President Lee Jae-myung on Dec. 25, Christmas Day, visited Haein Church in Incheon and said, "I am grateful to share Christmas greetings here, which, just as Jesus came to the lowest place, embodies what a true church should be."
According to the presidential office, President Lee and first lady Kim Hea-kyung attended the Christmas service at Haein Church in Gyeyang District, Incheon, on the day. Haein Church began in 1986 as a people's church founded with funds pooled by workers. It was the constituency that Lee represented when he was a lawmaker with the Democratic Party of Korea. The church currently operates various community programs, including a shelter for people experiencing homelessness. Many congregants are from marginalized groups, including people experiencing homelessness and survivors of domestic violence.
President Lee and the first lady first exchanged greetings and had a conversation with Pastors Lee Jun-mo and Kim Young-seon. The pastoral couple said, "We believe you can be a president who embraces the difficult places in our society, like the baby Jesus who came to a lowly and humble place." After the conversation, Lee joined about 130 congregants for the Christmas service.
They then had lunch of bibimbap with congregants in the church cafeteria. Lee stood in line with congregants for self-service and also encouraged them while chatting and taking photos. After lunch, Lee visited the Notre Dame Convent in Gyeyang District near Haein Church. Since its founding, the convent has operated welfare and educational facilities for people with disabilities, helping marginalized groups with rehabilitation and self-reliance.
The presidential office said the schedule was arranged "to reflect on the original meaning of Christmas, deliver a message of comfort and hope to all people beyond religion, and at the same time revisit the value of social integration."