Christmas tree cross raises fears of sectarian tensions

Published Date: November 19, 2009

A furor over a cross on top of a Christmas tree in the City Hall plaza has raised the possibility of sectarian tensions between Protestants and other faiths in South Korea.

The illuminated Christmas tree with its
cross in front of Seoul City Hall last year. (Photo courtesy of Christian Council of Korea)

The tree has been erected every year since the late 1960s but the city council handed over responsibility for it to the Christian Council of Korea (CCK), an umbrella organization of conservative Protestant Churches, in 2002.

Since then, the group has replaced the traditional star atop the tree, which is usually put up on Dec. 10, with a cross.

This year, however, with growing concern over perceived Protestant influence on government, there are concerns that the cross, if put up again, could create unhappiness among other sectors of society.

With local Buddhists and others still smarting from Seoul mayor Lee Myung-bak´s statement at a Protestant meeting in 2004 that he would “offer Seoul city to God,” many have come to see the cross as a symbol of his administration´s perceived favoring of Protestantism.

In February, a central government body, the Religious Discrimination Reporting Center, even told the Seoul city administration that it might be inappropriate to display a religious symbol on government property.

Online newspaper “Views & News”, in an article earlier this month, noted that that Korean Association of Church Communication (KACC) had issued a statement opposing the removal of the cross.

The paper said that such a “strong statement could open old wounds.”

Buddhists, in particular, have felt themselves under religious attack by Protestants, who in Korea tend to be aggressive proselytizers.

The authorities have tried to push a conciliatory line.

The Religious Discrimination Reporting Center has ruled that the cross can violate the government´s religious impartiality because it is the symbol of a certain religion and advised the city government and the CCK to discuss the matter.

But the CCK and the city council say there is no problem.

Reverend Park Seung-cheol, CCK public relations manager, argues that it is no business of others because the Christmas tree was paid for with his organization´s money.

Lee Chang-woo, a Seoul city official, told UCA News, “The cross is a part of Christian culture and it is hard to reject the Protestants´ demand.”

So far, Buddhist and Catholic officials have kept a cool head over the issue.

Park Jong-chan, coordinator of the Committee of Religion and Peace of Jogye Order, the largest Buddhist denomination in Korea, said that Buddhists do not oppose the cross.

“Freedom of religion also includes freedom to propagate religion,” Park told UCA News.

Peter Lee Young-sik, media team head of the Catholic Bishops´ Conference of Korea, said: “As far as Catholics are concerned, we cannot say if Protestants´ putting the cross on the tree is wrong or right.”

He said, however, that the Protestants risked raising public ire.

“Traditionally, the Christmas tree is decorated with a star, not a cross. Korean Protestant Churches may arouse public antipathy by highlighting the cross too much.”

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