Religious Leaders Urge Accurate Naming for North Korea to Foster Peace

Senior religious leaders in South Korea have called for mutual respect in addressing North Korea, emphasizing the importance of using the official name of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The appeal, made by the Council of Senior Religious Leaders for Korean Religious Leaders on Tuesday, aims to establish a foundation for peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula.

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We must restore the language of mutual respect, moving beyond the language of hostility and confrontation.

The leaders stated that overcoming hostility and confrontation requires restoring respectful language. They believe that peace begins with the simple act of calling each other by name with respect. The council expressed hope for dialogue and cooperation, urging North Korea to engage in these paths. They also conveyed a desire for meetings between religious figures from both North and South.

Signatories to the declaration include prominent figures such as Kim Hee-joong, former chairman of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea; Wonhaeng, former executive director of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism; Kim Young-joo, former general secretary of the National Council of Churches in Korea; and others representing Won Buddhism, Cheondoism, and Confucianism.

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Peace begins with respecting the other's name.

The council appealed to the South Korean public, media, civil society, and academia to foster a culture and language that respects the other side from a perspective of peaceful coexistence. They also urged the government to proactively lead the way in dialogue and rebuilding trust as a key party to inter-Korean affairs.

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We hope for dialogue and cooperation, and ask North Korea to come out onto the path of dialogue and cooperation.