A Gospel for Workers

This book tells three overlapping stories: first, the life story of Rev. Cho Chi Song, a pioneer of urban and industrial missions, which served Korean society's working population; second, the Urban Industrial Mission (UIM) in Korea, which Cho Chi Song pioneered; and third, the story of how UIM provided the roots for Korean Minjung Theology. Owing to Cho Chi Song, UIM became the birthplace of missions for the working population and an enduring haven of a worker's right to life and dignity. Cho shared both tears and laughter with workers. At times moved by righteous anger, he worked to bring "healing to a sick society." Cho stands out in the history of industrial missions in that he trained and empowered a handful of ordained clergy as well as some dispossessed people to be agents of transformation. He helped working women take ownership of the Urban Industrial Mission and act as the very agents whose struggles for justice brought conviction to greedy business owners. They became potent catalysts for change in the unjust working conditions that were previously marked by very low wages and long working hours. A disciplined leader, Cho Chi Song was a constant friend to workers. Those who knew him personally could sense, in his life, a genuine depth of spirituality and godliness. UIM was one of the roots for Minjung Theology, but it is not well known outside of the UIM circle. The author, Seo Deok-Seok, was trained by Cho Chi Song.