Young Catholics in South Korea are calling on the Church to step up its public role in peacebuilding, as a new study reveals a steady decline in support for inter-Korean reconciliation among younger generations.
The findings were presented at the Forum for Peace on the Korean Peninsula in Seoul, an event organized by the Committee for Reconciliation in Korea, according to a report by Vatican’s Fides News Agency.
The gathering brought together theologians, youth ministry practitioners, and young leaders and formed part of preparations for World Youth Day 2027, where peace is set to play a central role.
The study involved in-depth interviews with Catholics aged 19 to 39 in the Archdiocese of Seoul.
Researchers found that young people understand peace on personal, social, and national levels as “a condition free from conflict and violence.”
They also see these levels as deeply interlinked, noting that “peace achieved at each level can influence the other levels.”
At the same time, the long-standing belief that Koreans on both sides of the peninsula share “the same history,” “the same culture,” and a common identity is weakening.
The idea of reunification is “fading,” researchers said, while political tensions reinforce the perception that division is “necessary” and that an “enemy” persists beyond the so-called “bamboo curtain.”
Church leaders said the findings underscore the need to nurture “the desire for peace and reconciliation,” especially among younger Catholics.
Interviewees acknowledged that South Korean society and the peninsula are marked by “conflict and mistrust,” highlighting the need for dialogue, listening, and communication.
But they also described the Church’s influence in public life as “limited” because of the traditional separation between Church and State.
Still, respondents expressed confidence in the Church’s spiritual role, saying that faith, the sacraments, and prayer can serve as “guidelines for peace” and help in “achieving social peace.”
Even so, many young people believe the Church must act more visibly. While they welcome its “potential to practice peace,” they also think Catholic communities could “do more in the public sphere.”
According to the study’s authors, young Catholics view peace both “as citizens” and as “believers.” They expect Church institutions to take “more concrete actions and make more visible efforts” to demonstrate their commitment as “builders of peace.”
