FEBC-Korea prepares for 50th anniversary of historic 1973 Billy Graham Seoul Crusade

In 1973, from May 30 to June 3, prominent American Christian evangelist Rev. Billy Graham preached the Gospel to an estimated 3.2 million Korean people at Yeouido Plaza in Seoul. This event became his largest "crusade" ever in his lifetime. Courtesy of FEBC-Korea

By Park Han-sol

The summer of 1973 became a defining moment for the history of Christianity in Korea.

From May 30 to June 3, prominent American Christian evangelist Rev. Billy Graham, who is best known for having preached the Gospel to millions in packed stadiums in 85 countries during his lifetime, led what became his largest ever "crusade" at the then-empty Yeouido Plaza in Seoul.

An estimated 3.2 million Korean people across the nation attended the crusade over the course of five days, with 1.1 million flocking to the final service at Seoul's plaza on June 3.

Graham's words of passion were interpreted by young Dr. Billy Kim, current chairman of Far East Broadcasting Company Korea (FEBC-Korea), a faith-based radio network. Kim's interpretive skills were said to have been marked by speed, accuracy and a level of enthusiasm that matched Graham's English sermon greatly.

With 2023 marking the 50th anniversary of Graham's Seoul Crusade, FEBC-Korea has made it its mission to remind present-day Seoul of the historical significance and legacy left by the evangelistic campaign through a series of major events.

Ahead of the large-scale 50th anniversary rally planned for June 3, 2023, at the Seoul World Cup Stadium in Mapo District, preparation meetings were organized this month in Seoul, Gwangju and Busan.

Dr. Billy Kim, chairman of Far East Broadcasting Company Korea (FEBC-Korea), speaks at the FEBC-Korea Art Hall in Seoul, Saturday, during the preparation meeting for the 50th anniversary rally of the 1973 Billy Graham Seoul Crusade. Courtesy of FEBC-Korea

"The final meeting place (of Graham's 1973 crusade in Korea) was in Seoul's Yeouido Plaza. It was a mix of people from all over the country, with those from different cities coming into Seoul. That's what built the great crowd," David Bruce, who served as Graham's executive assistant from 1995 until his death in 2018, told The Korea Times at the FEBC-Korea's headquarters in Seoul, Thursday.

"So in some sense, we're retracing those steps. We're going back to those cities, encouraging the churches in Korea to continue the work of evangelism."

Bruce was invited to speak at the preparation meeting held at the FEBC-Korea Art Hall in Seoul, Saturday.

Some 800 attendees were present at the Saturday event, with a majority of the believers being those who took part in Graham's crusade in Yeouido five decades ago.

David Bruce, former executive assistant of Rev. Billy Graham from 1995 to 2018 and executive vice president of the Billy Graham Archives & Research Center and Billy Graham Library in North Carolina, speaks during the preparation meeting for the 50th anniversary rally of the 1973 Billy Graham Seoul Crusade. Courtesy of FEBC-Korea

Some of the notable attendees and speakers included Kim Kyung-rae, executive director of the Foundation for the 100th Anniversary of the Korean Church, who prayed for a smooth preparation for the anniversary rally next year, and Kang In-joong, secretary general of the Global Mission Society (GMS) who has dedicated his life as a missionary since the 1973 event. Cho Jong-nam, 96-year-old honorary president of the Seoul Theological University, blessed the faithful as the oldest participant of the Saturday meeting.

Testimonies from participants of Graham's Seoul Crusade followed, with some recounting the story of how they rode the train from Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province, all the way to Yeouido and spent their nights in a tent just to listen to the evangelist's sermon. One said she still remembers the powerful voice of Dr. Billy Kim that she heard at the age of 21 as he interpreted the words of Graham at the plaza.

"These are the lives of those that were touched and blessed, encouraged by those meetings, and they're still here. So we wanted to see them and greet them and be thankful with them for the 50 years since that time," Bruce said.

"We've also come to learn from the United States. The Korean church is so strong in areas of prayer and evangelism and sharing. For me, this is a journey of love, but it's also a journey of knowledge."

Kim noted that Graham's 1973 Seoul Crusade was what fueled the boom of churches and the number of the Christian faithful in Korea.

"Just a year after the event, Explo '74 (the five-day evangelistic training conference) took place at the same site in Yeouido," he said. "In 1977, the National Evangelization Rally followed, which was solely organized at the hands of Korean churches and pastors without enlisting help from foreign institutions. Since then, Korean churches were met with the boom of evangelism and began making history."

Some 800 people take part in preparation meeting for the 50th anniversary rally of the 1973 Billy Graham Seoul Crusade, held at the FEBC-Korea Art Hall in Seoul, Saturday. Courtesy of FEBC-Korea

However, both Bruce and Kim noted that the present-day Christian circle is in a state of crisis, especially when compared to the remarkable growth the churches experienced in the past. The COVID-19 pandemic, which has isolated people from one another, has further exacerbated the situation.

"By nature, Christians are to be together. So when those kinds of outward forces separate us, they hurt the church and hurt the fellowship," Bruce explained. "So I have come to encourage the church (in Korea) to share our love and great appreciation."

"Although it is true that the Korean Christian circle has made great strides since 1973, we have also begun to notice that some churches are losing their essence," Kim said, adding that at the turn of the 21st century, some institutions have transformed into places of business, focusing more on their outward appearances rather than on the core messages of the Gospel.

He expressed hope that the 50th anniversary rally of the 1973 Billy Graham Seoul Crusade can serve as a turning point once again, with hundreds of thousands of believers and representatives of the churches nationwide gathering in one place to pray for repentance and rebuild their faith.

"I believe the event can help the stagnant churches take a new leap by infusing power and courage into them," Kim said.