Moon delivers hopeful Easter message amid pandemic

President Moon Jae-in and First Lady Kim Jung-sook look around Saint Peter's Basilica in the Vatican in October 2018. Moon delivered a message for Easter, Sunday, encouraging the Koreans to draw strength from the nation's wealth of experience in overcoming adversity. Courtesy of Cheong Wa Dae

ASEAN+3 virtual summit to take place Tuesday

By Do Je-hae

President Moon Jae-in encouraged Koreans to draw strength from the nation's wealth of experience in overcoming adversity in a hopeful Easter message, Sunday, amid the ongoing struggle with the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Resurrection is a mystery for believers, but even for the general public, resurrection is a message of hope. It's the hope that comes to us after overcoming death," Moon said.

"Korean history is one of resurrection. We achieved independence from colonial rule, democracy from dictatorship and economic growth from absolute poverty. All of this, we have done on our own, while trusting and encouraging one another."

He thanked the people for their efforts and sacrifice to contain the virus. "Like Jesus Christ, who changed a history of hardship into a history of hope through resurrection, our people are turning a crisis into hope with courage and love during these difficult times," Moon said. "There are still many challenges ahead, but we will certainly overcome the pandemic and rise again."

The President underlined the need to prepare for post-pandemic challenges in various sectors. "Many predict world history will face a turning point after COVD-19. We will face a distinctly different world after sweeping changes in health care, quarantine, economy, industry, diplomacy and culture. Like the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we must create new hope in order to be able to return to a new daily life.”

President Moon, whose Christian name is Timothy, and first lady Kim Jung-sook are both devout Catholics.

The Easter message came amid concerns about reopening of churches and mass worship services for celebrating Easter at a critical juncture in the nation's struggle against the COVDI-19 pandemic. Last week, the number of new infections began to fall, which has renewed hopes among the Korean public.

The government has advised churches to refrain from holding worship services with large congregations during the national social distancing campaign to combat COVID-19. "Of course, it's still early to say that the worst is over. But If we get past Easter and the general elections, we may be able to ease social distancing," Moon wrote in a social media message on April 10.

Other leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, are also using Easter as an occasion to send out a message of hope and encouragement to overcome COVID-19. “Almost 3,000 years ago, the Prophet Isaiah wrote these words: 'Darkness covers the Earth…but the Lord rises upon you, and His glory appears over you…For the Lord will be your everlasting light,'” Trump said during a prayer session at the Oval Office on April 10.

“One hundred and eighty-four countries, as of this morning, are fighting this enemy and we pray for them all. Though we will not be able to gather together with one another as we normally would on Easter, we can use this sacred time to focus on prayer, reflection and growing in our personal relationship with God. So important.”

Working with ASEAN on post-virus reponses

On Sunday afternoon, Cheong Wa Dae announced that President Moon will participate in the ASEAN+3 virtual summit on April 14. “During the summit, the President will propose measures to step up cooperation in public health and minimize the impact of the COVID-19,” vice presidential spokesperson Yoon Jae-kwan said in a briefing, Sunday.

“The proposals will include ways to maintain essential personnel exchanges and travel, in addition to keeping open global supply chains.” The leaders will adopt a joint statement on joint responses against the COVID-19.

It remains unknown whether or not Moon will be holding separate talks with leaders from Japan and China.