Pastor Lee Young-hoon Appointed as New President of the Korean Churches Association

Inaugural Address: "Hoping for the Church to be Newly Reformed and Transformed"

On the 8th, Lee Young-hoon, newly elected president of the Christian Council of Korea at the 6th regular general meeting held at the 100th Anniversary Memorial Hall of the Korean Church in Jongno-gu, Seoul, is speaking. Photo by the Christian Council of Korea

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo Mideum] Pastor Lee Young-hoon has been appointed as the new representative chairman of the Korea Church Federation (Hangyochong), a united organization of Protestant churches.

Hangyochong announced on the 8th that at the 6th regular general meeting held at the 100th Anniversary Memorial Hall of the Korean Church in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Pastor Lee Young-hoon, the representative chairman of the Christian Council of Korea (Yoido Full Gospel Church senior pastor), was elected as the new representative chairman. Pastors Kwon Soon-woong and Song Hong-do were named as co-representative chairmen.

In his inaugural speech, Representative Chairman Lee said, "Seeing the problems facing our society and the Korean church, I feel the responsibility of the representative chairman's position is very serious." He cited the COVID-19 pandemic, the strained inter-Korean relations due to North Korea's military provocations, and the severe low birthrate as pressing challenges.

He continued, "Political ideology, conflicts and confrontations based on generation and gender are intensifying day by day, and natural disasters such as wildfires and typhoons, along with the October 29 Itaewon tragedy, have plunged our entire society into deep trauma. The responsibility of the Korean church is by no means light. The Korean church, which should convey light, truth, and hope to our society, has lost people's trust due to church authority disputes, division and conflict, materialism, and moral laxity among some pastors," he pointed out.

Representative Chairman Lee emphasized, "Now, centered on Hangyochong, I hope that all churches and pastors thoroughly self-reflect, sincerely repent all past wrongdoings before God, and be reborn through reform and change."

He added, "I wish for the Korean church to become a church that serves the marginalized and poor neighbors, heals social conflicts, prays and unites efforts to prepare practical measures for unification, and properly addresses social issues such as the low birthrate problem, anti-discrimination law issues, private school law amendments, and climate issues."