KJCKorea
Journal Central

In the Old Testament, the Levites are mentioned among the socially marginalized, alongside foreigners, orphans, and widows. Social and legal protections were established for these vulnerable groups. Particularly in Deuteronomy, following King Josiah’s religious reform (622 BCE), the ‘Levites living in your towns,’ who had been excluded from the priesthood, are recognized as socially vulnerable individuals in need of economic support. Later, during the Nehemiah reforms (5th century BCE), efforts were made to support the Levites economically through tithes and offerings. This historical context is similar to the situation of pastors today who face financial difficulties, and supporting them should be regarded not merely as an ethical responsibility but as a spiritual obligation.

In April 2024, South Korea became a “multicultural society” with 5% of its population being foreigners, mainly due to the “hyper-aging and ultra-low birth rate” of Korean society, which has led to a decrease in the working population, a decline in local populations, and economic growth slowdown; the increasing number of immigrants makes Koreans consider how to live with foreigners, becoming a ‘matter of survival,’ as unclear directions in Koreans’ lives amid changing social structures may lead to societal collapse. The Korean church now faces the additional mission of forming a faith community it had never experienced before; throughout history, Korean Christianity has maintained its Christian identity and ethical attitude despite many social changes, with ethical steadfastness — whether progressive or conservative — being a major driving force behind its growth. As a multicultural tsunami approaches Korean society, it is proposed that the Korean church adopt the gospel attitude of “welcoming immigrants” based on the philosophy of recognition in the New Testament, which can create Christian ethical resonance in Korean society and lead to “social integration,” differentiating from Western phenomena; this new wave is not a storm of chaos but a surfboard of new ethics that will transform into innovation and revival of Korean Christianity.

This article explores the relationship between artistic popularity and creator value by examining whether a work’s popularity connects to its creator. The analysis begins with Kant’s concept of common sense as a foundation for understanding popularity, describing it as a form of empathy experienced cognitively by large audiences that manifests as both subjective and universal, functioning as a cultural phenomenon across moral and aesthetic domains. The discussion then shifts to Aristotle’s perspective on the creator’s character, establishing that artists’ creative processes are influenced by their accumulated life experiences and habitual practices, with their attitudes, character traits, and lifestyle choices directly correlating to the excellence exhibited in their artistic skills. The article culminates by examining God’s creative activity in Genesis, characterized by solidarity and responsibility, and proposes that human creative endeavors derive from the essential nature of divine creation. Through this theological framework, the article concludes by addressing the implications for human creative activity and its inherent value, suggesting that artistic worth extends beyond popularity to encompass the creator’s moral and experiential dimensions.