For the first time in the 140-year history of Korean Christianity, a large-scale Easter parade took place around Gwanghwamun Square and Seoul City Hall. As a non-political pure cultural event, about 60 teams and over 5,000 participants took part in the parade.
The parade, hosted by the Korea Christian Federation (HanGyoChong), a Protestant united organization, started at 2 p.m. from Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, proceeded along Sejong-daero to Seoul Plaza, and then returned to Gwanghwamun Square.
The march was broadly divided into the Opening, Old Testament Zone, New Testament Zone, Modern and Contemporary (Resurrection) Zone, and Next Generation Zone. Symbols such as the Ark of the Covenant and the cross from the Bible were imbued with meaning and expressed through character performances, percussion bands, talnori (mask play), pungmulnori (traditional Korean folk music), and Taekwondo demonstrations.
Gam Kyung-cheol, Co-Chairman of the 2023 Easter Parade Organizing Committee and Chairman of CTS Christian TV, said, “We are pleased to share the joy of the Resurrection with the general public through this parade,” adding, “We will do our best to improve it so that it becomes a cultural festival that the entire nation can enjoy together.”
Lee Young-hoon, Co-Chairman and Representative Chairman of the Korea Christian Federation, stated, “This was a march for true harmony and unity in our society,” urging, “Let us follow the sacrifice and humility of Jesus Christ to understand, forgive, and unite each other in a Korean society divided by factionalism and power struggles.”
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said, “Through this parade, Gwanghwamun Square and Seoul Plaza have been remembered as places of harmony, love, life, joy, and unity,” and expressed hope that “the Easter parade will continue to be held annually around Gwanghwamun Square.”
That afternoon, at Yeongnak Church in Jung-gu, Seoul, the Korean Church Easter United Worship Preparation Committee, with participation from 73 denominations, held an Easter united worship service. Attendees included President Yoon Suk-yeol, First Lady Kim Keon-hee, National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo, and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon.
President Yoon Suk-yeol is delivering a congratulatory speech at the 2023 Korean Church Easter Joint Worship held at Yeongnak Church in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 9th. [Photo by Presidential Office Press Photographers Group]
President Yoon Suk-yeol said, “The Korean church warmly embraces neighbors and fills our society with love. Recently, more than 7 billion won was raised to support victims suffering from the earthquake in T?rkiye, demonstrating love in action,” adding, “The government will also strive harder to warmly embrace the vulnerable in our society and create a warm society.”
Following this, a commemorative concert was held on a special stage set up at Gwanghwamun Square. Singers Ailee, Bumkey, Park Ki-young, Sindella and Delavella Singers, Harmonize, and a choir performed classical music, art songs, K-pop, and trot.
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