A seminar on the Catholic Church's role in promoting reconciliation between North and South Korea was held on July 27 at the Church of Repentance and Reconciliation in Uijeongbu, a city in Gyeonggi Province, north of Seoul.
The seminar was co-hosted by Pax Christi Korea (PCK) and the Uijeongbu Diocese Committee for National Reconciliation.
The first speaker, Kim Chang-soo, former Secretary-General of the National Unification Advisory Council (NUAC)- emphasized the need for strategic imagination for peace on the Korean Peninsula. He proposed a “bridge power” strategy that transcends traditional, deterministic geopolitics.
Highlighting the potential return of former U.S. President Donald Trump to dialogue with North Korea, Kim said, “If a negotiation table reopens between North Korea and the U.S., South Korea must not act as a mere ‘mediator’ as in the past, but as a proactive bridge-builder.”
He stressed the importance of building mutual trust and fostering cultural and economic exchanges among the three axes: South–North, North–South, and South–North–U.S.
The second speaker, Anselmo Lee, co-president of Pax Christi Korea, emphasised that the upcoming 2027 World Youth Day (WYD) in Seoul should serve as a turning point for peace on the Korean Peninsula.
“This event is a historical grace given by God,” Lee said. He called for WYD 2027 to become a platform for international peace and public diplomacy, going beyond its usual scope as a purely religious gathering.
Reflecting on developments in social ministry since the Second Vatican Council, Lee noted that while the Korean Church has focused on justice, it has been less vocal and active on matters of peace.
“The nuclear weapons issue is the most deadly threat to our society,” he warned, “but the Church has been passive in raising it for public discussion.”
Citing Laudato Si’ and Fratelli Tutti, Lee called for the creation of an integral peace paradigm rooted in the Church’s teachings on ecology and justice. He urged greater action and advocacy in areas such as nuclear disarmament, interreligious cooperation, and youth leadership development.
Among the proposals he presented were: a DMZ peace pilgrimage, interfaith peace prayer gatherings and a program to invite North Korean youth in collaboration with the United Nations, using WYD 2027 as a launching platform
Lee concluded that through such efforts, “the Korean Church can emerge as a hub of the Asian peace movement.”
The seminar concluded with a Mass for Peace, during which participants reflected on the Church’s mission for peace on the Korean Peninsula.
(With input from Kyung Dong-hyun)
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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