President Lee Jae-myung's wife, Kim Hea-kyung, visited Ssangsaem Nature Church in Cheongju, North Chungcheong, on the 11th. The church has led rural revitalization and built a village community.
Ssangsaem Nature Church settled on the outskirts of Cheongju in 2002 and has developed the village for more than 20 years. A village that had only nine elderly households left has become a community of about 60 households with nature-friendly workshops and cafes.
Kim said, "This is a site of mutual growth where the church embraced the village and the village nurtured the church," adding, "Tearing down walls, sharing hearts, and cultivating the entire village into a warm place to live is the direction our society should pursue."
After touring the sanctuary, cafe, bookstore, and library, Kim also spent time with children as a one-day teacher at the church-run after-school program.
Kim added, "Children's small interest and actions to protect the environment change the future," and "I hope the hearts shared with church members and residents will continue to support steps toward a sustainable village."