Church group vows to support democracy in Myanmar

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

Lifestyle

Mon, October 2, 2023 | 09:58

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Church group vows to support democracy in Myanmar

Posted : 2021-04-23 09:16

Updated : 2021-04-23 17:04

So Kang-suk, right, co-leader of the United Christian Churches of Korea (UCCK), one of the largest associations of Protestant churches in Korea, speaks during a video call with Mahn Win Khaing Than, the prime minister of the National Unity Government (NUG), newly formed government of Myanmar and opponents of the Myanmar's military coup, Wednesday. Courtesy of UCCK

By Park Ji-won

The United Christian Churches of Korea (UCCK), one of the largest associations of Protestant churches in Korea, said that its chief pledged to support the establishment of democracy in Myanmar during a call with Mahn Win Khaing Than, the prime minister of the National Unity Government (NUG), the newly formed government of Myanmar and opponents of Myanmar's military coup, which took power in February, and urged further support from Korean and international communities.

The UCCK said in a statement that So Kang-suk, a pastor and the group's co-leader, had a conference call with the NUG's prime minister on Wednesday afternoon and said, "I pray that the spring of Myanmar's democracy would come fast."

Stressing that Myanmar is in desperate need of support from Korean churches, the Korean government and international communities amid the murder of civilians by the military junta's forces, So also said "The UCCK has already started to help the country and continues to raise funds. I am going to ask for help by using my personal network so that the government officials and relevant people as well as international figures can get involved in the situation and help them."

The prime minister was quoted as saying to So that "Christians in Myanmar are taking the lead in this pro-democracy movement … I hope Korean churches could help and pray for Myanmar so that the country can welcome the democracy of the country."

The video call was cut short about thirty minutes due to the unstable connection in Myanmar. So and the prime minister pledged to hold another video call to discuss the situation.

So wrote on Facebook after the call, "There was also a pro-democracy movement in Korea in the 1980s. Korea was successful in the movement but Myanmar is still suffering … I urge people to pray for peace in Myanmar so that there would be no more casualties."

The move came after the NUG was formed last Friday in response to the military coup of Feb. 1, which ousted Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Due to the junta's military crackdown, more than 700 civilians were reportedly killed as of last week. Religious and activists groups in Korea and the Korean government have been making efforts to help the troubled country. The groups have been holding services to raise awareness of the situation in Myanmar. The government has suspended defense exchanges with Myanmar and banned arms exports to the Asian country.

So also had a meeting with Jeong Beom-ra, Yan Na Ying-tun and Somotu, leaders of the Myanmar Democracy Network in Korea, which is pushing for the establishment of a refugee camp called "Korea Safe Zone" in Myanmar.

jwpark@koreatimes.co.kr