A Study on the Early Forms of Korean Christian Music : Focusing on the Period from before 1800 to the 1900s

This study examines the early forms and historical development of Christian music in Korea from the late 18th to the early 20th century. The formation of Christian music in Korea followed different trajectories depending on how Catholicism and Protestantism were introduced. Catholic music began to take shape with the introduction of Catholicism in the late 18th century, while missionaries actively brought in Protestant music after the opening of ports in the late 19th century. The early Catholic repertoire includes Cheonjugasa (Catholic devotional songs), such as “The Ten Commandments Song” and “Song of Reverence for the Lord,” composed after the 1779 study gathering at Jueosa (走魚寺). These songs, written by Joseon scholars influenced by Western Learning (Seohak), conveyed religious teachings by setting new lyrics to traditional Korean melodies. Father Choi Yang-eop (1821-1861) actively promoted the use of nogaba, a method of adapting folk tunes with Christian lyrics, a practice that continued into the early 20th century. Protestant music developed around hymns following the arrival of Henry G. Appenzeller and Horace G. Underwood in 1885. Missionaries translated Western hymns for worship and education, and by the 1890s, hymnals with Korean lyrics were published. Over time, Protestant hymnody became indigenized through the integration of Western musical structures with Korean linguistic and cultural elements. This study examines the early development of Catholic and Protestant musical traditions, analyzing the process and characteristics of their indigenization through interaction with Korean traditional music. It aims to clarify the historical trajectory of Korean Christian music and reassess its place within the modern history of Korean music.