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| The members of Sarang Jeil Church in Seoul gathered at the church to worship every Sunday amid the coronavirus pandemic. / Korea Times file |
Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon playing hardball with Protestant church
By Kang Hyun-kyung
"Do not tie your shoes if you are in someone else's cucumber field."
This old Korean saying advises people not to do a certain thing if it makes others suspicious of your motives.
Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon is making the same mistake in Seoul City's crackdown on Sarang Jeil Church for the latter's defiance of an urban renewal plan set to uproot the neighborhood of Jangwi-dong in northeastern Seoul. Park's playing hardball with the Protestant church and its leaders has left room for different interpretation other than the implementation of the law.
His actions can be seen as politically-motivated religious oppression.
What he did to the church seems to be suicidal.
The members of Sarang Jeil Church began an overnight rally on Thursday night. Hundreds of members gathered at the church. Some were outside the church, holding banners that they are against Seoul City's push to destroy the church against their will.
On Friday morning, Seoul City sent hundreds of workers and police, announcing it would implement the plan to destroy the church as part of the urban renewal plan.
The church members were defiant. Feeling pressure over a possible clash with the crowd, the city government altered its plan and said the workers would come back next time to destroy the church.
Under the redevelopment plan, housing for 2,000 households will be created. The plan was confirmed in 2006.
But the two sides ― the city government and the church ― failed to narrow their differences on compensation for the church building. Seoul City offered 820 million won, but the church demands compensation seven times higher.
The city took the case to court. In a ruling last month, the Seoul district court sided with the city. Seoul City is in a position to demand the church members vacate the site, so the city authorities can push for the renewal plan as scheduled. If the church leadership is not cooperative, Seoul City can push for it and destroy the church.
So, technically, what Seoul City did on Friday is not against the law.
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| Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon / Korea Times file |
Despite this, I am against the idea of Seoul City pushing for the implementation of the housing plan against the will of the church members.
The reason is simple. Imagine what would happen if the city authorities destroy the church building in the name of implementation of law. Think about how others would feel if they watch the clash between the city authorities and the church members.
Rev. Choe Hwang-gyu said what Mayor Park is doing is obviously religious repression.
"Everybody knows that Rev. Jun Kwang-hun is head pastor of the church and he is an open critic of the Moon Jae-in government," Choe said. "So people would think that pastor Jun is persecuted because of his past critical stance on the government."
Rev. Choe said Seoul Mayor Park used a "double standard" on protesters.
"Park has been extremely tolerant about illegal protests staged by leftist groups or those who are sympathetic about the Moon government. But he is trying to crack down on the church of which head pastor is critical of the government."
Seoul Mayor Park's playing hard ball with the church can also deliver a message that he might not have intended ― political retaliation.
Park has exchanged barbs with Jun regarding social distancing after the coronavirus pandemic outbreak.
The Seoul mayor has encouraged religious leaders to be cooperative on social distancing and to go online services to curb the spread of the virus. Pastor Jun's Sarang Jeil Church is one of a few defiant churches about the rules on social distancing.
Park has been tough on the church. On March 23, he said in a radio interview that he would not sit back at the church over its violation of social distancing rules. He warned church members who broke the rule would be fined 3 million won.
His tough reaction is understandable in that churches have been the source of cluster infection. Despite this, the way the Seoul mayor reacted to the church and its leaders was inappropriate. He has gone too far. He crossed the line.
As a mayor, Park Won-soon is supposed to be diplomatic particularly when he deals with religious groups.
It's time to talk. Sit down with the church members. Talk to them. Convince them until they are convinced. That's what Mayor Park is supposed to do. Your political career hinges on your capability to persuade citizens, not blackmail them.
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