Dr. Kevin Waldrop urged in a recent video, "In the current situation where forces worshiping Kim Il-sung have infiltrated all sectors of South Korea, churches and civil society must resist the politics of fear and oppression." / Video capture. 

Dr. Kevin Waldrop, a Southern Baptist minister and distinguished professor of Christian Studies at Southwest University, has appealed for the Korean church and citizens to resist politics of fear and oppression and defend liberal democracy. 

In a statement delivered via a recent video, Dr. Waldrop emphasized, "Resistance is necessary in the current situation where forces worshiping Kim Il-sung have deeply infiltrated all sectors of Korean society." 

He lamented, "After liberation in 1945, South Korea established liberal democracy under the leadership of President Syngman Rhee, a Christian, while North Korea has controlled its people through a hereditary dictatorial system based on Kim Il-sung's totalitarianism and personality cult. Despite Christianity flourishing in South Korea and becoming a center for world missions, Kim Il-sung's ideological influence has spread for decades, with his followers infiltrating not only the legislative, judicial, and executive branches but also the media, education, and religious sectors, promoting the personality cult of the Kim Il-sung family." 

He then interpreted the forceful investigations by state authorities into churches and other entities as an act against evangelicalism. Dr. Waldrop expressed concern, stating, "The South Korean government (led by Lee Jae-myung) formed a special prosecutor and carried out illegal searches and seizures targeting Christian clergy, and an evangelical pastor who defended biblical truth and values was arrested and imprisoned for expressing opposing opinions." 

Furthermore, he asserted that "illegal searches and seizures against independent media, including Christian broadcasting stations, are acts that violate the religious and freedom of expression guaranteed by the constitution." In response, American churches have issued a declaration urging action from the Korean church and citizens, affirming that "the preservation of Korean Christianity and the defense of freedom in South Korea are inseparable." 

The following is the content of the Call to Action. 

 ㅡ A Call to Action ㅡ

A Call to Action for the Defense of the Gospel and Liberal Democracy

1. Korean churches—wake up, stand firm, and unite! Put on the full armor of God and engage in spiritual warfare with courage and faith. (Ephesians 6:10–20) 

Korean churches, wake up, stand firm, and unite! Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God and engage in spiritual warfare with courage and faith. (Ephesians 6:10-20) 

2. Korean churches have both a voice and a sacred duty to defend liberal democracy. They must stand against falsehood, corruption, evil, and injustice and all treasonous and rebellious threats against liberal democracy in this anti-democratic age. (John 3:19–20) Korean churches have both a voice and a sacred duty to defend liberal democracy. They must stand against falsehood, corruption, evil, and injustice, and all treasonous and rebellious threats against liberal democracy in this anti-democratic age. (John 3:19-20) 

3. Korean churches and citizens share a biblical responsibility to uphold liberal democracy by resisting the politics of fear and oppression that threaten the constitutional separation of church and state. (Galatians 5:1) 

Korean churches and citizens share a biblical responsibility to uphold liberal democracy by resisting the politics of fear and oppression that threaten the constitutional separation of church and state. (Galatians 5:1)

4. We strongly urge the current South Korean government, led by the Democratic Party’s super majority, to end its undemocratic politics of fear and unilateral legislation that undermine the constitutional separation of powers 

We, the American churches, strongly urge the current South Korean government, led by the overwhelming majority of the Democratic Party, to end its undemocratic politics of fear and unilateral legislative dictatorship that undermine the separation of powers in the constitution.

5. The American churches—whose missionary work began in Korea 140 years ago—call on Korean Christians to stand boldly for the Gospel, opposing all lies, injustice, evil, and lawlessness. (John 8:32) 

We, the American churches, who began missionary work in Korea 140 years ago, call on Korean Christians to stand boldly for the Gospel, opposing all lies, injustice, evil, and lawlessness. (John 8:32) 

6. We, the American churches, pray that Korean pastors recognize that the current crisis in Korea is spiritual in nature. May they seek biblical discernment and respond in the wisdom and power of the Holy Spirit. (Deuteronomy 32:28–29) 

We, the American churches, pray that Korean pastors recognize that the current crisis in Korea is spiritual in nature. May they seek biblical discernment and respond in the wisdom and power of the Holy Spirit. (Deuteronomy 32:28-29) 

7. We, the American churches, pray that Korean pastors will not be deceived by false claims of “peace” or “peaceful reunification” promoted by pro-communist groups. A communist takeover would bring suffering to millions of Christian believers and defenders of a free Korea. (1 Peter 5:8) 

We, the American churches, pray that Korean pastors will not be deceived by false claims of "peace" or "peaceful reunification" promoted by pro-communist groups. A communist takeover would bring suffering to millions of Christian believers and defenders of a free Republic of Korea. (1 Peter 5:8)

8. We urge Korean churches to observe how freedoms in Hong Kong have been suppressed under the Chinese Communist Party’s security laws and surveillance control—and to recognize the warning this presents. 

We urge Korean churches to carefully observe how freedoms in Hong Kong have been suppressed under the Chinese Communist Party's security laws and surveillance control, and to recognize the warning this presents for South Korea.

9. We pray for religious freedom and the preservation of a liberal democratic system in Korea. We strongly urge the Korean Democratic Party to cease its illegal legislative actions that enable censorship and unjust searches of Christian pastors. Korean Christians must unite, stand firm, and engage prayerfully in this spiritual battle to defend freedom of religion, freedom of expression, and truth against false propaganda. (James 4:7) 

We pray for religious freedom and the preservation of a liberal democratic system in Korea. We strongly urge the Korean Democratic Party to cease its illegal legislative actions that enable censorship and unjust searches of Christian pastors. Korean Christians must unite, stand firm, and prayerfully engage in this spiritual battle to defend freedom of religion, freedom of expression, and truth against false propaganda. (James 4:7) 

10. We call on the South Korean government to immediately release the imprisoned Christian pastor and to end all illegal searches and seizures targeting independent media and Christian broadcasters. 

We strongly urge the South Korean government to immediately release the imprisoned Christian pastor and to cease all illegal searches and seizures targeting independent media and Christian broadcasting stations. 

Global Evangelical Churches in America 

Alliance of Global Evangelical Churches in America 

October 29, 2025 

Dr. Kevin Waldrop 

Dr. Kevin Waldrop