-content- SEOUL (UCAN) - A Mass for South Korea and President-elect Thomas More Kim Dae-jung brought together Kim, set to become the country's first Catholic president, and main election opponent Olaf Lee Hoi-chang, also a Catholic.
The Lay Apostolate Council of Korea (LACK) organized the special Feb. 14 Mass at Seoul's Myongdong Cathedral concelebrated by Cardinal Stephen Kim sou-hwan of Seoul, eight bishops and some 50 priests. A photo of the two former presidential front runners, side by side, receiving Communion from Cardinal Kim, was published in almost all local newspapers here on Feb. 16.
A LACK official told UCA News Feb. 16 that the Mass was held to congratulate the first Catholic to be elected to South Korea's presidency and to pray to God to help him. Kim will begin his five-year term in office Feb. 25.
The president-elect said in his speech that he appreciated the support and cooperation from the religious community in helping stabilize the present currency crisis, and he pledged to do his best as the next president.
Turning to Lee, Kim lauded the former prime minister and Supreme Court justice for being a strong rival during the presidential election last year.
"I regard him as a simple man of law, and he proved himself to be a strong candidate with intelligent logic and strong determination," Kim said, adding, "I, together with the Catholic community, pray for his bright future."
In South Korea's 15th presidential election, held last Dec. 18, Kim, the National Congress for New Politics candidate, won 40.3 percent of the vote, while Lee of the Grand National Party received 38.7 percent.
Despite recent uneasiness between the two political parties, Lee's decision to participate in the Mass prompted some political observers here to suspect that the two Catholic politicians had forged some kind of compromise.
Kim was also to attend two prayer meetings on the economic crisis and national reconciliation, one organized by Protestants for Feb. 19 and the other by Buddhists for Feb. 20.
UCAN 20. februar 1998