Unified Living in the "Shared Home": A Plea by Korean Bishops for North and South to Coexist
In the midst of a tumultuous year for South Korea, marked by political turmoil and legal battles, President Lee Jae-myung's administration is actively pursuing a peace and diplomatic engagement strategy with North Korea. This strategy, reminiscent of the 2018 Comprehensive Military Agreement, aims to reduce tensions and promote dialogue through limiting military activities along the border, suspending loudspeaker broadcasts, and re-establishing communication protocols [2][3].
However, North Korea's response remains cautious and somewhat dismissive, with official skepticism from key figures [3]. Kim Yo-jong, a prominent figure in the North Korean leadership, has expressed skepticism towards these peace overtures, though Kim Jong-un’s direct response remains unclear.
Amidst this complex and evolving situation, the Catholic Church in South Korea continues to play a supportive, though less publicly highlighted, role in fostering peace, human rights, and humanitarian dialogue relevant to Korean reunification efforts. The Church's longstanding presence in promoting inter-Korean dialogue and supporting humanitarian issues related to reunification remains influential in South Korean society and civil diplomacy.
The Church's message for the Day of Prayer for the Peace and Reunification of the Korean Peninsula, prepared by the Special Commission for National Reconciliation of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea, is clear: peace is not to be achieved through weapons, military force, mistrust, and hatred. Instead, the solution lies in reconciliation and unification, a sentiment echoed by local Churches in both South and North Korea [1].
As the world commemorates the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation and the 75th anniversary of the Korean War, the fracture of the peninsula and the ongoing truce continue to threaten the stability of the region and the global geopolitical balance. The Church is called to work towards bequeathing a kingdom of peace to future generations, a task that requires small but symbolic political decisions, similar to Jesus' instruction to "give them something to eat" [5].
Meanwhile, younger South Koreans are less engaged or hopeful about reunification, viewing it as impractical and costly [4]. This generational shift in public opinion presents a challenge for the ongoing peace efforts, underscoring the need for continued dialogue and understanding.
Despite the persistent challenges, the pursuit of peace on the Korean Peninsula continues, with the bishops ready to support and actively participate in exchanges with North Korea based on cooperation and reciprocity. The message is clear: the path to peace lies not in isolation, but in unity and reconciliation.
[1] Local Churches in both South and North Korea reiterate that the solution to problems lies in reconciliation and unification. [2] As of mid-August 2025, South Korea under President Lee Jae-myung is actively pursuing a peace and diplomatic engagement strategy with North Korea. [3] North Korea’s response remains cautious and somewhat dismissive, with official skepticism from key figures. [4] Younger South Koreans are less engaged or hopeful about reunification, viewing it as impractical and costly. [5] Monsignor Chung Soon-Taick, Archbishop of Seoul, has stated that to overcome conflicts and divisions, small but symbolic political decisions are necessary, similar to Jesus' instruction to "give them something to eat."
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War-and-conflicts continue to persist on the Korean Peninsula, with North Korea's response remaining cautious and somewhat dismissive towards President Lee Jae-myung's administration's peace engagement strategy. Meanwhile, politics surrounding this issue are complex and evolve rapidly, influencing the general news landscape.
In an effort to seek reconciliation and unification, the Catholic Church in South Korea continues to play a supportive role in fostering peace, human rights, and humanitarian dialogue relevant to Korean reunification efforts, echoing the message for the Day of Prayer for the Peace and Reunification of the Korean Peninsula. The Church calls for small but symbolic political decisions as a means to overcome conflicts and divisions.
