The colloquium selected four key themes to focus on when envisioning the future of the Catholic Church in Korea. Participants studied relevant reference materials beforehand and then engaged in discussions with researchers and interested parties. Presentations on each topic were delivered by four researchers from the Our Theology Research Institute. Approximately 30 participants, including researchers from relevant church institutions, laypeople, and religious leaders, engaged in lively discussions.
The Our Theology Research Institute and <Catholic News Here and Now> will introduce a planned series of presentations and discussions on these four topics.
1. US-China Hegemonic Competition and Peace on the Korean Peninsula
2. AI, Democracy, Information Networks, Humanity's Future, and the Religious Implications
3. The Younger Generation and Gender Conflict
4. A Super-Aged Society, a Super-Aged Church
At the fourth session of the ‘Future of the Catholic Church in Korea, Expert Colloquium’ held on the 9th, a professor presented on the topic ‘A Super-Aged Society, a Super-Aged Church.’ He explained the necessary preparations and responses for the super-aged reality facing Korean society and the Church.
A super-aged society has significant economic impacts, including increased dependency ratios for the elderly and supply-demand imbalances in areas such as healthcare, housing, and employment. It also causes overall sociocultural changes, including weakened family ties and communities, and psychological breakdown.
Religion is no exception to these changes. Religious communities in Korea and other countries are experiencing profound transformations and crises. According to the professor, the Japanese church faces significant challenges to evangelism and growth due to the severe aging of its members and a drastic decline in the child and youth population. Churches in Europe, including Germany, are confronting the dual crisis of “declining faith and institutional decline.”
He emphasized, “The aging of society as a whole directly impacts the sustainability and service capacity of religious institutions,” adding, “For the future, religious institutions must strive harder to strengthen internal capabilities and cultivate human resources.” He further stated, “Religion must focus on universal human needs, seek interfaith cooperation, and demonstrate its social value through practical social service.”
The professor outlined religion's multifaceted role in addressing super-aged society issues as “providing spiritual and emotional support, strengthening social networks and community building, and delivering practical care and welfare services.” He explained that in Japan, Germany, and France, religious institutions are collaborating with other faiths, local communities, and governments to support elderly independence and establish and operate care systems in response to the aging of their societies.
He added, “Overseas cases confirm that religious institutions maximize their impact when they provide care centered on community and dignity, going beyond mere service provision. In a super-aged society rife with loneliness and social disconnection, the philosophy of ‘flowers over bread’ emphasizes that restoring human connection and dignity is more important than meeting material needs.”
The unique role of religion is already evident in the historical dedication of women's religious orders to charitable, educational, and medical work.
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