Kim Jungseok, President of the National Council of Churches in Korea: "The Roles of Politics and the Church Are Clearly Different... We Must Return to Our Essence"

Emphasizing the Principle of Separation of Church and State
"Returning to the Church's Essential Mission"
Promoting UNESCO World Heritage Status for Modern Christian Cultural Heritage
"Efforts for the Release of Missionaries Detained in North Korea"

Kim Jungseok, President of the National Council of Churches in Korea, reiterated the principle of the separation of church and state, stressing the need to clearly distinguish between the roles of politics and religion.

On the afternoon of the 8th, Kim Jungseok, President of the Korea Christian Federation, spoke at the New Year's press conference held at the Korea Christian Hall in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

At the New Year's press conference held at the Korea Christian Hall in Jongno-gu, Seoul, President Kim stated, "The domains that the political sphere must handle and those entrusted to the church are clearly different," emphasizing, "Each must faithfully fulfill its respective role."

He added, "The church can also express its opinions on society and politics, but such expressions should take place within the institutional framework and within the context of the church community." Regarding the recent situation in which some churches have participated in street rallies and raised political voices, he expressed concern, saying, "An individual's assertions or actions can damage the entire church community."

President Kim emphasized, "The church wields significant social influence, and with that comes corresponding responsibility. It is now time for the church to return to its essential mission." He added that as the church restores its focus on spreading the gospel, caring for the socially disadvantaged, and practicing service and sharing, its trust and public image will naturally be restored as well.

Having previously served as the senior pastor of Kwanglim Church and as the Presiding Bishop of the Korean Methodist Church, President Kim recently assumed the position of President of the National Council of Churches in Korea. He said, "Last year was a time of deep conflict and division across society, and it was a period for the Korean church to reflect on what kind of role it should play. This year, we must join forces to move beyond division and create unity and peace."

The National Council of Churches in Korea has identified as its key initiatives for this year the promotion of UNESCO World Heritage designation for Christian missionary sites, as well as the discovery and highlighting of modern Christian cultural heritage. President Kim stated, "Even within its relatively short 140-year history, Christianity has offered alternatives in dark times through the values of freedom, equality, and human rights. We plan to organize and widely promote the role Christianity has played in Korean society within its historical context."

In addition, the Council will work to strengthen solidarity with churches in Northeast Asia and pursue activities related to support for North Korea and the unification movement. On the issue of missionaries detained in North Korea, he said, "We will continue to pay attention and make ongoing efforts for their release."

President Kim made clear his opposition to the enactment of an anti-discrimination law, stating, "Existing individual laws are already sufficient alternatives, and the anti-discrimination law conflicts with Christian values in certain respects." He also mentioned the contribution of modern Christian private schools to social development and expressed the view that the Private School Act should be revised to guarantee the autonomy of private schools.

President Kim concluded, "The status of the Korean church in the international community has risen considerably. Going forward, we will continue to share the experiences of the Korean church and the progress of Korean society through international Christian organizations."