Come to Andong

Recently, I heard that house prices in Seoul are soaring. The two most prominent features of Seoul as a megacity would be its people and tall apartment buildings.

Many people still prefer to go to Seoul. Even in Andong, I notice that many families have extra houses either in Seoul or in Daegu. The phenomenon of flocking to cities is mainly because of the education of their children.

How can we encourage people to return to their hometown or farming? Andong is expecting more people to come. The road is wide and well-paved, but there is less traffic on the road.

It has been exactly a year since I moved to Andong. I feel good living in rural areas with easy access to nature, probably because I grew up in the countryside. I feel more comfortable and peaceful. I am grateful because I can find some time to take a walk in the nearby mountains every day.

Andong is 2.5 times larger than Seoul in terms of area, but the population is decreasing. Because the population density is not high, the sky is clear and the air is pure and clean. I can see mountains here and there, from every corner.

It is said that the three most common things in Andong are mountains, good people and Confucian academies, called "seowon."

Because 70 percent of Andong is mountainous, there are few wide plains or fields. Traditionally, the presence of many mountains implies that there are few rich people. Although economically vulnerable, people living in the mountains have a warm-hearted personality. People in Andong are good, moralistic and righteous.

Andong is called a holy place for the Korean independence movement. It is the birthplace of the Righteous Army in 1894, and it also produced numerous leaders and independence activists. I think these movements are the fruits of good education leading to self-cultivation.

The presence of Confucian academies reveals that people are aware of the righteous life through self-cultivation. Truly, the people make the effort to have a good character and heart through constant education and practice of life.

The daily life of scholars consists of reading, contemplation, educating children, writing letters, caring for parents and watching workers. Through studying the old wisdom and learning new wisdom, the traditional culture builds up layer by layer.

Being aware of the pitfalls of individualism, convenience and speed driven by AI, many people who are awake pursue the philosophy of slowness, morality and a leisurely daily life.

With a lofty vision, the Diocese of Andong emphasizes living the Gospels while walking together. Encountering God anew, all the relationships in our daily lives can be renewed in the Gospels. The conversion of relationships leads us to approach people first, listen to them, and care for others.

Emphasizing the presence of the Church renewed by the conversion of relationships, Bishop John Chrysostom Kwon Hyeok-ju of the Diocese of Andong concludes his yearly pastoral letter as follows: “The conversion of relationships is the very way in which the Church exists anew. As God has drawn near to us, let us draw near to one another. As God listened to us, let us listen to one another. As God embraces us, let us embrace one another. On that path, the Church will come alive again, and the joy of the Gospels will be revealed in our faces and lives.”

The author is a member of the Daughters of St. Paul (Figlie di San Paolo) living and giving the good news to the world by means of social communication. Learn more about the congregation at fsp.pauline.or.kr.