Mayor Lee Yong-seop "Thank You for the Religious Community's Active Cooperation in Responding to COVID-19"

Religious Leaders Form Interfaith Council to Collaborate on Gwangju Development

Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong-seop is taking a commemorative photo with representatives of the five major religious organizations in Gwangju who participated in practicing "high-intensity social distancing" to block the spread of COVID-19 local infections on the 29th, before a luncheon meeting. From the left: Jang Deok-hoon, Head of Won Buddhism Gwangju Jeonnam Diocese; Monk Do-gye (Vice President of Gwangju Buddhist Association); Lee Yong-seop, Mayor of Gwangju; Archbishop Kim Hee-jung (Head of the Catholic Archdiocese of Gwangju); Pastor Lee Jong-gi (Chairman of Gwangju Christian Council); Kim Jung-chae, Jeongyo (29th Jeongyo of Gwangju Hyanggyo). Photo by Gwangju Metropolitan City.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] On the 29th, Lee Yong-seop, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, held a luncheon meeting at a restaurant in downtown Gwangju with representatives of the five major religious organizations: Pastor Lee Jong-gi, President of the Gwangju Christian Council; Monk Do-gye, Senior Vice President of the Gwangju Buddhist Federation; Archbishop Kim Hee-jung of the Catholic Archdiocese of Gwangju; Jang Deok-hoon, Head of the Won Buddhism Gwangju-Jeonnam Diocese; and Kim Jung-chae, Jeongyo of Gwangju Hyanggyo, to express gratitude for their cooperation in proactive COVID-19 response.

The mayor said, “Due to religious beliefs and characteristics, it is by no means easy to suspend collective worship and gatherings and participate in ‘high-intensity social distancing,’ but I deeply thank the religious leaders and citizens who actively cooperated for the health of the citizens and the safety of the Gwangju community.”

He continued, “On March 1st, the five major religions joined together in the spirit of sharing and solidarity of Gwangju by announcing the ‘Special Statement for the Gwangju Community,’ which became a local government cooperation model through the ‘Moonlight Alliance Bed Solidarity’ and served as a great driving force to overcome the COVID-19 crisis,” expressing his gratitude again.

In response, Archbishop Kim Hee-jung of the Catholic Archdiocese of Gwangju said, “It is unprecedented that the public and private sectors trusted and cooperated with each other like this,” emphasizing, “The religious community should take the lead and continuously cooperate so that COVID-19 becomes an opportunity for turning adversity into fortune, raising not only the economic level of citizens but also their happiness index mentally and culturally.”

Representatives of Christianity, Buddhism, Won Buddhism, and Hyanggyo also agreed on the idea of “meeting regularly to join forces for the development of a healthy and robust local community,” and decided to form a consultative body for Gwangju’s development and hold regular monthly meetings.

Mayor Lee also expressed his “active welcome” to the resolution of the representatives of the five major religious communities and requested their interest and support for Gwangju’s post-COVID-19 preparations and the 40th anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Movement.

The mayor said, “Preparing for the post-COVID-19 era is as important a task as responding to COVID-19. Our city will take a new leap forward with the Gwangju-type job project and artificial intelligence project as its two wings,” adding, “Although the Gwangju-type job project recently faced a major obstacle, thanks to the citizens’ earnest wish to succeed in this project, we are overcoming another big mountain,” and asked for continued unwavering support.

Regarding the 40th anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Movement, he said, “Due to COVID-19, most commemorative events except for the 40th anniversary ceremony have been canceled or postponed,” and requested, “Using SNS and other online means, I ask the five major religions to take great interest and join together so that the citizens of Gwangju can unite as one, contribute to the national and global recognition of May 18, and ensure a complete truth investigation.”

The mayor also requested the religious community to take the lead in fostering a citizen consciousness befitting Gwangju.

He said, “Gwangju is a city with the strength to successfully host the Gwangju World Swimming Championships last year with a high level of civic consciousness,” and added, “In line with Gwangju’s reputation as a city of righteous spirit, I ask the five major religions to help greatly in enhancing Gwangju’s dignity by maintaining order, and achieving a ‘3-No Gwangju’ free of illegal parking, illegal banners, and drunk driving.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.