President Lee Jae-myung marked his first Easter since taking office on Saturday, emphasizing that "the spirit of solidarity and cooperation is the very source of strength to overcome a community crisis." Noting that domestic and international crises are deepening due to the war in the Middle East, he pledged to "respond with an extraordinary resolve, utilizing all policy tools." He then met citizens enjoying cherry blossoms for a spontaneous public engagement.
President Lee and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung attended the "2026 Korean Church Easter Joint Worship" held at Yoido Full Gospel Church in Yeouido, Seoul. He entered the main sanctuary wearing a dark navy suit with a white necktie featuring blue stripes. First Lady Kim wore a white suit. The choice was reportedly made in consideration of white being regarded as a sacred color symbolizing the resurrection of Jesus in Christianity.
During the service, which included prayers, hymns and a sermon, President Lee quietly closed his eyes and recited the Apostles' Creed, clasped his hands in prayer, and at times said "Amen." During the official offertory prayer, First Lady Kim produced an envelope and President Lee personally placed it in the offering bag.
Introduced by Pastor Lee Young-hoon of Yoido Full Gospel Church, President Lee took the podium and opened by saying, "Pastor So Kang-seok, chairman of the CBS Foundation, is an old friend of mine." In his congratulatory address, he said, "Today we face many challenges and uncertainties," adding, "Recently, the global economy has been severely shaken by the war in the Middle East."
President Lee stressed that "at times like these, we must deeply reflect on the meaning of resurrection along with the meaning of peace and love." Quoting a verse from the Gospel of John — "Peace be with you" — he said, "The hope that we can rise again even in despair, and the promise of love and solidarity toward one another — this is the message of hope that the resurrection delivers to us today."
He called for overcoming the national crisis caused by the Middle East war with the spirit of "peace and love." President Lee said, "We will pay special attention to those in difficulty and provide even thicker and more meticulous support," adding, "We will do everything in our power to overcome the national crisis caused by the war in the Middle East."
