Christian group warns against church-state collusion before vote

April 10 (Asia Today) -- A South Korean Christian group called for an end to political entanglement with religion ahead of upcoming local elections, warning such practices could undermine the church.

The group, Start with Me Forum, issued a declaration after holding its fifth forum in Seoul on Thursday, urging believers to reject improper ties between faith and politics.

"Prayer must not become lobbying for a candidate, and offerings must not be turned into political funds," the group said. "If the faith community becomes a vote bank, the church will collapse."

The forum was led by Rev. Ryu Young-mo, who emphasized the need to break what he described as a long-standing pattern of using religion for political power.

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Participants said the risk of religion being used as a political tool is increasing ahead of the June 3 local elections, calling for "painful self-reflection" within the Protestant community.

The declaration rejected both political forces seeking to influence religious groups for votes and religious organizations aligning with politics for institutional benefits, stressing the need to uphold the separation of church and state.

At the same time, the group opposed a proposed bill aimed at preventing church-state collusion, arguing it could infringe on religious freedom as well as freedoms of expression and association.

Speakers at the forum also highlighted broader concerns about religious involvement in politics. Professor Tak Ji-il said inappropriate ties with political power are not limited to fringe groups but affect mainstream churches as well.

"It is urgent for churches to establish safeguards to prevent irrational behavior carried out in the name of orthodoxy," he said.

The forum included discussions on patterns of political participation among Korean Protestant churches and historical debates over church-state separation.

The organization was founded in 2017 to promote reform within the Korean church and encourage greater social responsibility among believers.

-- Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

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Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260410010003228