 31 ethnic groups, and 15 of them are still considered unreached with the gospel, almost all within North Korea’s borders. The spiritual difference between the two sides is one of the most extreme in the world: while the south experiences a historic revival, the north is regarded as one of the places with the greatest persecution of Christians today.
Praying for the Korean Peninsula means praying for reconciliation among a people separated by war and for freedom for those who still live under enforced silence.
Context and characteristics
One people, two countries
The Korean War in the early 1950s divided one people into two nations with opposing political systems.
Revival in the south
South Korea experienced one of Asia's greatest periods of evangelical church growth and now sends missionaries around the world.
Extreme isolation in the north
North Korea is one of the world's most closed regimes, with total control over information and religious life.
Severe persecution of Christians
Openly practicing the Christian faith in North Korea can lead to imprisonment in forced labor camps or death.
An almost impassable border
The line dividing the two Koreas is one of the world's most closed and militarized borders.
Unreached peoples of this region 15 in total
What to pray for
Intercession
Pray for the 15 ethnic groups still unreached on the peninsula, most within North Korea.
Ask for protection for North Korean Christians living their faith in complete secrecy.
Pray for families separated by the war and the border between the two countries.
Ask that the church in South Korea may remain faithful to its calling to send the gospel to the world.
Pray for religious freedom for the North Korean people, currently under strong state control.
Ask that reconciliation may one day reach the two Koreas, spiritually as well as politically.
Pray that the Bible, now almost inaccessible in the north, may find ways to reach more people.