Seoul, Korea—On March 21, the Interreligious Association for Peace and Development (IAPD) in Korea began a monthly prayer service in support of a unified Korea. Since then, it has held two prayer services: a second one on April 25 and third one on May 23. During the service, religious leaders and believers pray for the peaceful reunification of the Korean peninsula. Among the faith groups represented are Christian; Ch'ŏndogyo, the Religion of the Heavenly Way; Daejonggyo, a Korean ethnic religion; Confucian (Sungkyunkwan); Korean Islam; the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU); and the Korea Council of Religious Women.
A sermon also is given during the prayer service. In the first service, a sermon was given about Christianity; the second service, about Korean Islam; and the third service, about Daejonggyo. The fourth prayer service will be held on June 26 and will be led by a representative from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Korea.
The third prayer service on May 23 was led by female religious believers. During the service, a candle was lit and a prayer was offered for a unified Korea.
Congratulatory remarks were given by the president of the Korea Religions Association, Mr. Hyeon-Yeong Lee. He said that religious believers should take the lead in creating a unified, Korea where the South and the North are…united as one and [the people of the Korean peninsula] free to live together in a peaceful world.”
Former president of the Daejonggyo, Mr. Yeong-Jin Won, gave the sermon. He proposed a way for the South and North to achieve reconciliation: “Religious beliefs [in Korea] have been passed down through various kingdoms, such as the Gojoseon, Goryeo and Joseon.” He added that “the South and the North have not been divided for a long time; they share the same language and culture. Therefore, we need to create conditions through which they can be reconciled, centering on religious believers.”
The prayer service was brought to a close with a candlelight prayer for peace offered by all the participants and a song of unification sung in unison.
The IAPD-Korea plans to hold an interreligious prayer service on a Thursday every month to support the peaceful reunification of the Korean peninsula.