Pyongyang Theological Seminary

The Pyongyang Theological Seminary (also known the Pyongyang Theological Academy,^[1] but commonly known simply as the Pyongyang Seminary^[2]) is a Protestant theological seminary in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea. It is run by the government-controlled Korean Christian Federation (KCF) and trains pastors and evangelists for it.

Founded in 1901 as the Pyongyang Chosun Jesus Presbyterian Seminary, the seminary has historically been associated with Presbyterianism. It became the center of Korean Christianity of the early 20th century. By 1916 its founder Samuel Austin Moffett was in disagreement over practical matters with another teacher, James Scarth Gale. The row developed into a schism on doctrinal matters and in 1959 the seminary split into the conservative Chongshin University and the liberal Presbyterian College and Theological Seminary.

In 1938, during the Japanese occupation of Korea, the seminary had been temporarily closed down after students defied orders to bow to Shinto shrines. After the division of Korea, the seminary was relocated to Seoul in South Korea and renamed the Presbyterian Theological Seminary.

The Pyongyang-based seminary resumed operations in 1972 after having been assumed by the KCF. When its funds ran out in 1995, the Korean Methodist Church (KMC) of South Korea assumed a share of its financial responsibilities.