K-Culture

Korea's rich cultural heritage is a blend of ancient traditions and modern innovations. Shaped by Confucian and Buddhist influences, Korean society places a high value on respect, family, and community as core social principles.

Yet today, these foundations face growing challenges, including intergenerational tensions, a declining birth rate, and the enduring division of the Korean Peninsula. In addition, while Christianity has seen significant growth since its introduction in the 1700s, a large portion of the population identifies as non-religious, presenting Korean Catholics with the task of living out their faith within a complex and diverse cultural landscape.

I am well aware of how anxious the Catholics of Korea are to build society on the solid foundations of justice and respect for human dignity. They seek cooperation with people from different religious backgrounds and with all people of good will in the great cause of building bridges of understanding, mutual esteem and common enterprise in the peaceful ordering of life in their own land and in the world, in such a way that even profound differences of outlook and conviction need not stand as obstacles to peace. As believers, they know that peace is a divine gift to be implored, and they therefore pray unceasingly for the reunification of their country, as the proper response to the deepest aspirations of the Korean heart.

In a nation still divided by ideology and history, the Church in South Korea acts as a bridge of love, seeking to create a culture of peace. Pilgrims coming to World Youth Day in Korea will encounter a vibrant tapestry of cultural, spiritual, and historical experiences—where ancient tradition meets modern innovation, and where the Church’s mission of truth, love, and peace unfolds in a land marked by resilience and hope.

Check out the websites below to learn more about Seoul and South Korea.