Canadian missionaries in Korea (1945-1953): the transformation of the mission in the face of political upheaval

The article examines the problem of the transformation of the activities of Western Protestant missionaries in the context of geopolitical changes using the example of the Canadian mission in Korea from 1945 to 1953. The aim is to trace how political upheavals such as the end of World War II, the division of Korea, and the outbreak of the Korean War changed the nature and focus of the missionaries’ work, forcing them to switch from religious service to primarily humanitarian. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the fact that for the first time it focuses specifically on the turning point for Korea in 1945-1953 from the perspective of Canadian missionaries. In addition, knowledge has been gained about the mechanisms of the transformation of missionary work and its contribution to the development of healthcare, medical education and humanitarian support for Korean society during a critical period of its history. The study revealed that the inability to return to the northern provinces after the partition of the country led to a reorientation of missionaries to the south of the Korean Peninsula. Their work focused on large-scale assistance to refugees, medicine, and educational and pastoral activities at Christian institutions in Seoul (Yongse University, Severance Hospital). The Korean War finally consolidated the humanitarian character of their ministry.