SEOUL, Korea—November 2012 is a special month for the more than 100,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses in South Korea, as they are recognizing their 100th anniversary in the country. The Witnesses are marking this centennial by engaging in a nationwide campaign to distribute a commemorative tract, or leaflet, to the public. The colorful four-page leaflet presents a concise overview of the history of Jehovah’s Witnesses in South Korea and their current activities in the community.

In 1912, representatives of Jehovah’s Witnesses started their public Bible education work in Korea. To date, the Witnesses have printed almost 700,000 Korean Bibles, and each week they conduct over 70,000 free home Bible studies. In over 1,300 congregations in the country, the Witnesses hold weekly sessions of Bible instruction that are open to the public. They also have a long history of annual conventions in Korea, the first one being held in 1954. These programs are presented to the public not only in Korean but also, since 1997, in Korean Sign Language. In 2009, Jehovah’s Witnesses hosted an international convention in Seoul with over 58,000 attendees, including over 6,500 delegates from 11 countries. The Witnesses’ branch office in Seoul was established in 1953.

Dae-il Hong, a spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses in Korea, states: “This centennial commemorates 100 years of service to our neighbors.” He explains: “We believe that applying Bible principles results in strong marriages, increases family happiness, and strengthens communities. We look forward to many more years of community service.”

Media Contacts:

J. R. Brown, Office of Public Information, tel. +1 718 560 5000

Republic of Korea: Dae-il Hong, tel. +82 10 3951 0835