2026 Easter Unity Service: President Lee Jae-myung's Call for National Harmony

So Gang-seok, chairman of the CBS Foundation and senior pastor of Sae Eden Church, praised President Lee Jae-myung, saying his wholehearted commitment to national unity and a pragmatic approach \"is admirable even to the Korean church.\"

In his welcome address at the 2026 Korean Church Easter Joint Service at Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul on the 5th, Pastor So said President Lee—who has endured profound despair—has uplifted the vulnerable and struggling with hope and, despite his humble origins, has never forgotten his roots.

He added, \"I believe our president reveres God, loves the Korean church, and has come here to help build a history of peace on the Korean Peninsula,\" and stressed, \"I hope that through today’s service the Korean church will become an epicenter of life and revival — a wellspring for national unity and peace on the peninsula.\"

The congregation erupted in cheers and applause in response to those remarks.

73 Protestant denominations from across Korea participated in the service, which drew about 10,000 people — the largest turnout in its history.

President Lee attended the service with his wife, Kim Hye-kyung. Also present were Speaker of the National Assembly Woo Won-sik and his wife; Democratic Party leader Jeong Cheong-rae; People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk; Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon; Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik; Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Choi Hwi-young; People Power Party lawmakers Cho Jeong-hoon and Cho Bae-sook; and Democratic Party lawmaker Park Joo-min. Park Seung-ryeol, general secretary of the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK), also attended and offered congratulatory remarks.

Introduced by Lee Young-hoon, senior pastor of Yoido Full Gospel Church, President Lee took the podium and responded by recalling his relationship with Pastor So.

The president said, \"You may not know this, but Pastor So Gang-seok is a longtime friend of mine. I may be a bit biased, but I am grateful,\" and added, \"I am thankful to join you in this Easter joint service today.\"

He said, \"The Easter joint service has long conveyed a message of love and hope to our society. It offers neighbors in need hope for tomorrow and gives the nation strength when it faces difficult times.\"

Quoting John 20:19, \"Peace be with you,\" he said, \"At a time when global order is unstable, wars persist, and economic hardship continues, we must revisit the meanings of peace and love.\" He emphasized that \"the resurrection’s message is the promise of hope that enables us to rise again from despair and the pledge of love and solidarity toward one another.\"

He urged the Korean church to \"join in prayer and take the lead in uniting the hearts of the people.\"

Political figures also connected the meaning of the resurrection to solidarity, reconciliation and peace.

Speaker Woo Won-sik said, \"This joint service, held beyond denominational and ideological differences, resonates deeply with our society,\" calling that unity the direction the country should pursue.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon described Jesus’ peace as \"a declaration of reconciliation that heals a divided community,\" Democratic Party leader Jeong Cheong-rae called \"the resurrection an event that moves us from oppression to life,\" and People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk said \"confidence in the resurrection allows us to speak about reunification and the future.\"

Speaker Woo introduced himself as \"an ordained deacon serving as the Speaker of the National Assembly,\" and Leader Jeong shouted \"Hallelujah\" three times before identifying himself as a kwonsa (a lay church officer) in the Nazarene Holiness Church.

Park Seung-ryeol, general secretary of the NCCK, said, \"Easter 2026 marks a year in which our country’s history is opening anew. Our democracy has been revived, and the light of the resurrection shines across the land.\" He added, \"Making democracy flourish is the work not only of political leaders but of the Korean church,\" and stressed, \"When the Korean church leads, peace, democracy and life can take root in this land.\"

Observers described the Easter service as a symbolic moment in which religious leaders and politicians gathered to jointly emphasize national unity and peace on the Korean Peninsula.