Religious Leaders Call for Unity Following Constitutional Court's Ruling on President Yoon's Impeachment
On April 4, various religious leaders in South Korea issued statements urging respect for the Constitutional Court's ruling regarding the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol and called for national unity.
Buddhist leader Jinwoo, the head of the Jogye Order, emphasized the importance of respecting the court's decision, stating, "I earnestly request that all citizens approach this serious decision with a mature attitude and respect the legal judgment. While political views may differ, failing to honor the final legal judgment according to constitutional procedures will ultimately harm all of us as a nation." He added, "Today’s ruling is not an end but a new beginning towards a better country. What we must protect is not the power of one individual or a specific ideology, but the democracy of this nation and the lives of its people."
Bishop Lee Yong-hoon, chair of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea, remarked, "The legal proceedings regarding President Yoon's impeachment have come to a close. Now, as we enter the political phase, we must gather our wisdom to elect a new president who can lead our country effectively."
The Korean Council of Churches (한교총), represented by President Kim Jong-hyuk, released a statement affirming their respect for the court's decision. They urged the government to conduct the presidential election without disruption and called on both the ruling and opposition parties to refrain from inciting public conflict, return to the National Assembly, and engage in dialogue and compromise to restore representative democracy. They also advocated for a restructuring of power to prevent national division.
The Won Buddhism organization, through a statement from its leader Na Sang-ho, stressed the need to respect the Constitutional Court's decision and highlighted the urgent necessity for sincere apologies from political leaders to heal the divided hearts of the citizens.
