Before Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, came the Japanese stranglehold of Korea. Failing in some of its more brutal attempts to smother the church, Japan in Korea, saving face before the world, tried more subtle approaches. Ordinances forbade any religious instruction in mission schools. Classes in these schools had to be conducted in Japanese. No more Christian schools could open without a permit, and preachers had to be "licensed." But licenses were hard to obtain. So many regulations caused some institutions to shut down altogether.

In March 1919, Koreans rose up against the heavy-handed oppression. They took to the streets in several major cities, announcing their desire to be free. The Japanese resurrected their brutality at this time. They burned mission schools and churches to the ground. Those admitting their faith in Christ were killed on the spot. Pastors and other church leaders were rounded up by the thousands and put into jails that reeked and froze thier occupants. Torture abounded.