South Korean bishops urge president-elect to serve people’s interests

Bishop Lee Yong-hoon, Chairman of the Bishops' Conference of South Korea, and Archbishop Jeong Sun-taek of Seoul, urged the president-elect to serve the Korean people's needs through integration development. 
 
The bishops conveyed this information to president-elect Yoon Suk-yeol in their recently published congratulatory greetings on the Archbishop of Seoul’s website. 
 
Suk-yeol, the country’s former attorney general and head of the conservative People Power Party was elected president on March 8.
 
Bishop Yong-hoon also asked the president-elect to restore public trust in his leadership and seek cooperation. 
 
“Above all, I hope the president-elect will do all possible to restore trust in leaders and hope for the future," Bishop Yong-hoon said.
 
The prelate begged him to serve as a vital figure in establishing the Republic of Korea while forwarding the spirit of working together. 
 
The bishop also wished the president-elect well as he deals with the many problems facing Korea right now, including the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 virus, the environmental damage caused by wildfires, and human rights violations.
 
Bishop Yong-hoon also requested the president-elect to encourage dialogue and reconciliation, including the possibility of reuniting with North Korea and the protection of human rights, which, he said, could be important.
 
"You were chosen by the people," he told the president-elect. "Please, above all, connect the hearts of all dispersed people."
 
He concluded by saying, "Serve with a pure heart, love the community, and work for the pleasure of the Korean people."
 
South Korea has about 5.6 million Catholics spread across three archdioceses, 14 dioceses, and a military ordinariate.