Young people in South Korea lose hope of reconciling with the North

The Archbishop of Seoul (South Korea), Bishop Peter Soon-Taick Chung, referred to the recent decision of the North Korean dictatorship to block all roads and railways that connect both countries, pointing out that many young people in the south “are beginning to think that reconciliation or reunification are no longer viable paths.”

EIn an interview with the Vatican agency FidesBishop Chung was emphatic in pointing out that “hope is fading”, a discouraging panorama almost three years before the next World Youth Day (WYD) to be held in Seoul in 2027.

Despite the difficulties, the archbishop expressed that the Catholic Church remains firm in its constant call for peace and fraternity among peoples: “I think it is appropriate to continue dreaming of peaceful coexistence and keep alive the light of hope in Korean society, especially today, in this stagnation with the complete interruption of communication.”

“The Church continues to ask itself what can and should be done for peace,” he remarked. And he added: “We are pilgrims of hope also with regard to our relations with the North.”

Since last October 9, the North Korean army cut off traffic routes with its southern neighbor and reported that it would reinforce its presence in border areas, as a “self-defense measure to inhibit war and defend the security of North Korea” from its “main hostile and enemy state.”

For his part, Bishop Simon Kim Ju-young, Bishop of Chuncheon – a Latin ecclesiastical constituency with presence in both countries – told Fides that “both sides view each other with a certain animosity”, but that the attitude of the North Korean regime makes any approach, even humanitarian, impossible.

“And although Korean public opinion may still be quite divided on the policies to be adopted towards the North, when it comes to the advisability of sending humanitarian aid to North Korea, all the Korean people are in agreement. But North Korea keeps all channels closed, even the humanitarian one,” remarked Bishop Ju-young, who is also president of the Episcopal Commission for the Reconciliation of both nations.

The bishop affirmed that all the faithful of the Church on the Korean Peninsula will join in prayer to ask “for the doors to be opened.”

“For example, in some dioceses the faithful gather at nine at night to ask God for reconciliation and peace. In Seoul, Mass is celebrated every week for this intention and in my diocese of Chuncheon on the 25th of each month we celebrate a special prayer,” he said.

A few weeks ago, the Vatican shared the details of the XLI World Youth Day, which will be celebrated in Seoul in 2027 with the title “Have courage: I have overcome the world.”

In that presentation, Bishop Chung highlighted that the Catholic Church in Korea “is a testimony of the voluntary and dynamic faith of its first faithful, who received the seeds of the Gospel without the help of missionaries, guided by the Holy Spirit.”

Furthermore, he indicated that WYD will be “more than just a meeting,” as it will be a “significant journey” in which the youth of the entire world, united with Jesus Christ, will delve deeper into “the current challenges and injustices they face” and They will become “brave missionaries,” inspired to live the joy of the Gospel they have found.