The Immanence of Evil: Yong-gi Cho's Theology and the Cultural Dynamics of Korean Pentecostalism

Abstract

This article examines the complex theology of Yong-gi Cho (1936–2021), exploring his distinctive interpretation of evil within the broader context of Korean culture. Cho's theology, centered on the “threefold blessings”—salvation, health, and prosperity—emerged as a theological response to the severe socioeconomic hardships faced by Korea in the latter half of the twentieth century. Cho is frequently critiqued as embodying syncretism due to perceived overlaps with indigenous Korean Shamanism. This study employs cultural anthropology and historical analysis to challenge such reductive explanation. It argues that Cho's demonology, characterized by an intense focus on everyday experiences of spiritual warfare and suffering, is better understood through its distinctively cultural dynamics rather than simplistic theological labels. Moreover, the article highlights meaningful theological exchanges between Cho and the prominent German reformed theologian Jürgen Moltmann, suggesting productive avenues for comparative and cross-cultural theological dialogue. In doing so, this study contributes to the growing scholarly discourse on World Christianity, emphasizing the importance of nuanced, culturally embedded analyses of non-Western theological traditions and their global implications.