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`The year 1984 marks the 100th anniversary of the Korean Protestant Church. The history of Korean Christianity dates back to September 1884, when H. N. Allen, a medcial doctor and missionary of the Northern Presbyterian Church of the United States, came to Korea to serve in the U. S. legation. In December that year, a political insurrection broke our and Min Youn-ik , a high government offical, was injured seriously in it. Drl Allen treated and completely cured him, and this won him the royal court`s trust and favor. As a result, he was allowed to found a hospital named ``House of Extended Grace``, which enabled him to spread the Christian gospel through medical service. Soon he was joined with in his evangelizing work by other American missionaries. They were Rev. H. G. Underwood, from the Northern Presbyterian Church, and Rev. H. G. Appenzeller, from the Methodist Church. The Korean chruch considers the above events to be the historical starting point of Protestant mission in Korea, and is celebrating this year as the 100th anniversary with various special functions. In addition to spreading the Word of God to this land, the early missionaries made a great contribution for the development of Korean society as a whole by rending modern medical service, establishing educational institutions and working for eradication of shamanism. They also helped poularize Hangul, the Korean writing system, by using Hangul for translation of the Bible and thus raising the literacy rate among the general public. They preached equality of all human beings, male and femate, before God, thus raising the social position of women. The Ministry of Communications issues these stamps in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Korean Protestant Church, and in recognition of the great contrilbution of Christianity to the development of Korean society and culture.`