Korean Religious Council holds Goodwill Football Tournament

On August 22, the Korean Religious Council held the “Goodwill Football Tournament for Religious Leaders to Realize a Multi-Religious Community,” with eight teams from five religious orders, at theNational Sports Center of the Hanam Sports Complex in Hanam, Gyeonggi-do. More than 300 participants including religious leaders, players and cheering groups from five religions;Korean Buddhist Taego Order, Daehan Cheonrigyo, Daejongism, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, took part in the event. The first prize went to the Daejongism team, and the second prize went to the youth team of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

[Herald News]

‘Goodwill Football Tournament for Religious Leaders’ was held to realize religious harmony

The “Goodwill Football Tournament for Religious Leaders” was held on August 22 at the Hanam Sports Complex in Haman to promote understanding, exchange and coexistence with neighboring religions.

This event set up by the Korean Religious Council (Chairman Kyeung-Seuk Lu, hereafter the Religious Council) in hopes for religious peace and harmony was carried out successfully with more than 300 participants including religious leaders, players and cheering groups from five religions.

Chairman Kyeung-Seuk Lu of the Religious Council claimed in his opening remarks, “In the Korean society where various religions coexist, the noble will and practice of all religious orders who have come to participate in this event by mutually cooperating and uniting their mind with an open heart shall become a significant step toward peace and mutual prosperity of the religious society in Korea.”

Then, the Chief Priest of Cheongryeonsa Temple of the Korean Buddhist Taego Order Priest Baeg-Oo’s address was read by the Teaching Director Priest Sang-Jin. “Today’s football tournament held in hopes for harmony and peace holds great significance,” he said. Then he continued, “Although our religions may be different, we, who love peace and pursue noble virtues through football, are like brothers of one global family.”

Participation of the alliance team of the Sunchang Religionists Council in the North Jeolla Province relatively attracted more public attention. The Sunchang alliance team is a religious consultative body of Buddhism, Confucianism, Catholicism, Won Buddhism and Family Federation for World Peace and Unification that carries out activities for development of local community, as well as interreligious dialogue.

Former President of Sunchang Hyanggyo Byeong-Moon Gang said, “If consultative bodies like the Sunchang Religionists Council were established in all parts of Korea, our society can create a society with no interreligious conflicts, and hand it on to our descendants,” and stated, “I hope the event will provide a precious opportunity for us to understand each other in the garden of peace and harmony created through a round of football.” In this game, eight teams made up of clergy members and leaders representing each religion played in tournament style, and the Daejongism team won the first prize. Since 2012, the “Goodwill Football Tournament for Religious Leaders” has been held every year, marking its fourth game this year. Meanwhile, the Religious Council, marking its 50th Anniversary, has carried out pan- religious activities such as cultural festivals for religious peace, religionists sports festivals, visitation and exchange with other religions, pilgrimage academic seminars, movements for Korean reunification and overseas voluntary services in order to realize religious peace and harmony