THE KUKMIN DAILY

As the soft breeze of peace blows across the Korean peninsula, the tangled threads of crisis seem to be unraveling. At this Kairos (right time), the church’s task is clear: It must heal the 70-year-long ideological confrontation and enmity between the South and the North, and be a mediator for peace. On October 11, the “2018 Kukmin Mission Forum,” held at the Convention Hall of the Kukmin Daily Building in Yeouido, Seoul, gave a clearer picture of the church’s role and task in composing the new order in a peaceful and prosperous Korean peninsula. The forum was held in commemoration of Kukmin Daily’s 30th anniversary.

In his keynote speech titled “The Changed Political Situation on the Korean Peninsula and the Role of the Church for Peace,” former Minister of Unification Lee Jong-seok (photo) said, “The church should be the foundation of future South-North joint prosperity… On the level of humanitarian support, the church should continue reaching out to North Korea.” He emphasized, “If the Korean churches come together as one and adopt a joint action program for South-North prosperity, it will be a refreshing shock to society.”

The political atmosphere on the Korean peninsula is undergoing dramatic transformation from confrontation to peace, Former Minister Lee said, pointing to three unique developments: Successful and successive chains of summits between South Korea and North Korea, and between North Korea and the U.S.; the preemptive, active resolution of Chairman Kim Jong Un, who had previously provided the cause for crisis; and the virtuous circle of South-North relations and denuclearization.

Lee explained, “In the past, the axis of hostile confrontation between South Korea and North Korea and between North Korea and the U.S. was the essential nature of the cold-war structure. Peace was not possible without simultaneously resolving these two hostile relationships. But this time, both South-North and North Korea-U.S. summits took place. It is the starting point toward eradication of hostile relations. This is the first opportunity since the peninsula was divided.”

*Photo by reporter Lee Byeong-ju (ds5ecc@kmib.co.kr)

Five panel presentations followed the keynote speech: “Christian media embraces the world and opens the future” by Kukmin Daily senior reporter Cho Yong-rea; “Mission examples of Kwangsung Church” by Rev. Jeong Seong-jin of Kwangsung Church; “The Reunification Movement of the Foundation for Korean Unification” by Foundation Chair Shin Dae-yong; “Examples of cooperation in support of North Korea, and future directions” by World Vision North Korea Project Team Director Lee Ju-seong; and “Recovery of soil, trees for life project” by Korea Food for the Hungry International North Korea Project Director Kim Ju-han (from left to right in photo).

Reporter Sangmok Shin (smshin@kmib.co.kr), with Yeara Ahn-Park (yap@kmib.co.kr)
Top photo by senior reporter Kang Min Seok

Full Story in Korean:
“교회가 남북 반목 치유하고 화해의 중재자 역할을”: ‘한반도 평화와 한국교회·언론의 역할’ 기조강연