Christian Conscience says 'No' to the construction of a naval base on Jeju Island

The Most Rev. Peter Kang U-il, President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea (CBCK) and Bishop of Cheju, reasserted his opposition to the construction of a naval base on Jeju Island in his special contribution entitled "Christian Conscience says 'No' to the construction of a naval base on Jeju Island".

Bishop Kang emphasized, "Jeju Island should be an island of true peace in the spirit of the Jeju April 3 Incident*", and added that "the construction of a military base on this island stained with so much innocent blood, is an act of trampling the graves of the victims, making their death be worthless ."

He continued, "If we cannot make peace out of much blood of the victims overcoming ideological violence, Korea will lose a golden opportunity for democracy to leap forward," and "that's why Jeju Island should be an Island of peace, not only for the citizens of Jeju but also for all Korean people, and, furthermore, it should be an outpost for peace so that the world peace can take one step forward."

He stressed that making Jeju Island an island of peace, not a military base is the only way to share in the Divine Plan for salvation." At the same time, he asked a rhetorical question, "Is it really for the nation to construct a naval base costing about 1 trillion won, in a difficult situation where many people are suffering from economic down-turn and increased wealth-polarization?"

Bishop Kang said also that all the Holy Fathers in our age have with one voice appealed for peace by way of disarmament. Then he urged that all Christians should listen to the voice of truth taught consistently by the Church in our world and be at the forefront to save the world from destruction caused by fearful force.