Pastor Soon Gi Kang Elected as President of the Northern Asia-Pacific Division

On July 7, 2025, during the 62nd General Conference Session, Pastor Soon Gi Kang was elected as the new president of the Northern Asia-Pacific Division (NSD) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The Session delegates voted the recommendation made by the GC Nominating Committee, selecting him as the spiritual leader who will guide the mission of the NSD throughout the upcoming quinquennium.

Pastor Soon Gi Kang, newly elected NSD President (Photo: Korean Union Conference)

The NSD Nominating Committee consisted of 15 members selected from the division, union, and local conference levels. In a solemn atmosphere, the committee members prayed earnestly for God’s guidance and providence as they choose the division’s next spiritual leader. and the name of Pr. Kang was recommended to the GC Nominating Committee.


Delegates from around the world, who filled the main auditorium, received the GC nominating committee’s report and voted to approve it, with 1,720 votes in favor and 113 against. Elder Kang is the first person in the history of the division to have been elected president while serving as president of a union conference.


Born on December 7, 1965, Pastor Kang graduated with a degree in theology from Sahmyook University in Korea and later eared his Master of Divinity degree from the Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies (AIIAS) in the Philippines. He also finished the course work of Doctor of ministry(ABD) in the same institute(AIIAS).

The newly elected presidents of the 13 world divisions stand on stage and greet the delegates.
Photo: [Tor Tjeransen] / AME (CC BY 4.0)

Pastor Kang began his ministry in 1990 as an associate pastor at the Sahmyook Central Church. Over the years, he served in various churches and administrative roles, including Hanam Church, Taebaek Central Church, Youth Ministries director of the East Central Korean Conference, Senior Pastor of Mukdong First Church, Ministerial Secretary of the East Central Korean Conference, Sabbath School and Personal Ministries director of the Korean Union Conference, and Pastor of Gyomunri Church.


In 2020, he was elected President of the East Central Korean Conference and later that same year, became President of the Korean Union Conference. During his term, he promoted global mission expansion through initiatives such as the “10/40 Global Mission Project.” Pastor Kang and his wife, Shin JinHee, have two children—Minseok and Minkyung.

On this day, the General Conference Session also elected the presidents of all 13 world divisions, including the Northern Asia-Pacific Division.