© koninklijke brill nv, leiden, 2020 | doi:10.1163/18748929-01203004
journal of religion in europe 12 (2019) 310-335
brill.com/jre
Journal of
Re ligion in
Europe
Building the Church and Missionizing in a
‘Religiously Indifferent’ Country: Korean Protestant
Churches in Czechia
Andrea Beláňová
Institute of Sociology of the Czech Academy of Sciences
andrea.belanova@soc.cas.cz
Tomáš Havlíček
Faculty of Science, Charles University
Kamila Klingorová
Faculty of Science, Charles University
Zdeněk Vojtíšek
Hussite Theological Faculty, Charles University
Abstract
Czechia could be labeled as country of an indifferent approach to religious ideas, as reli-
gious faith is considered a private issue, and the role of religion in the public sphere is low.
This article summarizes the first attempt to research Korean Protestant churches active
in current Czechia. A total of fourteen churches is briefly overviewed stating that the
churches are not successful in gaining new members throughout the Czech population.
Also, a clear distinction cannot be drawn between diaspora and missionary churches, but
rather mixed types can be observed. The findings show that the churches do not accom-
modate their mission strategies according to the religiously indifferent milieu in Czechia,
mostly because the missionaries are not aware of this situation. Moreover, language is
identified as the main barrier in communication. We conclude by stating that this topic
is poorly understudied and difficult to follow due to its dynamic yet closed nature.
Keywords
Korean Protestant churches – Czechia – mission – strategies