Baptism and Water Symbolism in Korea By Paul Junggap Huh AN
ENGLISH IDIOM, “wet behind the ears,” means “naïve,” alluding to
the newly born, recently born, still wet. There is a similar
expression in Korean: “When did your ears emerge?” The question
is asked to learn one’s birthday and the reply follows, “my ears
emerged on such and such a day.” Those who are newly baptized in
Jesus’ name are newly born by water and the Spirit. They are
also called “wet behind the ears.” Naïve and inexperienced,
still wet and full of life, they emerge from the living water.
Baptism is the beginning of the church, giving new life,
covenant, and promise. Baptism signifies the birth of the Korean
Church. The first Protestant worship recorded in Korea began
with the Baptism of Koreans in Manchuria at 1879 by Rev. J.
MacIntyre, a missionary of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland.
As is true in many cultures, stories about the symbolism of
water abound in Korea and in the Korean church context. One such
story connects baptism as a