[Kim Seong-kon] What we learned from Pope Francis’ visit here

South Korea is a paradise for religions. Indeed, Koreans are so religious that all kinds of religions thrive here. Most Koreans are either Christians or Buddhists, but you can also find Muslims in Korea. Churches, cathedrals and temples in Korea are always bustling with multitudes of Protestants, Catholics and Buddhists. Add to these the numerous unorthodox churches that Protestants or Catholics may call heretic. It seems nonbelievers are hard to find in today’s Korean society.

Perhaps that is why Pope Francis’ recent visit to Seoul was so sensational for Koreans. Approximately 300,000 people attended the Pope’s public 

Mass held at Gwanghwamun Square. Not only Catholics but also people from other religious creeds and denominations welcomed the pope. During his sojourn in Korea, Pope Francis, with his charming personality and remarkable humility, easily transcended religious boundaries and quickly earned respect from all Koreans, both believers and nonbelievers. Thinking of the pope as a symbol of peace and reconciliation, Koreans hoped he could bring peace to the two mutually hostile Koreas.

Indeed, Pope Francis brought a powerful message of peace to the divided Korean Peninsula, which is still not free from Cold War geopolitics. His message of peace was also directed to the people of South Korea. By repeatedly comforting the grief-stricken, bereaved families of the victims of the Sewol ferry tragedy, Pope Francis silently but strongly urged us to put an end to the use of the tragic incident for political gain and seek long-overdue reconciliation instead. It is a shame that South Korea is now torn by hate and antagonism, and that we are fighting against each other as if we were archenemies.

Looking at so many Christians and Buddhist around me, I find it difficult to understand the hatred and hostility prevalent in our society. If we are Christian, should we not love our neighbor as ourselves? If we are Buddhist, should we not be merciful to our enemies? The first thing you learn when you become a Christian is “love” and “charity.” The first thing you learn when you become a Buddhist is “mercy” and “compassion.” How, then, could you detest your neighbor so much? How could you be mean and cruel to others so mercilessly? South Korea, a nation full of Christians and Buddhists, should have been a country of “love and charity” and “mercy and compassion,” not a nation of hatred and antagonism.

Unfortunately, South Korea seems to have become a nation torn by political ideologies, regional prejudices and spiteful grudges. Sometimes, I cannot help but wonder, “Why, then, do we go to church? What do we pray for?” It seems we go to church to pray only for our personal blessings and for our family’s prosperity and safety. If that is the case, we are hopelessly selfish, betraying the true spirit of Christianity. Our politicians are invariably Christians or Buddhists. How, then, can they antagonize their opponents so callously and harm them without the slightest hesitation? It seems they only use the church for political gain, to secure votes and supporters.

Therefore, it may not be going too far to say that not all churchgoers are true Christians, and by the same token, not all templegoers are true Buddhists. Indeed, as Laurence J. Peter aptly puts it, “Going to church does not make you any more a Christian than going to the garage makes you a car.” A true Christian or a Buddhist should be someone who can forgive his enemies and embrace them. He should be someone who can do to others as he would have them do to him, as the Bible says.

Regrettably, history tells us that Christians killed many people whom they condemned as heretics or witches. We know that during the Crusades and the Inquisition in the medieval period many unpardonable sins were committed out of self-righteousness.

The same thing once happened in Korea, too. Hwang Sok-young’s novel “The Guest” depicts the tragic massacre of communists by a group of right-wing Christians in Sinchon, North Korea, in 1950. In Korea, smallpox is called “the guest” as it came from overseas. Once you contract smallpox, you will be doomed to have a pockmarked face for the rest of your life. According to Hwang, Christianity and Marxism, the two unwelcome guests from the West, also left indelible scars on the Korean people, just as smallpox did.

In his sermon, Pope Francis exhorted us to combat materialism and unbridled competition, which ultimately generate selfishness and antagonism in our society. As Christians or Buddhists, we should become affectionate and altruistic, embracing even our mortal enemies. When religious belief turns into religious fanaticism, it can easily provoke conflicts and clashes, and fuel a dastardly massacre in which innocent people are killed without remorse.

Koreans are religious people. Instead of engaging in factional brawls and ideological skirmishes, we should build a society that is full of love and charity, and mercy and compassion. That is what we learned from Pope Francis’ visit to Korea. 

By Kim Seong-kon

Kim Seong-kon is a professor of English at Seoul National University and president of the Literature Translation Institute of Korea. ― Ed.