Korean Contemporary Christian music (or Korean CCM) refers to
Contemporary Christian music written or played in
South Korea. Due to the dramatic growth of
Christianity in Korea, CCM has been gaining popularity among Korean Christians.
History
After the
Korean War,
missionaries from the
United States brought
gospel songs to Korea. Most of the songs were from US
Church schools and
Southern gospel songs popular in 1950s and 60s.
On November 2, 1969, at Gyeongdong Church in
Seoul, Korean pop singers (
Cho Young Nam, Choi Young Hee and Twinpolio) sang gospel songs on Sunday service, which was controversial among Korean Christians.
In
1971, Jo Young Nam translated a US gospel song, "
Just a Closer Walk With Thee", and released it to public. From the following year, Jo started to release CCM albums.
In
1974,
Roman Catholic nuns released an album which contained songs translated from US gospels. The songs were
pop music with Christian content.
Yesujeondodan was founded in
1973 by a missionary, Oh Dae Won.
Yesujeondodan not only translated a lot of gospel songs to
Korean but composed their own CCM songs.
In late 1970s, CCM songs started to blossom in Korea due to Christian celebrities and the growth of
Yoido Full Gospel Church.
Notable artists
See also