The role of the Korean Protestant church in the democratisation of technology

The Korean Protestant church has historically demonstrated a propensity to promptly identify and adopt new technological advancements for its own purposes. Consequently, it has become a consumer and beneficiary of new technologies, and has no voice in the issues that arise as technology drives society. The purpose of this article is to philosophically and theologically explore the true role of the Protestant church in Korea in the context of a society that is heavily influenced by technology. It is a conceptual-theological study, founded upon a critical literature review within the domains of philosophy of technology and Public Theology. The philosophy of technology in the contemporary era advocates for the democratization of technology. This is defined as a process in which all members of society connected to technology participate in the determination of the direction of technology’s development. It acknowledges that the Korean Protestant church is not merely a consumer of technology, but also a member responsible for deliberating and determining the trajectory of technological advancement. Public Theology provides concrete directions for how the Korean Protestant church can fulfill this responsibility. From a Public Theology perspective, it is incumbent upon the Korean Protestant church to recognize the impact of technology on contemporary society and give political and ethical voices to the changes it will bring. This is the true role of a prophetic, Protestant church that seeks the common good. Contribution: The present study proposes a role for the Korean Protestant Church in a technology-driven Korean society, through interdisciplinary research in the philosophy of technology and Public Theology. It argues for the social responsibility of directing the development of technology through a voice grounded in Christian values that seeks the common good. It will serve as a starting point for public theological research on technology and the Korean Protestant church.