Plea for peace from the National Council of Churches in Korea

Warm greetings from NCC-Korea.

Today, 10th of March, 2017, the Constitutional Court of Korea shared it’s decision to uphold President Park Geun-hye’s impeachment. This is a monumental moment in our history that shows the strength of Korean people and the power we hold to make change.

We are hopeful with the ruling and recognize that this is an opportunity for the South Korean government to unite with Korean people to better serve our nation and Northeast Asia toward a time of peace. We, The National Council of Churches in Korea, appreciate your great support for justice and peace in Korean society.

However, we still have issues on justice and peace, not only in South Korea but also in the global sphere. One of the greatest issue we are now facing is the deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system.

Korean government brought THAAD from the U.S. military. Because of the deployment of THAAD, the tension between China and South Korea is mounting. China has begun a boycott of Korean products in China and the Chinese government is apprehensive about their military operations being monitored. North Korea also announced that they have prepared the nuclear weapon due to the deployment of THAAD.

People living in the Sungju village where THAAD is being placed are now living in terror of being attacked. Furthermore, the village is the holy place of Won Buddhism and they are fighting against the deployment. NCCK deeply sympathizes with their pain and suffering and stand in solidarity with Won Buddhist against THAAD.

We are also against the deployment of THAAD and nuclear weapon in North Korea. Nuclear weapons are terrifying Koreans with the threat of a nuclear war and we want peace for the Korean peninsula.

In these circumstances, NCCK decided to send a letter to the U.S. President Donald Tramp to remove THAAD from South Korea.

Please pray for peace and justice on Korean peninsula.

If you would like to join NCCK in asking President Trump to remove THAAD we ask your denomination and institution to also send a letter to the U.S. government opposing THAAD in solidarity with NCCK. 

Thank you for your support.

 

Rev. Roh, Hye Min

Program Director of NCCK Reconciliation and Unification Dept.

Rev. Kurt Esslinger

PC(USA) Mission Co-Worker assigned to NCCK