Table of contentsIllustrationsPrefaceAcknowledgements1Introduction2Theoretical Perspectives and Research Methods3Tithes, Offerings, and Their UsageMilking People of Their Finances for Someone Else’s Gain4Pastors and Income TaxPrivileged and Recalcitrant Not to Pay5Protestant Churches and COVID-19Dilemmas Between On-site and Online Services6Korean Christianity, Communism, and Self-Protective MethodsThe Ongoing “Commie” Debate7“The Church That Laid the Golden Eggs”Money, Honour, and Power as Catalysts for the Hereditary Succession of Head Ministers8Church and National PoliticsProtestants’ Participation and Interference in the 2022 Presidential Election9Concluding RemarksBibliographyIndexThis study uncovers the social, economic, and political forces that transformed Korean Christianity, blurring the lines between spiritual guidance and institutional power.How did a cornerstone of Korean modernization become one of its most criticized institutions? For over a century, Korean Protestant churches experienced explosive growth, shaping the nation's health, art, and politics while sending thousands of missionaries abroad. They were symbols of progress and prosperity. Today, their public image is overwhelmingly negative. Going beyond simple faith-based explanations, this study uncovers the social, economic, and political forces that transformed Korean Christianity, blurring the lines between spiritual guidance and institutional power. It provides a compelling analysis of a remarkable rise and a dramatic fall from grace.