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“The World Council of Churches calls on its global fellowship for solidarity and advocacy supporting the churches in Korea in their peace-building efforts and promoting the Korea Peace Appeal campaign,” says WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay. “We are committed to continue our peace-building efforts and advocacy for justice worldwide, and transition from the armistice agreement to a peace treaty is a crucial step towards achieving lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula and beyond.”
Year 2023 marks the 70th anniversary of the 1953 Armistice Agreement that established a ceasefire in the Korean War, but did not formally end the war itself. The WCC has long supported the efforts by the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK) to advocate for a peace treaty to replace the Armistice Agreement. The unresolved state of war since 1953 has posed security risks, led to increased militarization, and incurred major political and economic costs for the people on the Korean Peninsula.
Korea Peace Appeal is an international campaign that seeks to amplify voices calling for an end to the Korean War and a transition from armistice to peace on the Korean Peninsula, collecting signatures to support this cause at en.endthekoreanwar.net.
The WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany mandated its member churches and partners to accompany the Korean churches in their advocacy through the Korea Peace Appeal campaign, adopting the “Minute on ending the war and building peace on the Korean Peninsula”.
The NCCK is among more than 370 South Korean civil society organizations and religious groups behind the campaign, and more than 70 international partner organizations, including the WCC, are supporting the Korea Peace Appeal
During the year, WCC will publish series of interviews with church leaders and experts involved in the peace-building process on the Korean peninsula, as well as promote the resources included in its 2020 publication “The Light of Peace: Churches in Solidarity with the Korean Peninsula.”
On 27 July, WCC will participate in the Korean Peace Appeal Conference marking the 70th anniversary of the Armistice Agreement. WCC also invites its member churches to join Sunday of Prayer for the Peaceful Reunification of the Korean Peninsula, to be held on 30 July this year.
WCC publication “Light of peace”
Report on sanctions impact launched at the UN Human Rights Council (WCC news release, 10 March 2023)
