Yoido Church pastor to seek stronger Korea-US ties at Trump inauguration

Lee Young-hoon, senior pastor of Yoido Full Gospel Church / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

Lee Young-hoon, senior pastor of Yoido Full Gospel Church / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

By Baek Byung-yeul

Lee Young-hoon, senior pastor of Yoido Full Gospel Church, aims to contribute to strengthening the United States-Korea alliance and promoting peace on the Korean Peninsula by attending the inauguration ceremony of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, according to the church on Thursday.

The Seoul-based church said the senior pastor will leave for Washington, on Saturday to attend the inauguration ceremony of the new U.S. president. Lee is scheduled to participate in all official events taking place from Jan. 18 to Jan. 20 and his attendance was made possible through the assistance of his longtime acquaintance who is a key Republican figure and supporter.

The senior pastor said his attendance at the inauguration events is seen as an opportunity to engage in private diplomacy and foster communication between the two nations.

"Through this visit, I plan to emphasize the importance of the U.S.-Korea alliance, share opinions on establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula and contribute to building bridges of exchange and cooperation based on Christian values in U.S.-Korea relations," Lee said.

Lee's itinerary includes attending the Cabinet Reception on Saturday (local time), the Make America Great Again Victory Rally on Sunday and the presidential swearing-in ceremony on Monday. He will also participate in the celebratory parade and inaugural balls following the main ceremony.

The pastor's presence at these events is expected to provide a channel for dialogue and communication with the incoming Trump administration. Lee emphasized that he would focus on advocating for the U.S.-Korea alliance and highlighting the role of Christian values in bilateral relations during his interactions with American officials and dignitaries.

"This visit is expected to open new horizons for private diplomacy, beyond merely attending the inauguration ceremony," the church said in a statement. "It is anticipated to be an example demonstrating diplomatic efforts based on U.S.-Korea relations and Christian values, while also presenting possibilities for cooperation and communication at the level of private diplomacy."

According to Yoido Full Gospel Church, many Christian leaders are among Trump's inner circle, who received overwhelming support from conservative Christians.

Notable figures include Donald Trump Jr., a devout Christian; Rev. Paula White, Trump's spiritual mentor, who delivered the invocation at his 45th presidential inauguration in 2017; and Rev. Franklin Graham, son of Rev. Billy Graham.

Notably, Trump Jr. visited Yoido Full Gospel Church twice last year, in April and August. White is also a key speaker at the Church Growth International (CGI) conference, established by Yoido Full Gospel Church. White consistently participated in CGI events for over a decade and visited Korea last October.

"Since there is a common ground of Christian values at the foundation of U.S.-Korea relations, if I can be of help in this aspect, I will continue to play whatever role I can in the future," the senior pastor said.

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