- “Hope the summit will sow seeds of peace in the hearts of everyone in the world”
- “This will allow the Korean Peninsula to move forward to an era of reconciliation, coexistence and peaceful coexistence”
- “Pray for the fruit of peace to come to the Korean Peninsula and bring happiness to all”

Preparatory Committee for the 2018 Inter-Korean Summit | April 18, 2018

Through the online platform of the 2018 inter-Korean summit, ten leaders of South Korea’s seven major religions have delivered video messages conveying their wishes for a successful meeting and peace on the Korean peninsula.

The leaders voiced in unison their hope that the success of the summit will bring peace to the Korean Peninsula and the world. They were: the Venerable Seoljeong, president of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism; the Venerable Mundeok, president of the Chontae Order of Korean Buddhism; Andrew Cardinal Yeom Soo-jung, archbishop of Seoul; Monsignor Igino Kim Hee-joong, archbishop of Gwangju and president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea; the Reverend Lee Hong-jung, general secretary of Korean National Council of Churches; the Reverend Eom Gi-ho, executive director of the Christian Council of Korea; Han Eun-sook, executive director of the Won Buddhist Order; Lee Jeong-hee, chief of Chondogyo, an indigenous Korean religion with elements of Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, shamanism and Roman Catholicism; Kim Yeong-geun, president of the Sungkyunkwan Confucian Association; and Park Woo-gyun, president of the Association of Korea Native Religions.

Above all, the religious leaders expressed hopes for the summit to be a success.

● “There is no North or South when it comes to dialogue and harmony.” (Seoljeong)

● “The talks will be welcomed by everyone.” (Eom Gi-ho)

● “I wish that the fruit of peace comes to the Korean Peninsula.” (Andrew Yeom Soo-jung) “I hope that the upcoming inter-Korean talks will lead to the success of the following summit between North Korea and the U.S.” (Lee Jeong-hee)

● “I wish that the talks will establish peace on the Korean Peninsula and promote peace in Northeast Asia.” (Igino Kim Hee-joong)

● “I wish that the inter-Korean summit will serve as a momentum to realize the peace and happiness of humankind.” (Mundeok)

For the success of the upcoming talks, the leaders urged the gathering of wisdom rather than cause (Han Eun-sook) and expressed their wish for the holding of regular inter-Korean summits (Kim Yeong-geun) that eventually result in the denuclearization of the peninsula (Park Woo-gyun). One leader also proposed a “shift from the sentiment of the Cold War to the sentiment of peace (Lee Hong-jung).”

The religious leaders’ comments are summarized below.

Venerable Seoljeong, president of Korean Jogye Order of Buddhism
I am the president of the Korean Jogye Order of Buddhism. There is no North or South when it comes to dialogue and harmony. I earnestly pray for the inter-Korean summit to be successful and usher in a “spring of peace” on the Korean Peninsula. Let the flower of coexistence bloom so that all Koreans can have a bright future. I hope the summit will sow the seeds of peace in the hearts of everyone in the world.

Venerable Mundeok, president of Cheontae Order of Korean Buddhism
I wish for this historic inter-Korean summit slated for April 27 to be a success and serve as a momentum to resolve all conflicts and tension and realize peace and happiness of humankind. Fruit is born where flowers bloom. As such, may the Buddha’s light of mercy be with you so that the summit can bring peace to the Korean Peninsula and prosperity to our people.

Andrew Cardinal Yeom Soo-jung, archbishop of Seoul
Hello, I’m Andrew Yeom Soo-jung. I pray that through this summit, the fruit of peace will come to the Korean Peninsula and bring happiness to all.

Monsignor Igino Kim Hee-joong, archbishop of Gwangju and president of Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea
The Republic of Korea’s fate hinges on the upcoming inter-Korean summit. And its success and that of the following summit between the leaders of North Korea and the U.S. could serve as critical momentum to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula, promote peace in Northeast Asia and realize world peace. Fellow Koreans, I ask all of you for your active support and participation.

Reverend Lee Hong-jung, general secretary of Korean National Council of Churches
Spring 2018 is the time to cultivate the “spring of peace” on the Korean Peninsula, which is still suffering from division and the Cold War. Let us testify before the world that the division was not the end of our people’s history. Let’s do so through the process of healing, reconciliation and peaceful coexistence of the ethnic community of Korea. To allow the Korean Peninsula to move forward to an era of reconciliation, coexistence and peaceful coexistence, let’s shift from the sentiment of the Cold War to the sentiment of peace through the upcoming inter-Korean talks and the North Korea-U.S. summit. May we have overflowing longings for love and forgiveness, healing and reconciliation, justice and peace for the people wounded by the division and the Cold War.

Reverend Eom Gi-ho, executive director of Christian Council of Korea
The upcoming inter-Korean summit is tearing down the wall that stood between the two Koreas for over ten years. I hope that this meeting will be greatly welcomed as yearned and prayed by everyone. The North and South have conducted exchanges through the PyeongChang Olympics, culture, art and music. Now I hope that the two Koreas can become one beautiful land of Korea that enjoys the world’s respect. I pray to and thank our Lord for his protection and being with us until then. In particular, I hope the two leaders will have a heart-to-heart and successful dialogue. I will wholeheartedly pray for the summit with hopes for the day of evangelical unification that will save the nation and people.

Han Eun-sook, executive director, Won Buddhist Order
Spring is already in the air everywhere. The spring that has come to the Korean Peninsula in 2018 is not the ordinary kind. We should persevere and give way for this spring to become a robust foundation for unification that will restore coexistence, peace and unity. We should also gather wisdom that trumps any cause and pave our path. I earnestly pray for the Korean Peninsula to be nuclear-free and the framework of a unified nation to be laid.

Lee Jeong-hee, chief of Chondogyo
Our people’s unification will determine the fate of Korea and that of the world. For that, we need to establish peace. I hope the inter-Korean talks on April 27 will be successful. Along with my fellow Koreans, I also hope and pray for the success of the following summit between North Korea and the U.S.

Kim Yeong-geun, president of Sungkyunkwan Confucian Association
With the momentum provided by the PyeongChang Olympics, inter-Korean relations have begun to thaw and appear to have reached a spring season. Peace between the two Koreas is a shortcut to world peace. I wholeheartedly pray for the success of the upcoming inter-Korean summit, which is just around the corner. I also hope that the North and South will have summits on a regular basis without being influenced by surrounding situations, and this can serve as a stepping stone for unification. All parties should make joint efforts to make sure that this rare chance for both Koreas to reconciliate comes to fruition.

Park Woo-gyun, president of Association of Korea Native Religions
An inter-Korean summit will take place. I’m sure that this meeting will realize both a Korean Peninsula and a peaceful world without nuclear arms. All of us, the people of faith, will pray for this success.