Pyung Duk “P. D.” Chun, first president of the Northern Asia-Pacific Division (NSD) and longtime leader of the Church in Asia, passed away on October 3 at the age of 90. He devoted more than four decades of his life to the Seventh-day Adventist mission.
Chun was born on October 10, 1936, in Hongseong, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea.
He began denominational service in 1960 as a teacher at Gwangsi Sahmyook Middle School and later served as a pastor and departmental director. He was ordained to the gospel ministry on January 1, 1966.
Chun continued his education in the Philippines at the Adventist Institute of Advanced Studies, where he earned a master's degree in religion.
After returning to Korea, he served as Education and Health director for the Korean Union Conference. He later served in leadership at the Korean Publishing House, commonly known as Sijosa.
In 1982, Chun was elected president of the West Central Korean Conference. He was elected president of the Korean Union Conference in December 1983.
After being elected secretary of the Far Eastern Division in 1988, Chun was elected its president in November 1992.
As president, Chun led the Church through a historic period of organizational transition in Asia, during which the Far Eastern Division became the Asia-Pacific Division, later divided into the NSD and the Southern Asia-Pacific Division.
Chun was the last president of the Far Eastern Division, the first and only president of the Asia-Pacific Division, and the first president of the NSD.
His years as a division leader coincided with the growth of the 1,000 Missionary Movement, which mobilized young Adventists for cross-cultural missionary service. He also helped nurture the Pioneer Mission Movement and served as the first chair of its Management Committee.
Chun retired from full-time denominational service on July 1, 2003. His service continued beyond retirement through contributions to the Adventist Review magazine, where he served as its international publishing manager.
Chun is survived by his wife, Yoon Hee Kim; his son, Kyung Bae Chun; his daughters, Eun Sil Chun and Eun Kyung Chun; and their extended families.
NSD representatives stated that they will remember Chun with gratitude as a leader devoted to advancing the gospel.
The original article was published on the Northern Asia-Pacific Division news site.
