“You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:13-14)
In the quiet hills of Yeoju, South Korea, Somang Prison stands as a beacon of Christian compassion and transformation. Unlike typical correctional facilities focused on punishment and isolation, Somang operates on a different foundation: the Gospel. It is Asia’s first and only privately run, non-profit correctional facility for adult men, managed by the Agape Foundation with funding and support from the South Korean government. But more than its structure or programs, what truly sets Somang apart is how it lives out the vision shared by the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA): that the Gospel is for everyone, and true disciples of Christ are called to be salt and light in the world.
A Place Where Grace Replaces Shame
Somang Prison does not treat inmates as lost causes but as human beings created in the image of God. Upon entry, inmates undergo a series of emotional and psychological assessments, music and art therapy, and empathy training. They are given educational opportunities, job training, and daily mentorship from over 600 trained Christian volunteers.
Guards share meals with inmates. Officers greet prisoners with polite language and often by name. This is not sentimentality – it is deliberate, Gospel-informed dignity. It is salt preserving what is good and light revealing what is possible.
Measurable Transformation
The impact is undeniable. While the national recidivism rate in South Korea hovers around 25%, Somang’s rate stays between 4% and 6%. Only a small percentage of inmates are Christians when they arrive – less than 10% – but nearly 80% leave with faith in Christ. That transformation is not enforced; it is witnessed, modeled, and chosen.
This is the WEA’s vision in action: not simply to convert, but to restore. To bring healing where there was brokenness. To serve, not judge. To include, not exclude.
The Gospel for All
The WEA has always stood for a Gospel that reaches beyond church walls. In a world filled with division, despair, and injustice, the alliance advocates for wholeness – for human dignity, for peace, and for compassionate justice. Standing with Prison Fellowship Korea, the WEA seeks to shine a light on the forgotten, actively supporting initiatives that bring hope and rehabilitation to incarcerated individuals, amplifying the impact of ministries like Somang Prison.
Jesus said, “I was in prison and you came to visit me” (Matthew 25:36). At Somang, Christians don’t just visit. They stay, they serve, they heal. They live out the love of Christ in one of the most difficult and overlooked places in society.
A Model Worth Repeating
During the Wednesday evening worship-service, WEA Deputy Secretary General Dr. Peirong Lin reflected on Acts 16:23-33 and gave a powerful message on the meaning and practice of true worship. Her sermon deeply resonated with both inmates and visitors, reminding all that worship is not confined to music or rituals, but is the full surrender of our lives to God in all circumstances – something that many at Somang have come to embody through their daily walk of repentance and renewal. The Gospel is for Everyone and we all have our individual responsibilities to continue in being Salt and Light.
Somang’s success has caught the attention of prison officials across Asia and beyond. But the real question is not whether we can copy its model, but whether we can embrace its heart: a heart shaped by the Gospel, beating for the marginalized, working with the same purpose, each with their own gifts and calling.
As the WEA continues its global mission, may places like Somang inspire churches, governments, and believers to ask: Where are we called to be salt and light today?
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