Cross-posting the following translation of an article originally written in Korean and published in the Kookmin Ilbo (source)
People of various skin colors gathered on the Dogae Bridge in front of the Imjin River in Paju City, Gyeonggi province on September 20th. At the very front of those taking group photos, there was a banner with the words “End the Korean War” that foreign participants had prepared themselves.
Standing on a portion of a bridge destroyed during the Korean War, multinational visitors reflected on the scars of war and the preciousness of peace. Jennifer Hu from Malaysia said, “The emptiness and sense of loss felt in the empty buildings in the Korean Demilitarized Zone made me think about the reality of inter-Korean relations once again.” The professor from Malaysia Baptist Theological Seminary in Penang, Malaysia, further emphasized, “Peace and reconciliation are very important themes in the Bible,” and “Just as Jesus reconciled us with God, Korean churches and Christians around the world should pray together and solve the Korean Peninsula issue.”
This pilgrimage was held as part of the ‘Pre-Lausanne Consultation’ event for peace and reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula, organized by Korean Christian organizations ahead of the 4th Lausanne Congress to be held in Korea. Approximately 130 participants from 40 countries participated in the trip.
Participants visited places that still bear the scars of war and division, such as the Inter-Korean Transit Office, Imjingak, Unification Village, and Odusan Unification Observatory. In particular, they had time to look directly into North Korean near the DMZ. Yoon Hwan-cheol, Secretary General of the Future Sharing Foundation, explained the purpose of the pilgrimage, saying, “The DMZ is not just a border, but a symbolic place that makes us realize why we must pray more and prepare for peace and reconciliation.”
After the pilgrimage, a prayer meeting was held at Incheon National University’s Songdo Campus. Koh Hyung-won and Baek Jong-beom led the prayer meeting. During the prayer meeting, prayers for peace and reconciliation were recited in various languages. Participants prayed for peace and reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula in their own languages.
On the 21st, a full-scale consultation will follow. The consultation is a place where all participants participate in small groups of about 10 people, freely share their opinions, and promote mutual understanding. About 170 Christian leaders from around the world will participate in the meeting on the topic of peace and reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula. Cho Sam, the former representative of Interserve Korea, said, “Christians from around the world will gain a deeper understanding and sympathy for the issue of peace and reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula,” and added, “I hope that the consultation will establish a voluntary cooperation network for peace around the world.”
NARI President Kim Jong-ho, the overall event coordinator, said, “The issue of the division of the Korean Peninsula is an important task that churches around the world must solve together,” and added, “This consultation is an important event that will help the Lausanne Congress held in Korea address the issue of the Korean Peninsula in more depth.”
This consultation will discuss not only the issue of the Korean Peninsula, but also conflict situations in various regions such as South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Participants from each country will seek solutions to their conflicts based on their experiences on the Korean Peninsula.”
To view some wonderful video content from the Pre-Lausanne Consultation on Peace and Reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula, please visit their YouTube Channel.
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