25 Rare Pictures from Inside North Korea

3. The Christian Heritage: Protestantism in 19th-Century Korea

Christianity, which missionary efforts introduced to Korea during the 19th century, was successful, especially in northern Korea. Before Korea was divided into two states, the largest Christian community in the Asia Pacific outside Manila was located in Pyongyang. Many of North Korea’s current Christians who trace their roots to Korean Christianity are members of aristocratic intellectual and business households and continue practicing the religion because of their Christian family background, maintaining this particular cultural heritage.