Since Seoul Metropolitan City became the capital city of Korea in 1394, it has been the center of Korean politics, economy, and culture in modern Korean history. Now Seoul is an international megalopolitan city with 10 million residents and the hub of northeastern Asia-Pacific region in various industries such as finance, business, info-communications, digital contents, fashion, and bio. Since 2013, Seoul city has been selecting the Seoul Future Heritage, which is a tangible or intangible cultural asset worthy of delivering to future generation, and 54 new items were added in January 2017.
As Signs of the Times, the monthly magazine of Sijosa, the Adventist publishing house in Korea, was the only publication among those assets, it is such a joy for the Korean Adventists and we would like to give glory to God. This magazine is unofficially the oldest periodical in Korea, as it started its first publication in September 1910. It was more meaningful that citizens voluntarily recommended the registration. The Future Heritage Preservation Committee visited Sijosa, the Korean Publishing House in December 2016 for deliberation and agreement.
Last January, Seoul City delivered the certificate to the Sijosa. A sign in the form of a cooper plate was attached in front of the company building to inform that it is a Seoul Future Heritage. The SIjosa also started to put a Seoul Future Heritage symbol into the cover of the magazine from March.
The selection of the Signs of the Times means that Korean society officially approved value of this magazine. This is the heritage based on social and emotional agreement of citizens and the future-oriented cultural heritage continuously developing. Above all, it confirmed that Three Angels’ Messages of Adventist Church enlightens the society and enhances the dignity and value of human.
To be selected as Seoul Future Heritage raised its status to a higher level. As readers’ responses become more positive, Adventist messages can be conveyed with a sense of weight. It also encourages work of literature evangelists, so they can strongly recommend the magazine to people. Mr. Chung SyeKyun, the Chairman of the Korean Congress, showed interest on the magazine for its selection and contributed to send it.
“Selection of Seoul Future Heritage is a big privilege and a big duty at the same time. We need to accomplish our mission in a consistent attitude like 100 years of history,” said Pastor Hwang ChunKwang, president of the Korean Union Conference, emphasizing the role of literature evangelism.
[Interview] Pastor Um KilSoo, president of Sijosa
“The Signs of the Times is not a mere magazine, but a gospel envoy that changes people, plant churches in an unreached area, and sets the captive free.”
Pastor Um, KilSoo, president of Sijosa, was overwhelmed by amazing God’s plan related to selection of Seoul Future Heritage. “All literature evangelists in Korea are proud of this meaning and the event. It is another chance for the magazine to grow in the future,” said Pastor Um.
“This is amazing that the magazine gains recognition of the society about its sincerity and purity in this day and age that is difficult to honestly point out sin. There is also social desire for the Signs of the Times to become an uncommercial magazine with cleanliness, honesty, and core values,” he added.
He emphasized the importance of literature evangelism once again. “Although there are many challenges that encroach publishing market such as smart phone or e-book, prophecy of the prophet that the gospel work will be finished through printed matters will be definitely accomplished. Three Angels’ Messages can enter to a bedroom through mails. No one can stop the strong warning to be ready for the second coming of Christ.”
“The Adventist Church is a church with prophecy. Literature evangelism began with prophecy of the prophet. Now, it is time to raise the evidence that God has shown to us. There should be a movement that returns us to literature evangelism. We must reinforce it in the crisis and we need to widespread the signs of the time and news of salvation.”
At the end of the interview, he said, “the Signs of the Times is a seed of everlasting life to people we cannot meet face to face or talk with. Please support with prayer, so that it can raise its far-reaching power,” said, Pastor Um.