Kim Young-Gil - The mastermind behind the success of scientific creationism in Korea

Abstract

This paper is an analysis of the role that Kim Young-Gil played in developing scientific creationism as a legitimate scientific theory in South Korea. This analysis is inspired by the lack of academic research done on the scientific creationism in Korea and especially the lack of information available to the international community about this movement. Kim Young-Gil is an important figure to study firstly because of his contribution to include science as a part of Christianity in Korea by integrating scientific creationism. He is also an important figure to study because of how successful he was in his mission to spread scientific creationism in Korea. He was strategic in his use of the opportunities such as the socio-political conditions that promoted the development of science, the explosive popularity of Christianity, which gave scientific creationism a huge advantage, and through the manipulation of his image and the narrative about the development of the scientific creationism to reiterate possible strengths and remove the weak scientific links that might reduce the credibility of the movement. He also achieved this by leading important institutions such as KACR and Handong Global University which were crucial tools when it came to driving Kim’s movement. This study proves that despite the flaws in his argument and the weaknesses in his strategies, his role in positioning scientific creationism in Korean Christianity is undeniably crucial.