ASIA/SOUTH KOREA – WYD, an opportunity to keep the desire for peace on the Korean Peninsula alive in the hearts of young people

Seoul – “After participating in the ‘Wind of Peace’ initiative and the peace march along the inter-Korean border, I began to reflect on peace. Now, when we say, ‘Let’s pray for peace,’ I wonder if I am truly praying for peace with all my heart,” said one of the young Koreans who participated in a study on “Youth and Peace,” presented at the “Forum for Peace on the Korean Peninsula,” organized a few days ago in Seoul by the Committee for Reconciliation in Korea to mark its 30 years of commitment to peace on the Korean Peninsula. Theologians, youth ministry experts, and youth representatives addressed one of the central themes of World Youth Day 2027 in Seoul. As part of the study, in-depth interviews were conducted with young Catholics in the Archdiocese of Seoul to understand how the topic and concept of peace are perceived, and to analyze how and whether the Church community is succeeding in raising awareness among new generations about the search for peace and its urgency, starting with the situation on the Korean Peninsula. As Korean bishops and church representatives have stated on various occasions, the pursuit of reconciliation with North Korea is becoming less strong and less urgent in South Korean society over the years and with each new generation. The fundamental perception of “being part of the same history, being one people, having the same culture, being brothers and sisters” is weakening, and the idea of possible reunification is fading, while, due to political tensions, the conviction is gaining ground that division is “necessary” and that there is an “enemy” behind the “bamboo curtain.”
For this reason, the bishops note, the Church has a responsibility to keep “the desire for peace and reconciliation,” alive, especially in the hearts of young people. According to the study, young people define peace on a personal, social, and national level as “a condition free from conflict and violence.” They recognize that individuals, society, and the Korean Peninsula are interconnected, meaning that “peace achieved at each level can influence the other levels.” The young people have recognized that society and the Korean Peninsula are marked by “conflict and mistrust” and emphasize the need for dialogue, listening, and communication. In this context, the young people consider the influence of the Catholic Church on society as “limited” given the traditional separation of Church and State. At the same time, they remain convinced that faith, the sacraments, and prayer can be “guidelines for peace” and that the spiritual path can contribute to “achieving social peace.” On the other hand, young people believe that while the Catholic Church has the potential to practice peace, it could do more in the public sphere. According to the study’s authors, this shows that young Catholics think both “as citizens” and with their identity as “believers.” They believe that the Church can and must seek “more concrete actions and make more visible efforts” to truly demonstrate its role as “builders of peace.”

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