On the evening of October 27, 1992, a significant gathering took place at the Dami Mission in Seoul”s Mapo District, where hundreds of individuals who believed they were chosen by God engaged in an all-night prayer session. These followers anticipated an event known as the “rapture,” during which they believed only the faithful would ascend to heaven. Those left behind were expected to endure seven years of turmoil under Satan”s rule.
Pastor Lee Jang-rim, the leader of the Dami Mission, was the driving force behind this movement. His apocalyptic vision was heavily influenced by the book “Raptured (The Rapture, and the People Left Behind)” written by American televangelist Ernest Angley in the 1950s. This novel describes the challenges faced by those remaining on Earth after the righteous ascend to heaven. In South Korea, fiction evolved into a fervent belief, spurred by rising millennial anxieties and a global fascination with prophecies, particularly those attributed to Nostradamus, alongside the shocking images broadcasted during the Gulf War.
As the fervor grew, many followers began to donate their possessions and withdraw from their communities. This alarming trend prompted authorities to take action, leading to Lee”s arrest on fraud charges. During the investigation, police uncovered a repurchase bond worth 300 million won (approximately $209,300) in his home, which was due to mature on May 22, 1993—six months after the anticipated rapture date. However, his arrest did little to quell the widespread hysteria.
As midnight arrived on October 28, 1992, nothing transpired as expected. Television broadcasts captured the emotions of believers exiting the gathering in anger or returning home in tears, marking the end of what became known as the “Rapture Scare of 1992.” This incident is often regarded as a pivotal moment that altered the public perception of Korean Christianity.
Once viewed as a moral authority that played a vital role in independence movements and national reconstruction, Protestantism faced newfound scrutiny regarding its credibility. The Dami Mission episode illustrated the fragility of faith when influenced by fear, speculation, and charismatic leadership.
Years later, the remnants of that mass hysteria continue to echo in society. Today, some self-proclaimed prophets utilize platforms like YouTube to share divine visions or political messages, blurring the lines between genuine belief and entertainment. In this light, the phenomenon of Korea”s “rapture” did not conclude in 1992; instead, it transitioned into the digital realm.
