9:30 am - 10:30 am

History of San Francisco Korean United Methodist Church

The oldest Korean American Church on the U.S. Mainland.

The SFKUMC was established in 1904 by some of the earliest Korean immigrants to America. The Church then, as it is to some extent now, served as the focal point of the Korean American community.

The procession of saints continues as we look forward to see the mighty work of God and what God has in store for us. We praise God for the blessings on this church community.

Much of the Church's history can be seen in photographs, artifacts and documents on display in the foyer.

You are invited to view on any Sunday during the active hours, or appointments on weekdays.

Korean immigration to Hawaii started in 1903, but according to the records at the U.S. Immigration Bureau, Korean merchants who were trading ginseng with the Chinese and a few Korean students began to live in San Francisco, California in 1880.

Sep 23, 1903	Approximately 10 political exiles, students and merchants from Korea, including Chang-Ho Ahn, and Dae-Wei Lee, organized a fellowship (the "Fellowship") and started prayer meetings at a residential home. This was the beginning of the San Francisco Korean United Methodist Church.
July 1905	Rev. Johnson, Missionary of the Methodist Episcopal Church (North), opened the Korean Mission Home, and Kyung Ho Moon led the prayer meeting.
Dec 26, 1906	With the help of Rev. C. F. Reed, Superintendent of the Oriental Mission, Pacific Annual Conference, Joo Sam Ryang established the San Francisco Korean Methodist Episcopal Church (South) at 2350 California Street in San Francisco. The first floor was used as a restaurant, the second for worship and the third for lodging. There were 25 charter members of the church.
Mar 23, 1908	In Whan Chang, with the assistance of Myong Wun Choun, assassinated D. W. Stevens at the Ferry Building in San Francisco. Messrs. Chang and Choun were charter members of the church. Mr. Stevens, who was a political advisor to King Ko Jong, spoke in favor of Japan. The Koreans living in the United States were outraged by Mr. Stevens' unauthorized and inaccurate statements, and the action of Mr. Chang solidified the Korean independence movement in the United States.
Dec 21, 1908	Pastor Joo Sam Ryang published the Dae-Do monthly magazine (1,000 copies). Half of the copies were distributed in the United States, Mexico, and China and the other half was sent to Korea. The Dae-Do monthly magazine contained evangelical columns, biblical interpretations, general educational content and news and news about Koreans living in the United States. The Dae-Do monthly magazine was discontinued in August 1912 due the financial difficulties.
Dec 1909	Peoung Koo Yoon succeeded Pastor Ryang and became the editor and publisher of the Dae-Do monthly magazine.
Sept 14, 1910	The church was relocated to a residential building at 1762 O'Farrell Street in San Francisco. Sunday worship services were held at 232 Perry Street, the location of the Kong-Rip-Hyoi Office.
Feb 1, 1911	Dae Wei (David) Lee, who was a charter member of the Fellowship and the church, became the church's third pastor and served the church for 17 years. Pastor Lee was the president of the Korean National Association for many years and was a leader of the Korean independence movement in the United States. He assisted the Korean students and political exiles who arrived in the United States without proper immigration documents. He also received a promise from the Methodist Missionary to support the construction of a building that would house the congregation. He graduated from the University of California at Berkeley on May 14, 1913 and was the first Korean to receive a bachelor degree in social science from the University of California at Berkeley.
Summer 1911	The church relocated to 2123 Bush Street in San Francisco.
Dec 24, 1914	The church relocated to a three story residential building at 1053 Oak Street owned by the Korean National Association.
Sep 1928	Rev. San-Sun Whang was appointed as the church's fourth pastor. He served the church for 14 years.
June 1930	The construction of the church's building at 1123 Powell Street in San Francisco was completed on June 1, 1930 due to the support of the Methodist Mission Board, which contributed $10,000 for land and $15,000 for building construction. The church's congregation raised $1,185 for the interior of the building.
Dec 1942	Rev. Ha Tae Kim was appointed as the church's fifth pastor, succeeding Rev. Whang. He served the church for four years.
July 1946	Rev. Doo Hwa Lim was appointed as the church's sixth pastor. He served the church for two years until he died of heart attack on August 28, 1948.
Sep 1948	Joo Eun Yang served as a local pastor for nine months.
June 1949	Rev. Ha Tae Kim was reappointed as the church's seventh pastor and served the church for four years.
Aug 1953	Rev. Peter Ahn was appointed as the church's eighth pastor and served the church for seven years.
Sep 1955	The church's parsonage was built with $13,250 of which $7,500 was supported by the United Methodist Church.
Oct 1960	Rev. Charles Song was appointed as the church's ninth pastor and served the church for 17 years. He worked hard to unify the Korean immigrants in the Bay Area, to grow the church and to encourage the democratization of Korea.
Sep 1965	Rev. Charles Song, Dong Woo Kim and other church members organized the Korean Association.
Mar 1965	The church's Women's Club established churches in Yang Ha Ri, Choong Chung Do in Korea with funds raised in charity bazaars and supported the local pastor's living expenses for three years.
Sep 1968	The Methodist Church and the United Brethren Church merged and become The United Methodist Church. Accordingly, the name of the San Francisco Korean Methodist Church was changed to the San Francisco Korean United Methodist Church.
June 1970	The church's building and land at 1123 Powell Street in San Francisco was designated Historic Site No. 17 of the United Methodist Church at the Cal-Nevada Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.
June 1972	The church operated a Korean Community Service Center to assist the new Korean immigrants in finding jobs and to provide translation services.
July 1977	Rev. Won Tae Cha was appointed as the church's tenth pastor and served the church for 12 years.
Oct 1988	Rev. Suk-Chong Yu was appointed as the church's eleventh pastor and served the church for 11 years. He led the church's relocation to its present location at 3030 Judah Street in San Francisco from 1123 Powell Street and implemented a steward system in the church for the first time.
June 1994	The church relocated to 3030 Judah Street.
Jan 1995	Rev. Charles Buck served the church as a pastor for the English language ministry (ELM) for two years.
Sept 1995	The Korean steward system was officially implemented and the church installed new stewards and lay deacons.
Sep 1996	Wilbert Kang, Peter Park and Myong Sun Choun were installed as the church's lay elders.
July 1997	Peter Yum was appointed as local pastor for the ELM and served the church for two years.
Sep 1998	Byung Ho Buck, Suk Hun Chang and Keun Chul Han were installed as the lay elders
July 1999	Rev. Han Kyu Park was appointed as the church's twelfth pastor and Rev. David Park was appointed as a pastor for the ELM and they served the church for two years.
Aug 2001	Rev. Jin Ho Kim was appointed as the church's thirteenth pastor and served the church for 18 months until he resigned due to the health problems.
July 2003	Rev. Taek Kyu Kim was appointed as the church's fourteenth pastor and served the church for three years.
Oct 2003	The church had a various events such as a special worship, lectures on the church history and published a book documenting the church's history to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the church.
May 2005	The remains of Rev. David Lee (the church's third pastor) was buried at Dae Jeon National Cemetery of Patriots in Korea in cooperation with the former presidents of the Korean Association in San Francisco.
July 2006	Rev. Hyo Won Park was appointed as the ch