The organization was founded in 1924, as the National Christian Council in Korea, which then became the National Council of Churches in Korea in 1946.

The National Council of Churches in Korea is an ecumenical council of churches which respond to God’s call, and work for God’s glory. The Korea National Council of Churches, the largest ecumenical agency in the country, is supported by the main Protestant denominations and has been at the center of the human rights movement in Korea. The KNCC established a Human Rights Committee, which consisted of representatives from all member denominations. These, in turn, have taken a firm position in support of human rights. The NCCK has working relationships with numerous Christian organizations  and is organized in nine regional councils of churches: Kwong-Ju, Tae-Gu, Tae-Jeon, Puson, Pyeong-Taek, Jeon-Ju, Jeong-Eup, Chung-Ju, Tae-Baek Council of Churches.