Reading Minjung Theology in the Twenty-First Century: Selected Writings by Ahn Byong-Mu and Modern Critical Responses

by YungSuk Kim (editor), Jinho Kim (Editor)

This edited volume brings Ahn Byung-Mu’s minjung theology into dialogue with twenty-first-century readers. Ahn Byung-Mu was one of the pioneers of Korean minjung theology. The centerpiece of his minjung theology is focused on the Greek word ochlos, understood as the divested, marginalized, powerless people.

Part 1 introduces readers to his life and theological legacy. Part 2 includes four important writings of Ahn Byung-Mu: “Jesus and Minjung in the Gospel of Mark,” “Minjung Theology in the Gospel of Mark,” “The Transmitters of Jesus Event Tradition,” and “Minjok, Minjung, and Church.” Part 3 contains a collection of articles from international scholars who evaluate and engage Ahn’s ochlos/minjung theology in their own fields and formulate critical readings of minjung theology. Responses include postcolonial, black theology, and feminist perspectives.

“A fascinating collection exploring the roots and current relevance of Korean minjung (‘crowd’ or ‘masses’) theology’ as expressed by one of its founders and most prolific exponents, Ahn Byung-Mu. The writers engage a wide range of social locations, revealing both changed circumstances since Ahn’s pioneering work, and the ongoing importance of his work in our globalized, dominating empire. A great conversation to enter for both those already familiar with this indigenous Korean form of liberation theology and those looking to expand their listening to include voices often silenced.”
—Wes Howard-Brook, Seattle University

Yung Suk Kim is Assistant Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at the School of Theology at Virginia Union University. He is the author of Christ’s Body in Corinth (2008) and A Theological Introduction to Paul’s Letters (2011).

Jin-Ho Kim is Chief Researcher of The Christian Institute for the Third Era in Korea. He served as the minister of Hanbaik Church, established by Ahn Byung-Mu, and as the chief editor of Contemporary Criticism. Among his numerous publications, his Korean publications include Historiography of Jesus History: Jesus beyond Jesus (2000), Radical Liberalists: Unfamiliar Travels with the Fourth Gospel (2009), and Citizen K, On the Threshold of the Church (2012).

260 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 16, 2013

About the author

Yung Suk Kim, M.Div. (McCormick), Ph.D. (Vanderbilt), is Full Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at Virginia Union University. He has authored nearly twenty books, including How to Read the Gospels (Rowman & Littlefield, 2024), Monotheism, Biblical Traditions, and Race Relations (Cambridge University Press, 2022), How to Read Paul (Fortress, 2021), Toward Decentering the New Testament (Cascade, 2018, co-authored with Mitzi J. Smith), and Christ’s Body in Corinth (Fortress, 2008). He has also edited four volumes, including At the Intersection of Hermeneutics and Homiletics and Paul's Gospel, Empire, Race, and Ethnicity. The forthcoming book's title is Justice and Parables (T&T Clark, 2026, forthcoming). Kim's research interests encompass Paul's letters and his theology, parables, political philosophy, and comparative wisdom literature.