Religious Harmony
South Korea guarantees freedom of religion as it is a secular state. But this does not mean that everyone is free to have bias against specific faiths. Instead, believers are required to respect each other’s religion in order to promote interfaith harmony.
Politicians, bureaucrats and noted social figures must refrain from explicitly expressing support for or opposition to one religion or another. Needless to say, the President should maintain neutrality as far as religion is concerned.
It is somewhat strange to see a picture showing President Lee Myung-bak and first lady Kim Yoon-ok kneel and pray in an annual gathering of local church leaders, known as “Korea National Prayer Breakfast,” at Coex in southern Seoul on Thursday. Lee has become the first president to kneel in prayer at the event that started in 1968.
The picture may leave the impression that President Lee is a devout Christian. He is in fact an elder in Somang Church, a Presbyterian church in southern Seoul. Or it may imply that the President is also like ordinary believers kneeling in front of God. Or it could send a wrong message that Lee favors Christianity not as an individual worshipper but as the nation’s leader.
Presidential staff tried to dispel possible negative implications of Lee’s act, noting that he did not do anything special. Actually he did what other participants did. Sohn Hak-kyu, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party, was among them. The event was presided over by Rev. Kiel Ja-yeon, chairman of the Christian Council of Korea.
However, Lee’s action could be seen as irrelevant although it was not a prepackaged act. It is hard to justify his behavior by stressing that his kneeling was at the request of the priest at the scene. Rev. Kiel should have been more careful not to create an unnecessary controversy involving the President. The presidential office also should have made thorough preparations to avoid such an occurrence.
The episode came after the local Protestant churches blocked the National Assembly from passing a bill calling for tax benefits to holders of Islamic bonds, or “sukuk,” last week. Leaders of the churches have threatened to stage a no-vote campaign against lawmakers if they again push for the bill. Rev. Cho Yong-gi, founder and emeritus pastor of the Yeouido Full Gospel Church, has even threatened to force President Lee out of power unless his administration gives up the legislation bid.
The Christian move has ignited a controversy over the constitutional separation of religion from state. The Lee government has on and off caused a series of conflicts with religious groups, especially the Jogye Oder, the nation’s largest Buddhist sect, because of his alleged religious bias. We urge the President to firmly stick to secularism.
Reference: www.koreatimes.co.kr
Guide Questions:
1. Is religious tolerance really observed in Korea?
2. Is it true that some politicians and social figures explicitly express their support for or opposition to a particular religion?
3. What are the main religions in your country?
4. How does one religion treat the other?
5. Are there any tensions among religions?
6. What is so controversial about Pres. Lee's actions during an annual gathering of local church leaders? Do you find it controversial?
7. Do you think that the action of the president is sending the wrong message that he favors Christianity over other religions?
8. What can you say about this bill that gives tax benefits to holders of Islamic bonds [sukuk]?
9. What have church leaders threatened to do if the administration does not give up the legislation bid?
10. Do you agree with the article when it said that Pres. Lee is biased towards some religions?
11. Do you think this Islamic bonds issue would create conflicts among religions in your country?
