People group profile · PG007595
The Deaf Koreans of South Korea
The Deaf Koreans of South Korea, numbering about 553,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a community of individuals who are culturally Deaf and actively participate in Deaf culture, often using sign language as their primary means of communication.
They are an indigenous people in the Deaf people cluster of the Deaf Peoples. Their primary religion is Mahayana Buddhism, and they primarily speak Korean Sign Language.
Fast facts
- Country
- South Korea
- Population
- 553,000
- Affinity group
- Deaf Peoples
- People cluster
- Deaf
- Primary language
- Korean Sign Language (kvk)
- Primary religion
- Mahayana Buddhism
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Expanding Unreached People Group
- Region
- Eastern Asia, Asia
Where they live
Gospel status
The Deaf Koreans are Engaged yet Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, but there are sustained efforts to establish self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Deaf Koreans
- Continue prayer and fasting for this group
- Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
- Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people
Primary religion
Mahayana Buddhism · Buddhism
Primary language
Korean Sign Language · Sign Language family
33% speak Korean Sign Language
Gospel resources in Korean Sign Language
- Bible available, published 1995
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings not available
- Audio resources not available
- Bible stories available
Films
- JESUS (Korean Sign Language)
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Deaf Koreans
- Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
- Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
- Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
- John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
Deaf Korean in other countries
The same people (ROP3 116523) is reported in 1 other country.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deaf Koreans | North Korea | 269,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
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