Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taick of Seoul called on South Korea’s political leaders to focus on the common good and national unity during a New Year’s Mass held for the National Assembly Catholic Members’ Committee on Jan. 7 at the National Assembly chapel.
His plea came amidst ongoing political instability and economic difficulties affecting the nation.
“Amidst the political turmoil, small businesses in alleyways are frozen, and our citizens are experiencing great difficulties,” Archbishop Chung said.
“Regardless of the ruling or opposition party, we must quickly restore political stability through democratic and constitutional procedures so that our society can once again demonstrate the political and social maturity befitting a world-leading cultural nation,” he added.
The Mass was attended by 26 members of the National Assembly Catholic Members’ Committee, including Chairman Kim Byung-kee (Ignatius) of the Democratic Party of Korea, Senior Vice Chairman Choi Hyung-du (Daniel) of the People Power Party, Park Soo-hyun (Antonio) of the Democratic Party of Korea, Na Kyung-won (Acela) of the People Power Party, and Lee Jun-seok (Andrea) of the Reform New Party.
Archbishop Chung called for greater political collaboration to tackle the nation’s pressing challenges, stressing the importance of moving beyond short-term partisan interests to focus on policies that serve the common good.
He highlighted that such an approach would lead to more significant political achievements and sustained public support over time.
“Political leaders with faith should uphold the values of love and respect that people have turned away from and actively speak and practice the values of harmony and coexistence, not confrontation and division,” he added.
Following the Mass, Archbishop Chung held a meeting with Speaker Woo Won-shik of the National Assembly in the Speaker’s Office, where they discussed the challenges South Korea faced over the past year.
The prelate praised Speaker Woo for his decisive leadership during a period of intense political turbulence, noting how his actions resonated with and inspired many citizens amid the upheaval.
Speaker Woo reflected on the gravity of the previous year’s events, saying, “At the end of last year, the country faced major crises, including martial law, impeachment, and an airplane disaster. Hearing the Archbishop’s Christmas message about the need for a warm, humane attitude of mutual respect was deeply comforting.”
Speaker Woo highlighted the importance of the upcoming World Youth Day in Seoul, set for 2027, as a platform to showcase South Korea’s energy and democratic resilience.
“I hope the event will provide young people with a meaningful opportunity to experience the dynamism of the Republic of Korea and the strength of its democracy,” Woo said.
He assured that the National Assembly would extend its full support to ensure the event’s success.
