I was born in Korea as the seventh child in a large peasant family with three brothers and four sisters. I think that the four distinct seasons in the paddy rice field of my youth have deeply affected the formation of my character. It prepared me to wait for the future seasons and to be patient until something became ripe. My father was very strict with all of the family members, asking us to complete everything in advance while my mother was very tender and compassionate with us. I guess I inherited various characteristics of my parents equally, both of whom influenced my temperament.

Experience 1: Child Commitment
In Grade six I participated in an anti-communism storytelling contest in the town area as a representative of my school and my presentation included the story of my uncle’s death. When I returned home alone, the autumn evening was already dark and drizzly. My route home required passing several cemeteries and hills. Tightly holding my contest award, I walked as quickly as I could. Shaking with fright, I prayed, “My God, please take me home safely, and I will live my life for you.”
My high school life was filled with many student activities, especially coordinating many Christian students in that region. One of my homeroom teachers strongly recommended that I study western medical science because he seemed to think that the profession might give me a stable life and allow me to reach out to sick people while implementing my faith affirmation. But I didn’t follow his suggestion because I was afraid to be a medical doctor using a scalpel and syringes. Instead, I had committed my life to serve God as a full time minister from the time that I was in sixth grade.