"The Church Sincerely Apologizes"... Self-Reflection of a 100-Year-Old Church

Cheongju Jeil Church Posts Banner on Building Exterior Wall on the 3rd

Amid public criticism over some churches insisting on in-person worship services, Cheongju Jeil Church, the oldest church in Cheongju, Chungbuk, drew attention by hanging an apology banner on the 3rd regarding the resurgence of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus infection).
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Bong-ju] Amid public criticism over some churches insisting on in-person worship services, Cheongju Jeil Church, the oldest church in Cheongju, Chungbuk, has drawn attention by hanging an apology banner regarding the resurgence of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus infection).

Located on Nammun-ro in Sangdang-gu, Cheongju, the Presbyterian Church of Korea Cheongju Jeil Church hung a large banner on the church's exterior wall on the 3rd. The banner contained the phrase "We sincerely apologize for the spread of COVID-19 by the church" along with the message "We will be good neighbors who do not ignore the pain of the world and the local community."

In a situation where negative public opinion toward churches is spreading due to cluster infections centered around some churches and some churches insisting on in-person worship services, this church's banner is causing a stir online.

Amid public criticism over some churches insisting on in-person worship services, Cheongju Jeil Church, the oldest church in Cheongju, Chungbuk, drew attention by hanging an apology banner on the 3rd regarding the resurgence of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus infection).
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The church has conducted all worship services online since March and then held in-person services while complying with social distancing and other quarantine rules. After the recent resurgence of COVID-19, they resumed online worship services.

Senior Pastor Lee Geon-hee said in an interview with Yonhap News, "Ordinary people see all churches as the same and express anger," adding, "The church needs to come to its senses and, if expressing faith, should listen to the voice of heaven. Seeing the church's failure to do so, the neighbors around us put up the banner so that they think 'the revealed appearance is not all of the church.'"

He continued, "Putting up the banner is nothing special or a big deal," and said, "It is proper for our church to have a feeling of apology toward society."

Cheongju Jeil Church Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, the church, established in 1904, is famous for its involvement in local anti-Japanese movements, anti-communism, and democratization movements after the Yushin era.

According to the Digital Cheongju Culture Encyclopedia, Cheongju Jeil Church was the first Protestant church in Cheongju and pioneered churches such as Mukbang Church and Deokchon Church. During the Japanese colonial period, it established Cheongnam School, Cheongsin Girls' School, Cheongsin Night School, and Sangdang Kindergarten, and after liberation, it founded Segwang Middle School and Segwang High School.

It was also the origin of Cheongju YMCA and YWCA, based on women's and youth movements during the Japanese colonial period, and from the late 1970s to the mid-1980s, many democratization movement rallies were held, including lecture meetings, national rallies for the release of conscience prisoners, and protests against the violent suppression of the Gwangju Democratization Movement.

The church has 1,000 registered members, including those in the church school.

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