Korean people are called to overcome conflict and division and usher in a new era of unity, they say
Leaders of major religious groups in South Korea issued a joint declaration to promote national unity, peace, harmony and unification with North Korea.
“Throughout the modern and contemporary history of the Republic of Korea, our religious leaders have served as the nation's spiritual pillars, embracing marginalized neighbors with tolerance and inclusiveness whenever the nation faced difficulties and taking concrete actions toward peace and harmony,” said the statement published by Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea (CBCK) on Jan. 8.
The statement has been signed by leaders and representatives of the Catholic Church, Joyge Buddhist Order, the Christian Council of Korea, the National Council of Churches in Korea, Won Buddhism, the Central Committee of the Korean Church, the Korean National Religious Council, the National Unity Committee, and the National Unification Committee.
Korean people now face “the historical mission of overcoming conflict and division and ushering in a new era of unity,” said the Korean-language statement.
Religious communities in Korea aim to respond to the historic calling for national unity in collaboration with the Presidential Committee for National Unity, a state advisory panel.
Thus, religious groups will pioneer “a culture of unity, acknowledging and supporting each other's differences and differences based on diverse religious teachings;” create “forums for dialogue and communication at sites of social conflict and, through religious inclusiveness, take the lead in helping all those who have been hurt recover.”
The religious will “share the pain of those who are most vulnerable, listen to the voices of those marginalized and discriminated against, and continuously practice service and sharing.”
When the fundamental values of democracy and the social justice protected by the Constitution are threatened, religious groups will stand “in solidarity with our religious conscience, speak out peacefully, and suggest the right direction for the community.”
Based on the values of respect for life and coexistence, religious groups will share “the unique wisdom of each religion and dedicate ourselves to creating a beautiful society for future generations.”
The groups vowed to openly cooperate with various stakeholders, including the government, civil society, and academia, to spread the values of unity that resonate with all members of society and serve as “a spiritual center of hope and courage.”
“We will ensure that the profound teachings of each religion serve as a beacon that illuminates the darkness of the world, suggesting a path to coexistence and healing on the journey of national unity and serving as a driving force for achieving practical unity,” the statement added.
“Just as small streams of water gather to form an ocean, these seven promises go beyond mere declarations and will serve as clear milestones for our religious community to advance national unity,” the groups added.
Despite being one of Asia’s economic powerhouses, South Korea has been in turmoil in recent years due to domestic political unrest and escalating tensions with North Korea.
The fragile but resilient democracy was shaken after ex-President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law on Dec. 3, 2024, only to be overturned by the National Assembly shortly.
Earlier, Yoon triggered criticism for his hawkish approach to North Korea, failure to strengthen the economy, as well as mishandling of the 2022 Halloween crowd crush and 2024 medical crisis.
Yoon from the People Power Party (PPP) became the first sitting president to be arrested and detained for his failed martial law proclamation. He was impeached by the National Assembly and removed from the post by the Constitutional Court.
His party lost the midterm elections, and in the presidential election in June 2025, PPP candidate Kim Moon-soo lost to Democratic Party nominee Lee Jae Maung.
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