Korean Doctor of Ministry

The KDMin Program accepts 15 students each year. Our requirements are similar to those for the English language DMin Program: an MDiv degree and at least three years in full-time pastoral ministry. We seek applicants who are senior pastors with rich pastoral ministry experience. Because our classes are small, discussion-based, and have a strong emphasis on practice, we would like our students to benefit not only from the curriculum, but also from one another’s ministry experiences. 

Over three years of coursework, KDMin students are required to take courses at Westminster’s Philadelphia campus for two weeks each summer, and may also choose to take an elective course during the winter that would require them to spend an additional week on campus. During these weeks, the students will have substantial contact with Westminster’s faculty, who teach over 75 percent of the Program’s courses, accompanied by simultaneous translation.

The KDMin Program has received very positive reviews in student surveys—after this year’s summer module, students rated their satisfaction level as 4.8 out of 5. In addition, 100 percent of students affirmed that they would recommend this program to other Korean pastors. Among the comments we received, students noted, for example, the ability to evaluate their current pastoral ministry and plan for future ministry. Other students commented on our professors’ genuine responses to questions that they have wrestled with in ministry, and how those answers enabled them to find theological solutions to those problems. We are consistently finding that the program is improving our students’ approach to and heart for their ministry.

As a result of the dedication and sincere desire of many people to see a revival in the Korean church, the KDMin Program received generous contributions from many donors to establish the Korean Church Scholarship. This scholarship is made available to every student that enters the program. If you would also like to support the establishment of the next generation of Korean church leaders by giving to Westminster’s KDMin Program, please contact us at kdmin@wts.edu. 

As with many other academic programs, our Program was moved online this summer as a safety precaution in response to COVID-19. Consequently, no students were in residence on campus during this summer module. In the process of moving online, we produced almost 80 course videos for our six courses. Almost 50 course videos were translated into and subtitled in Korean by a dedicated translation team. By God’s grace, these efforts resulted in the Program enjoying a 100% attendance rate, with students rating their satisfaction 4.76 out of 5 points! While we hope and pray that in-person classes can resume next summer, should we need to continue holding our module online, we will work hard to maintain the Program’s high standards and student satisfaction.