Yoon Visits Jeongdong First Methodist Church for Christmas Service... "Striving to Make the Nation a Good Gift"

Attended Mass at Hyehwa-dong Cathedral the Day Before, Followed by Christmas Celebration

President Yoon Suk-yeol stated on Christmas Day, the 25th, "I will strive to make the nation a good gift."

On the morning of the day, President Yoon visited Jeongdong First Methodist Church in Jung-gu, Seoul, to attend a Christmas service and celebrate the birth of baby Jesus, according to a written briefing by Kim Soo-kyung, spokesperson for the Presidential Office. Attending the Christmas service were Yoo In-chon, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Hwang Sang-moo, Senior Secretary for Civil Society of the Presidential Office, among others.

Previously, on last Christmas, President Yoon attended the Christmas service at Yeongam Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, which he attended during his childhood, and met his mentors Son Gwan-sik and Lee Soon-gil, who led the Boy Scouts when he was in elementary school.

Jeongdong First Methodist Church, established in 1885 by missionary Henry Appenzeller, is Korea's first Protestant church with a history of 138 years. The Bethel Chapel within the church was designated as Historic Site No. 256 in 1977.

Before the Christmas service began, President Yoon arrived at the church, exchanged Christmas greetings with Senior Pastor Cheon Young-tae and church members, and attended the service for about an hour. Upon hearing the senior pastor introduce his attendance, President Yoon stood up and responded with a greeting.

As President Yoon left the sanctuary, he shook hands individually with church members. A child handed him candy as a Christmas gift, and he took photos with young people who requested selfies.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

When an elderly man told the president, "I support you," President Yoon replied, "I will strive to make the nation a good gift."

President Yoon celebrated Christmas by visiting both Catholic and Protestant churches on the previous day and the day itself. He attended the Christmas Mass held at Hyehwa-dong Cathedral in Jongno-gu, Seoul, the day before.

President Yoon also posted on Facebook the previous day, saying, "Today, many people around us are practicing Jesus' love and nurturing the spark of hope," and promised, "I and the government will work harder so that the small spark can blaze into greater love."

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