More than a thousand faithful filled Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul for the annual “Day of Prayer for the Reconciliation and Unity of the Korean People,” held on the Sunday nearest June 25, the anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War. For Catholics in Korea, this is more than a memorial—it is a spiritual call to heal a nation wounded by division.
In his homily, Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taick of Seoul addressed the deepening rift between North and South Korea, urging the faithful not to fall into indifference. “North and South have lived divided for over 80 years, nurturing hatred and animosity amid constant tension and confrontation,” he said, according to Vatican News. “In the South, indifference is growing, with people asking, ‘Why should we concern ourselves with the North?’ But we are one Korean people.”
The Archbishop called on Catholics to imitate the charity of Christ and be the first to take steps toward reconciliation. “To overcome conflict and division, we must be the ones to reach out first, just as Jesus told us, ‘You give them something to eat,’” he said.
Archbishop Chung also referenced a recent moment of hope in inter-Korean relations: the mutual suspension of loudspeaker broadcasts along the border. While modest, he described it as a meaningful gesture that could “create space for reimagining future ties between the two Koreas.”
Later that day, the Archdiocese hosted a symposium at the Myeongdong Cathedral Spirituality Center to mark the 30th anniversary of the Reconciliation Committee, established in 1995 by the late Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan. Since its founding, the committee has worked through “prayer, education, and outreach,” according to Vatican News, striving to promote unity despite turbulent political shifts.
Father Soo-Yong Jung, vice-chair of the Reconciliation Committee, affirmed the group’s commitment to peace, saying it has remained “steadfast over the past three decades” in its mission to “overcome division and foster peace on the Korean Peninsula.”
He also connected Korea’s internal struggle with global conflicts, noting the country’s distinctive status as a nation still divided by Cold War tensions. “Amid ongoing conflicts in places like Ukraine and the Middle East,” he said, “Korea must set an example in laying the groundwork for reconciliation.”
With World Youth Day set to be hosted in Seoul in 2027, Church leaders hope young Catholics will be at the forefront of new peace initiatives. “There is hope,” said Fr. Jung, expressing his belief that a new generation could rise to meet this sacred challenge.
For the Church in Korea, the path forward is clear: reconciliation must begin with a willingness to lay down hostility, cultivate understanding, and take the first step—just as Christ did.
