Despite a warning from the South Korean government not to travel to Israel for security reasons, some 2,300 Korean Christians marched from Jerusalem to Bethlehem on Monday 9th August.

The group consists of people from widely diverse backgrounds and various denominations, but all have shown the same heart to convey a message of peace to the Israelis and Palestinians. They joined together for the "Jerusalem 2004 March for Peace", sponsored by the Institute of Asian Culture & Development.

The marching troop, dressed in turquoise and light blue T-shirts, young and old, was singing Christian songs such as "Jesus Loves Me, This I Know", while they walked through the streets of the Jerusalem suburb of Gilo, and crossed over "Checkpoint 300" into the Palestinian area of Bethlehem.

The organisers said that the T-shirt colour symbolises peace, and they were carrying large banners that had slogans such as "We Bring Peace to Palestine and Israel" and "March for Jesus, March for Peace". The Koreans streamed across the checkpoint unhindered into Bethlehem in large groups as Israeli soldiers stood guard nearby.

The travel warning was upgraded after the kidnapping of several foreigners in the past few months, but Rev. Timothy Ahn, who was part of some 200 Korean Americans in the group, expressed that "We had a concern for security, but we believe that the government of Israel, and the government of Palestine also - they promised security for our people," Ahn said. "We feel quite safe here, to my surprise."

Israeli Tourism Minister Gideon Ezra said they were encouraged by the visit of the South Korean Christians, and he hoped the road between Jerusalem and Bethlehem would be "busy all the time."

Jerusalem and Bethlehem border each other. Anyone going to Bethlehem must pass through an Israeli army checkpoint, but most tourists and tour groups are not entering the Bethlehem or Palestinian areas these days.

Hwang Won Joo, spokesman of the organising committee said the Christians had come from various churches in South Korea to bring a message of peace to the troubled region. "We are South Korean Christians, and our country has been divided [into] South and North Korea since 1953, we have [the] experience of conflict between South and North Korea, and that's why we appreciate the value of peace so much.

"This land has been going through difficult times and conflicts, and people are suffering, and we want to be here today and present the meaning of peace between two sides." Joo expressed.



(All photos credit to missiontoday.co.kr/Supyoung Kim)