Seoul: The Archdiocese of Seoul has once again raised a strong voice for peace and reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula, as it marked 30 years of dedicated efforts through its Reconciliation Committee with a special Mass and symposium on June 22. The commemorations took place at Myeongdong Cathedral and drew over a thousand faithful who gathered for the Church’s annual “Day of Prayer for the Reconciliation and Unity of the Korean People.”
Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taick, in his homily, offered a stirring reflection on the spiritual and moral imperative of healing the rift between North and South Korea. “For more than 80 years, our people have lived separated growing increasingly distant, burdened by animosity and suspicion,” the Archbishop said. He lamented a growing sense of apathy in South Korea toward unification, noting that many now question the relevance of Northern affairs. “Yet we are still one Korean family,” he emphasized.
Highlighting the Christian duty to take the first step in peace-making, Archbishop Chung drew parallels with the Gospel’s message of active compassion. “Christ asks us to act first,” he said. “Like when He told the disciples, ‘You give them something to eat,’ we too must begin the healing by letting go of bitterness.”
The Archbishop welcomed a recent gesture from both Koreas mutually halting border loudspeaker broadcasts as a subtle but meaningful step toward reducing tensions. He urged the faithful to interpret this as a sign of hope and to persist in envisioning a future rooted in dialogue and mutual respect.
Following the liturgical celebration, the Church hosted a symposium at the Myeongdong Cathedral Spirituality Center to commemorate three decades of the Reconciliation Committee, first founded in 1995 by the late Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan. The committee continues its mission of healing national division through prayer, education, and people-to-people outreach.
Fr. Soo-Yong Jung, vice-chair of the committee, reflected on the long and often difficult journey toward unity. “Even when political tides shifted, our message remained the same peace is always possible through understanding and persistence,” he said. Grounded in the Gospel’s call to reconciliation, the committee has become a fixture of hope within the Korean Church, especially during turbulent times.
Fr. Jung also emphasized Korea’s symbolic role in the modern world, being one of the few nations still separated by Cold War-era ideologies. He urged that the Korean Church’s reconciliation efforts be seen in the wider context of global peace-building particularly in contrast to escalating violence in regions like Ukraine and the Middle East.
Looking ahead, he expressed optimism about the role of young people in promoting peace, especially as the global Church prepares for the 2027 World Youth Day in Seoul. “Let our youth become messengers of peace,” he said, “and may they carry the mission of unity into a new era.”