- A single small candle, along with various brightly colored glow sticks or cheering sticks, illuminated the darkened society.
- The Constitutional Court's impeachment of the president did not betray expectations in the process of advancing toward a mature democratic nation.
Saturday, April 5, 2025
[Choi 0sik] [7:14 AM]
My heart swells. This morning, in the quiet of the early dawn, after the excitement of yesterday has subsided, this melody came to mind.
"Ode to Joy (Ode An Die Freude, Ode To Joy). The climax of the final movement, the 9th Symphony "Choral," by the musical masterBeethoven. It is the climax.
"Prayer"
Lyrics and composition by Kim Hyogun, sung by baritone Song Gichang
When I open my eyes to the sound of the dawn bell, I silently fold my hands and pray,
May you, far away, have a peaceful day.
When I fall asleep under the moonlight late at night, in the stillness of my heart, I pray,
May your weary body and mind rest peacefully.
As day follows day, may your dreams come true,
and as love overflows with love, may our dreams come true.
When I open my eyes to the sound of the dawn bell, I silently fold my hands and pray.
May you, far away, have a peaceful day.
I wish you a peaceful day. Prayer is not just for the religious; it is the act of earnestly wishing and requesting, isn't it?
May everyone receive comfort from their worries, concerns, and fatigue. May they rest peacefully.
This is the gift I offer this morning with all my heart. A gift I also give to myself.
[Kwon 0cheol] [7:24 AM]
Thank you.
god - One Candle [KBS Special Project god] | KBS 230928 Broadcast
A single small candle, along with various brightly colored glow sticks or cheering sticks, illuminated the darkened society.
Following the December 3rd declaration of martial law, vigilant citizens and young people of South Korea resisted the forces of darkness, correcting the regression of democracy, and saved South Korea from potentially becoming a dictatorial state under fascism (politics conducted by the arbitrary will of the ruler, negating democratic processes), which could have led to its downfall.
During the rapid economic growth following industrialization, the well-educated and the wealthy succumbed to the temptations of materialism, succumbing to greed. To protect their interests, they colluded, securing key positions in politics, the judiciary, and the media—essentially the core of state power—gradually forming a cartel (collusion).
Disregarding the people, they struggled to protect themselves with falsehoods, even receiving the support of far-right forces, using their instigation as a smokescreen.
Ultimately, South Korean society reached a point of extreme division.
However, following the declaration of martial law, the strength that had been used to defend democracy with bloodshed began to awaken citizens of conscience. They began to stand against the military surrounding the National Assembly, leading to the lifting of martial law.
As a first step in overcoming these insurrectionary forces, they called for the impeachment of the president in the square in front of the National Assembly, day after day, presenting a vision of hope to guide society towards a brighter future.
The young people at the forefront of this hope, enthusiastically participating in cultural events and waving cheering sticks, cannot be seen as simply naive youth. Their actions, born not from allegiance to any political faction but from a small spark of patriotism, combined with the passion shown by the youth, offered a glimpse into a bright future for South Korea.
South Koreans, and indeed people around the world, could see the hope of so-called K-democracy.
Following the martial law crisis, the national division resulted in wasted energy, economic losses, and a decline in South Korea's credibility in the international community, causing damage to the nation's standing and significant national losses.
In the future, we must calmly examine South Korean modern history to understand what caused these problems. Political and social leaders, as well as individual citizens, must engage in self-reflection, identify the root causes, and learn from them to move forward with a renewed mindset.
In the Old Testament, the prophet Jeremiah states that the human heart is desperately wicked (Jer. 17:9, 10).
Jeremiah 17
9. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
10. I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
It is stated that when humanity departs from the God (God) who created them, they inevitably fall, and this is referred to in the Bible as original sin.
Therefore, the Lord God(God) says, "Be holy because I am holy." (Lev. 19:1, 2; 2 Pet. 3:11, 12)
Leviticus 19
1. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
2. Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy.
2 Peter 3
11. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12. Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, whereby the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
Soprano (solo) Choi Jeongwon [Gounod 'Sanctus' - Hanshin University 80th Anniversary Concert]
The answer lies hidden in the word of the truth of life.
When humanity neglects this, they will repeat the cycle of rise and fall.
When South Korea's younger generation listens to and practices this truth, regardless of history, religion, or philosophy, they will have a positive influence not only on South Korea but also on the whole world.
I pray that this may be accomplished, along with the watchful people and the Lord God (God) who cares for this nation.
April 5, 2025, Cham Gil
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