Fuller Theological Seminary Searches for New Director of Korean Studies Center

Fuller Theological Seminary's Korean Studies Center is seeking a new executive director.

"Korea has had a very important place in Fuller's history and ministry around the world," said Mark Labberton, the president of Fuller, who endured a conflict in the process of combining the School of Theology Korean Doctor of Ministry Program and the School of Intercultural Studies Korean Program to create the Korean Studies Center.

"We have more alumni serving in Korea than in any other country in the world apart from the United States," he continued. "We are very excited about this next stage in Fuller's service to the Korean-speaking world. We remain very committed to extending our relationship in Korea."

To hire the new director, a Korean Studies Center Executive Director Search Committee has been formed, which is comprised of staff from administration, Korean professors, and the president of the Korean students' association. In particular, Jenny Pak, a Korean American professor, was named the chair of the search committee.

The Korean Studies Center was previously a target of criticism by those who argued that the input of Korean students and staff were ignored in its establishment. Hence, the inclusion of Korean professors and a representative of the Korean students, and naming a Korean American as the search committee chair, comes as a noticeable effort to include the Korean community's opinions. It's also worth noting that the chair is not a professor of theology nor missiology, but a professor of psychology.

Some 3,500 Korean ministers and leaders have been a part of the Doctor of Ministry and Intercultural Studies programs at Fuller.

"Fuller Korean alumni and students are actively involved in the Kingdom ministry in Korea and throughout the world," Fuller said in a statement. "The development of this center demonstrates Fuller's ongoing commitment to expand its reach to Korea and Korean churches around the world more effectively."

Qualifications to apply include a Ph.D. or a degree of similar merit; academic publishing record in Korean and either English or another language; a minimum of five years of administrative or supervisory experience in higher education; ability to network with Korean churches, organizations, and individuals; fluency in both Korean and English; and experience in active involvement in church ministry, including others.

For more information, contact Jenny Pak at jpak@fuller.edu.

This article has been translated. For the original in Korean, visit kr.christianitydaily.com.