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Korea: Hope and Confidence for Young People
Korea: Hope and Confidence for Young People
Young adults in particular can find guidance to express their faith. The National Youth Association of the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK) acts as a guide in a society marked by the pressure to perform, competitiveness and crises.
More and more young Koreans feel overwhelmed by the high social expectations placed on them. It is difficult to find a place to live and a decent job. Those who do have a job are often faced with unfair working conditions. There is also a lack of spiritual orientation in the fast-moving society of the South-East Asian country, which is obsessed with outward success. Young Koreans are often left alone with their problems. This was further exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Combined with global crises such as climate change and growing political conflicts, this all leads to mental stress and even mental illness among many young people.
Guiding them from darkness into the light
How can Christian faith help to promote mental and spiritual health? How can community life be organised and at the same time have a positive effect on others? Providing assistance and practical guidance on these issues is one of the main concerns of the PROK National Youth Federation. One-on-one counselling offers specific help to find ways out of unemployment and to solve financial problems. Under the protection of the Christian community, young adults learn to overcome both their personal and social crises.
Korea
51.4 million inhabitants with a youth unemployment rate of 9%.
Strength through fellowship in the Christian faith
The National Youth Association of the Presbyterian Church supports and supervises the projects, concepts and ideas put forward by young adults. Besides being actively supervised by co-workers of the youth work organisation, the church also provides funding for youth projects. In addition, the National Youth Association places its premises at their disposal for project work and runs youth centres in the parishes. The centres provide young adults with a place of retreat and peace.
The Youth Association also organises many joint activities. Youth camps, ecumenical hikes or youth Sundays help to build a strong community. There, young adults have a chance to flee from the hectic everyday life in Korea. Their agendas include Christian topics such as spirituality, pilgrimages or pastoral care. During joint activities, participants often have revealing experiences, conversations and contacts which bring meaning to their personal faith and intensify the bond between church and society.
Project goals
More and more young adults in Korea feel disconnected from society. Their jobs noticeably suppress community and social life. With roots in God and open to the world – this is how the National Youth Association of the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK) wants to help young adults find direction through faith and master social challenges together with them. The PROK Youth Organisation provides premises and fields of learning where young people can experience, understand and learn how to organise their lives.
Project work
Wide-ranging offers for joint activities and spiritual life strengthen the community. Educational projects provide information on the topics that show young people a perspective for the future. The National Youth Association of the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK) supports and accompanies the projects, concepts and ideas of young people and offers them a place to retreat and find peace. Twice a year, the PROK Youth Association organises week-long seminars. There, young adults have the chance to flee from everyday life to devote themselves to Christian topics and agendas.
Project partner
The Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK) founded in 1953 belongs to the smaller churches in the country. It has a membership of 340,000 people in about 1,450 congregations. During the long years of changing military dictatorships, the PROK focused its work on human rights and democratisation, social justice, peace and reunification. Ecological issues shifted into the centre of church work during the rise of South Korea to become one of the leading industrial nations.
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