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Rev Professor Unha Chai

Honorary Professor

Biography

Professor Unha Chai is an Honorary Professor at Alphacrucis University College and a supervisor for the HDR PhD program.

She received her Master of Arts (Th.M.) in Intertestamental History from Melbourne Theological College (MCD) in Australia and her Doctorate (Th.D.) from Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary in Korea. Her doctoral dissertation was titled 'A Study on the Rhetorical Function of Proverbs in Ecclesiastes.' She taught Old Testament courses at Hanil Theological University and Theological Seminary from 1997 to 2020, served as Dean of the Graduate School, and served as President of the same university from 2020 to 2023, before retiring.

She has been particularly interested in the human rights and welfare of people with disabilities and women, and has dedicated herself to the disabled women's rights movement and the establishment of disability theology. Her publications include Ecclesiastes (Seoul, 2013) and Rediscovering the Old Testament (Jeonju, 2019), as well as numerous papers.

Currently, she serves as an associate pastor at Hyojadong Church in Jeonju, assisting with the preaching ministry at that church and local churches.

Qualifications

ThD (Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary), A Study on the Rhetorical Function of Proverbs in the Book of Ecclesiastes – 2002

MTh (Melbourne College of Divinity), The Righteous in the Psalms of Solomon – 1991

MPrep (Melbourne College of Divinity) – 1986

MDiv (Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary) – 1982

BA (Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary) – 1980

  • Research Publications

    Books

    • 2020
      • Chai, U. et al. (2020). Don't Do Such an Evil Thing to Me. Dongyeon.
    • 2019
      • Chai, Unha. (2019). Rediscovery of Old Testamental Women. .
      • Chai, U. (2019). Rediscovery of the Old Testament. Hakyesa.
    • 2015
      • Chai, Unha. (2015). Theology of the Disabled. .
      • Chai, U. et al. (2015). Theology of the Disabled. Presbyterian Publishing House.
    • 2013
      • Chai, Unha. (2013). Qohelet. .
      • Chai, U. (2013). Ecclesiastes. Presbyterian Publishing House.
    • 2012
      • Chai, U. et al. (2012). Introduction to Women's Ministry. Presbyterian Publishing House.
    • 2011
      • Chai, U. et al. (2011). Time/Time: How to Preach. Duranno.
    • 2010
      • Chai, U. et al. (2010). Ecclesiastes: How to Preach. Duranno Academy.
    • 2009
      • Praise the Lord, All Creation (2009). Introduction to Hebrew Psalms. Korea Academic Information.
    • 2008
      • Chai, U. (2008). A Study on the Rhetorical Function of Proverbs in Ecclesiastes. Korea Research Information Service.
      • Chai, U. et al. (2008). There Are No Supporting Actors in the World. Korea Research Information Service.
      • Chai, Unha. (2008). No extra exists in the world,. .
    • 2007
      • Chai, U. et al. (2007). Hebrew Literature and Religion in the Ancient Middle East I. Hakyesa.
      • Chai, U. et al. (2007). Subjective Biblical Studies I: Beyond Acceptance and Imitation. .
    • 2005
      • Chai, U. et al. (2005). Introduction to the Old Testament. Christian Literature Society of Korea.

    Book Chapters

    • 1995
      • Chai, U. (1995). Women of the Apocrypha: Judith and Susanna In Korean Women’s Theology Society (eds.), The Bible and Feminist Theology (pp. 302-328). The Christian Literature Society of Korea.

    Journal Articles

    • 2018
      • Chai, U. (2018). Wisdom Literature and Preaching: Focusing on Ecclesiastes. Old Testament Studies, 67 162-188.
    • 2017
      • Chai, U. (2017). Women in the Bible as Told by Josephus and the Anonymous Philo in the First Century AD: Deborah, Hannah, and Jephthahs Daughter. Korean Womens Theology, 86 86-107.
      • Chai, U. (2017). A Comparative Study of and Alternative Terms for the Disabled: Focusing on the Hebrew Bible, Septuagint, and Korean Official Translations of the Bible. Journal of Biblical Textual Studies, 40 95-116.
    • 2016
      • Chai, U. (2016). Disability and Healing: An Attempt at Disability Theology as Ohn Theology. Jangshin Nondan, 48-4 143-168.
    • 2014
      • Chai, U. (2014). Disabled Persons Titles and Alternatives in the Official Korean Bibles: Focusing on the Gospels and Acts. Biblical Textual Studies, 34 162-180.
    • 2013
      • Chai, U. (2013). Theodic Crisis and Overcoming It in Ecclesiastes. Theology and Society, 27 117-144.
    • 2012
      • Chai, U. (2012). Disabled Persons Titles and Alternatives in the Official Korean Translation of the Bible from the Perspective of Persons with Disabilities. Biblical Textual Studies, 30 140-160.
    • 2011
      • Chai, U. (2011). The identification of the Righteous in the Psalms of Solomon (PssSol). Bible Textual Studies, 29 149-170.
    • 2008
      • Chai, U. (2008). The Reality of the Disabled and the Theology of the Disabled. Old Testament Studies, 27 28-50.
    • 2007
      • Chai, U. (2007). The Position of Wisdom Literature and Theology. Theology and Society, 21 5-26.
    • 2005
      • Chai, U. (2005). Disability, Cultural/Religious Suffering, and Healing. Theology and Society, 19 121-142.
      • Chai, U. (2005). Biblical Understanding of People with Disabilities. CTC Bulletin, 21 52-59.
      • Chai, U. (2005). The Bible and the Disabled. Church and World, 235 222-233.
    • 2002
      • Chai, U. (2002). A Study on the Rhetorical Function of Proverbs in Ecclesiastes. Theology and Society, 16 361-374.
      • Chai, U. (2002). The Kingdom of God and the Family in the Book of Wisdom. Korea Presbyterian Press, 84-97.
    • 1999
      • Chai, U. (1999). Cain's Wrath and Its Aftermath. Womens Ministry, Yeogyo 213-225.
    • 1997
      • Chai, U. (1997). Bible Education and Bible Reading. Theology and Society, Vol. 11 347-357.

  • Internal and External Grants

  • Presentations

  • Engagement Publications

  • Professional Memberships

  • Teaching

    Not currently teaching

  • Supervision

    • Current
      • Lee, H, A Study on Healing and Restoration for Multicultural Individuals with Disabilities in Australia through the Disability Theology Approach: Focusing on the ‘NDIS’ and ‘SILOAM Model’ of John 9 (PhD thesis)