ASIA/SOUTH KOREA – President Lee Jae Myung to Fides: “Peace begins when people meet and listen to one another”

Rome – The theme chosen for World Youth Day Seoul 2027, “Take courage! I have overcome the world” , carries a message of hope for a world marked by tensions and uncertainty. This was emphasized by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in an exclusive statement released to Fides News Agency about the international gathering that will bring young people from across the globe to the Korean capital.
“The theme chosen for World Youth Day Seoul 2027 speaks powerfully to our time. At a moment when conflict and division continue to test the foundations of peace and coexistence, it reminds us that hope is stronger than fear, dialogue is more powerful than confrontation, and solidarity remains the surest path through uncertainty. Young people today face extraordinary challenges, but also extraordinary possibilities. Their generation will help shape how humanity responds to division, inequality, technological transformation, and the urgent task of building a more peaceful future,” the President said.
Lee also highlighted the significance of World Youth Day as an opportunity for encounter among peoples and cultures and reaffirmed his country’s commitment to welcoming pilgrims from every continent: “The Republic of Korea is honored to host World Youth Day in Seoul in 2027. Our aspiration is that Seoul will become a place where young people deepen their faith, build lasting friendships, and discover anew the value of solidarity across borders and cultures. Over the months ahead, we will prepare to welcome young pilgrims from around the world with openness and hospitality, in the hope that Seoul 2027 will become a lasting expression of friendship, encounter,and peace”.
“We also look forward with great anticipation – he continued, just after meeting Pope Leo in Vatican city – to welcoming the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV. His presence in Seoul will remind us that moral leadership, compassion, and dialogue remain indispensable in a fractured world. I hope his encounter with young people will encourage a new generation to approach the future withcourage, generosity, and a renewed commitment to serving others and the common good”. In the final part of his message, the South Korean President connected the significance of the event with the particular reality of the Korean Peninsula, still marked by division, presenting dialogue andencounter as essential paths toward peace: “For the Korean people, these aspirations carry a particular resonance. Ours remains a peninsula marked by division, and we understand deeply the longing for reconciliation and lasting peace. While World Youth Day is not a political event, its witness to encounter and dialogue speaks to a universal truth: peace begins when people meet, listen to one another, and recognize their shared humanity. Peace on the Korean Peninsula and peace in the wider world are deeply connected. Every effort to foster understanding, trust, and mutual respect contributes to the cause of peace that all humanity seeks”. “Korea’s modern history – president Lee underlined – has taught us that even in difficult times, hope can overcome fear and solidarity can overcome division. We have seen how dialogue can open paths that once seemed closed, and how people working together can overcome challenges that once appeared insurmountable. My hope is that the young people who gather in Seoul in 2027 will carry that spirit back to their communities and countries. If they do, World Youth Day will leave a legacy far beyond Korea—a legacy of courage, friendship, and peace for generations to come.”

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