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| A group of demonstrators takes to the street near the Embassy of Russia in central Seoul to protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Tuesday. Yonhap |
By Park Han-sol
In the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine last week, many of the religious bodies in Korea have come forward to unite against the aggressor and stand with the war-stricken country.
The Korean Conference of Religions for Peace (KCRP) ― an umbrella organization made up of religious organizations for Protestantism, Catholicism, Buddhism, Won Buddhism, Confucianism, Chondogyo and the Association for Korean Native Religions ― released a statement on Monday, saying that no crisis can be resolved by brute, barbaric force.
"We are sure that this war, although triggered as a result of a multitude of historical and political factors, can be overcome through dialogue alone," the organization said, calling for solidarity from all those in support of lasting peace.
The same day, Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung of the Korean Catholic Church also said in a statement, "Whenever I met with bishops in the East European nations, we would talk about overcoming conflicts and pursuing the road to peace. The news of this war has caused so much pain in us."
Yeom also pledged to send emergency relief funds of $50,000 to Ukraine's Catholic Church through the missionary support foundation launched in memory of the late Cardinal Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk, to aid the war-torn population.
In an official statement released on Wednesday, Ven. Wonhaeng, president of the largest Buddhist order in Korea, the Jogye Order, denounced Russia's invasion as an "unjustified war launched simply to satisfy its own self-interest." He added that the pain and anguish experienced by Ukrainian citizens should be shared by all in the world.
The Buddhist order has designated Thursday as a day of prayer for Ukrainian people and peace, delivering relevant guidelines to all temples across the nation.
The Korean National Association of Christian Pastors, an organization of the representatives of 15 Christian bodies, similarly announced its strong criticism against Russia.
"The country's aggression is an act that has trampled over not only the Charter of the United Nations and the international legal order, but also the values set forth by the Christian faith," pastor Ji Hyung-eun, who serves as the head of the association, stated.
The organization urged Korea, a country that has been subjected to invasions and occupations, to join actively in international efforts to apply necessary sanctions on the aggressor.
"We pray that the world acts in solidarity to raise its voice against the war and yearn for peace," Ji added.
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