January 6-10, 2010—The meeting with the community of the Focolare Movement in Korea—with an estimated nucleus of 2,000 active members and 25,000 adherents spread across all the Korean provinces—began with some official appointments.

The Korean society, as in many nations of the Far East, is experiencing a time of enormous and rapid transformation brought on by extraordinary technological progress, from which Korean industry is fully profiting. In this context, without forgetting the still open wound of the separation of the two Koreas, politics and religion must take into consideration the country’s changing situation.

In the Korean parliament, consisting of only one chamber of representatives, Maria Voce and Giancarlo Faletti conducted a full and rewarding dialogue with some deputies of the Korean Political Movement for Unity, who, within a context of high conflict between the majority and the opposition, have been working hard for five years for a politics that is more respectful and more dedicated to the common good.

First, however, they had a meeting with the vice-president of Parliament, Hee-Sang Moon who affirmed: “The Focolare tries to accentuate values, such as peace and universal fraternity, with which I am in complete agreement, and I hope that the Focolare will spread well in Korea and give its great contribution to the human and spiritual development of the country.” For her part, Maria Voce underlined how in her travels she had been able to “meet many Koreans who give their contribution to the development of the Movement in the world. There is, therefore, an obligation to give thanks in coming to greet a country that has given us many treasures.”

Then, there was a meeting with four deputies who are adherents to the Political Movement for Unity, members of political parties from both the majority and the opposition, which began with a very symbolic action of unity: the fact itself that they were all present at the same table was a meaningful witness in the real and exacerbated Korean political context. Not without reason, then, their attention was soon turned to the actual, parliamentary situation, and on the best way to bring the spirit of unity into Parliament and, in this way, restore the people’s confidence in politics, at a time of great political disenchantment here in Korea.

In response to some questions from the representatives, Maria Voce responded in this way: “There is a need to banish prejudices, keeping in mind that something good can also come from the adversarial side. Certainly, each one thinks that his or her system is the best.

But there is no need to consider it an absolute: one’s own system is always relative and can be improved. We can also discover some proposal, therefore, from the adversarial side as positive and acceptable, through listening to them. It is here that the Political Movement for Unity should truly offer this capacity to listen in order to discover the positive that there is in the other side.” She then added: “At times it is also possible to agree on something: in this case, this agreement has to be really highlighted, in order to show that the majority and the opposition are not fostering only enmity, but are working for the common good.”

Giancarlo Faletti, recognizing a deep suffering because of the actual impasse in the words of the representatives present, said: “The acceptance of suffering is characteristic of strong men and women, who have a goal in front of them, who believe in the unity of humanity, even when the present moment is most difficult and hearts most passionate. Imagine a truly passionate meeting in Parliament: it is important, as I have seen happen elsewhere, that representatives of the Political Movement for Unity are from two sides and that they know how to come together even in those moments and say to each other, “I understand you. Know that I have listened closely to you,”—all this in full regard of the guidelines of their respective political party, always hoping to make a contribution to the settlement of conflicts. At times this happens, and has happened.” There was also a discussion about economic development and social justice, themes of extreme importance in a strategic zone such as the one to which Korea belongs.

On his part, the professor of political science Jung Heon, also a member of the Political Movement for Unity, asked Maria Voce in what way the spirit of universal fraternity contributes to inter-religious dialogue. Voce responded: “Unity is a gift that embraces all humanity, and that goes beyond even religious affiliation. Unity brings differences into the highest synthesis. In order to do this, it aims at what is essential in every human heart: the desire to be loved. You can always love, beyond your own religion, you can try to understand the others, living the “Golden Rule” that is present in all religions.”

Meeting with the President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops and other bishops.
Since 2002, there have been 28 meetings with bishops who are friends of the Focolare Movement. These meetings have contributed to the communion among Korean bishops.

So after Parliament, came the turn of the Catholic Church. Six bishops, led by the president of the Conference of Catholic Bishops—Bishop Peter Kang U, from Jeju—welcomed Maria Voce and Giancarlo Faletti with great warmth.

Bishop Peter Kang U said: “I would like to highlight the great contribution of the charism of unity, of the Focolare Movement, to the Church in Korea, especially its contribution to ecumenism and interfaith dialogue.” Bishop Andreas Choi Chang-Mou, archbishop of Kwangju, confirmed how “God shows me his love, also through the Focolare.” Bishop Joseph Lee Han- Taek—bishop of Euijung bu said: “I met the Focolare Movement when it was just starting its adventure in Korea. I saw smiles, mutual love, and love for the Church. What struck me then, still strikes me today. I thank God for this spirituality that has members practicing it even in Parliament. They are lay people who fulfill their real Christian vocation.” Since the year 2002 the bishops of this Conference have already met 28 times. They meet every three months to share their experiences in this life of communion. One bishop commented: “In the past, bishops met only to tackle practical matters. Since 2002, it has become a custom to meet as brothers.”

Gathering of 1,500 people from all over Korea
In a government youth center in Mokcheon, right next to the large and extraordinary Independence Hall of Korea, that commemorates the long fight by Koreans (1910-1945) to liberate themselves from Japanese colonialism— an occupation that many historians associate with a creeping genocide, the small-large community of the Focolare Movement in Korea came together: about 1,500 people of all ages, cultures and social backgrounds to welcome Maria Voce and Giancarlo Faletti.

It’s a community that began in the 1960’s, the Focolarini arrived on the island for the first time in 1967, for a brief stay, while the first permanent Focolare center for women, was opened only on October 23, 1969. The men’s center was opened five years later.

On December 31, 1981, Chiara Lubich visited the community of the Movement in Korea, meeting also Cardinal Kim, who until his death was a great friend of the Focolare. In 1994, a Meeting and Training Center was inaugurated in the city of Uiwang. In 2005 the Korean Political Movement for Unity became active.

Today other permanent Focolare centers exist also in Daegu, while communities of the Movement are present in almost forty cities and towns, in all the provinces of the country, with a total of almost 25,000 adherents. These representatives gathered in Mokcheon were those from the most active communities.

Although it was snowing and cold, nothing could stop the 1500 people from coming to this town in the center of Korea for a meeting with the President and Co-president of the Focolare Movement. Three large meeting rooms, linked by video, welcomed the guests and participants.

Typical of the Focolare around the world over, here the sharing of practical experiences of living the Gospel was expressed in a Korean context and manifested their main ethnic, social and cultural characteristics.

Seven year old Daniel, for example, with a great command of the language and much energy, shared some small but significant episodes of how he tried hard to love his companions at school, his little sister at home and other friends, to be the first one to love, and to “commit” himself before everyone present with a courage so characteristic of Koreans.

A little girl by the name of Angela read diligently from a page filled with her acts of love, at school and at home, and how she tried to imitate the way of Jesus without a moment’s hesitation, with a diligence that is not an absence of creativity, but rather an expression of faithfulness.

Ahga Jung, on the other hand, is a young girl, dynamic and profound, who faces many challenges at work like the all-absorbing temptation of the world of production, and the stress this provokes: she showed the hard-working side of Koreans, combined with their desire to give, always and everywhere, a real meaning to their lives.

Foco Lee has just finished his military service, which here is very tough in Korea, during which the traditional respect for the elder emerges. Foco wants to imbue this respect “with love,” he told us, not simply as a social obligation but also with the desire to “build society harmoniously.” The testimony given by Lucia Jung was very moving. She is Catholic and, after marriage, she found herself living with her Buddhist mother-in-law who had become very hostile towards her, perhaps because she had not been able to provide her with a much-awaited grandson, but had two daughters instead.

Lucia continued to try and show her not only respect but also love, particularly when the older women received news of her serious illness. She looked after her steadfastly and gently, believing in love right to the end, with tenacity, to the point that her mother-in-law showed her affection for her in return, just a short time before she died.

And finally, Francesco Jung, who is 60 and comes from Daego, told of the Confucian and patriarchal tradition of his family, which led him to assume an authoritarian attitude, always refusing to do household chores, and to demand absolute order and obedience, in particular from his wife whom he had taken for granted.

Then, a bolt of lightning struck when he met the charism of unity. His deep and rapid conversion ensued, which has now brought him not only to do domestic jobs but also to consider his wife as the greatest gift God has given him. The Koreans have a great capacity to change: “from dogmatism to fraternity and dialogue,” as Francesco said.

Maria Voce and Giancarlo Faletti replied to these gifts sharing their own personal experiences in living the Gospel, and answering some questions.

In the evening a big celebration was held, where the communities presented a condensed version of the history of their country, the richness of their culture, with an eye for detail and color and the reserved joyful nature of their Christianity. There was the “Dance of the Drums” and the “Dance of the Fans,” then songs from a choir composed of people of all ages in brightly colored costumes from different regions of the country and a moment dedicated to the memory of those who had helped build the Movement, and who have now passed on to the next life.

Michele Zanzucchi