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President's statement on Constitutional Court of Korea ruling

Uniting Church President Rev Charissa Suli has shared a statement and prayer after the Constitutional Court of Korea upheld the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol

April 4, 2025

A Pastoral Statement on the Constitutional Court’s Ruling in South Korea

Rev Charissa Suli, President of the Uniting Church in Australia

In this moment of historic change for the people of South Korea, I offer my heartfelt prayers and deep solidarity on behalf of the Uniting Church in Australia.

We give thanks for the courage and faithfulness of our partner churches in Korea—the Presbyterian Church of the Republic of Korea (PROK), the Presbyterian Church of Korea (PCK), and others—who have called for justice, peace, and democratic renewal following the unconstitutional declaration of martial law late last year.

We acknowledge the pain and division that many in Korea have experienced and the resilience of those who have peacefully defended democracy and human dignity.

To our Korean congregations here in Australia: we see you, we love you, and we are holding you in prayer. In times of upheaval and transition, we turn again to Christ, who calls us to be peacemakers and reconcilers in the world.

We echo the vision shared by many in Korea that this may be the beginning of healing, justice, and new possibilities. May the Korean Church continue to be a prophetic voice of hope grounded in the Gospel of love, humility, and truth.

As the nation now turns to prepare for an election within the next two months, we pray for peace, unity, safety and democratic process.

As the prophet Isaiah reminds us: 

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43:19)

Let us pray:

"We echo the vision shared by many in Korea that this may be the beginning of healing, justice, and new possibilities."

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A Prayer for South Korea

God of justice and compassion, 
we pray for the people of South Korea— 
for calm in the streets, 
for wisdom in leadership, 
and for healing where there has been pain and division.

We give thanks for the courage of those who stood for truth, 
for the faithfulness of the Church in its prophetic witness, 
and for the hope that springs from your Spirit.

May your peace flow across the land— 
bringing reconciliation, restoring trust, 
and renewing hearts and institutions.

Strengthen our Korean siblings in faith, 
in Korea and here in Australia. 
Help us walk together in solidarity, 
woven by your love, grounded in Christ.
Amen.

Korean translation with thanks to Uniting Church President-elect Rev Dr Paul Goh

한국 헌법재판소의 윤석열 대통령 탄핵심판 선고에 즈음한 목회 성명

카리사 술리 목사, 호주 연합 교회 총회장

한국 국민의 역사적 변화의 이 순간에, 저는 호주 연합 교회를 대표하여 진심 어린 기도와 깊은 연대를 표합니다.

우리는 정의, 평화, 민주적 쇄신을 요구한 한국의 파트너 교회인 기독교 대한감리회(KMC), 한국기독교 장로회(PROK), 대한 예수교 장로회(통합, PCK) 등 여러 교회들의 용기와 신실함에 감사드립니다. 우리는 한국에서 많은 사람들이 겪은 고통과 분열, 그리고 민주주의와 인간 존엄성을 평화롭게 수호한 시민들의 회복력을 인정합니다.

호주에서 살고있는 우리 한인교회 성도님들에게: 우리는 여러분을 보고, 사랑하며, 기도로 붙잡고 있습니다. 격변과 전환의 시기에 우리는 다시 그리스도께로 향합니다. 그분은 우리를 세상에서 평화를 만들고 화해시키는 자가 되라고 부르십니다.

우리는 헌법재판소의 이번 탄핵선고가 치유, 정의, 새로운 가능성의 시작이 될 수 있다는 한국의 많은 사람들이 공유하는 비전에 공감합니다. 예언자 이사야가 우리에게 상기시키듯이, 한국 교회가 사랑, 겸손, 진실의 복음에 기반을 둔 희망의 예언적 목소리가 되기를 빕니다.

"보라 내가 새 일을 행하리니 이제 나타낼 것이라 너희가 그것을 알지 못하겠느냐?“ (이사야 43:19)

기도합시다.

한국을 위한 기도

정의로우시고 자비로우신 하나님,

우리는 한국 국민을 위해 기도합니다. 

거리에는 평온함이,

지도자들에게는 지혜를,

고통과 분열이 있는 곳에는 치유를 내려 주소서.

진실을 위해 일어선 시민들의 용기, 

예언적 사명을 향한 교회들의 충실함, 

당신의 영에서 솟아나는 희망에 감사드립니다.

당신의 평화가 온 땅에 흘러가서

화해를 가져오고, 신뢰를 회복하고, 

마음과 제도를 새롭게 하소서.

한국과 호주에서 살고 있는 우리 한인 형제 자매들이 신앙안에서 굳세게 하소서.

당신의 사랑으로 엮어지고, 그리스도 안에 뿌리를 둔 연대 속에서 함께 걸을 수 있도록 도와주시기를 기도합니다.

아멘.

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