Pastor Yang Hee-sam of the Catacombs Church was interviewed through a personal connection with citizen journalist Yoon Byung-ik.
Editor's Note
Pastor Yang Hee-sam of the Catacombs Church (Photo: Pastor Yang Hee-sam’s Facebook)
[Suwan News = Yoon Byung-ik, Citizen Reporter] We interviewed Pastor Yang Hee-sam, who has been featured on social media and YouTube for leading the “Catacomb Church” under the slogan “The Humble People Who Uphold the Gospel” and for practicing politics that stands with and serves the citizens.
Reporter: What prompted you, as a pastor, to become actively involved in the civic movement?
Yang Hee-sam: I have made personal efforts to reform the church, but the church has not changed. However, seeing how citizens mobilized during the candlelight protests leading to the impeachment of Park Geun-hye, I believe that if civil society continues to raise its voice consistently, the church will also change. This is because reforming the church goes beyond simply changing the church itself—it means changing society as a whole.
Reporter: What are your thoughts on serving pastors’ involvement in politics?
Yang Hee-sam: To address the issue of incumbent pastors’ political participation, we must first address the argument that “pastors should not make political statements at all” (the principle of separation of church and state). I believe the problem lies in pastors forming political parties and engaging in politics simply because they want to. However, as a citizen, I view this as participating in civic politics.
Reporter: What do you mean by “engaging in politics as an ordinary citizen”?
Yang Hee-sam: From the very beginning, I never intended to form a political party or go into politics. Take Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon, for example—he openly declares that he will form a political party and pursue his own agenda. However, as a citizen, I am simply speaking out more forcefully than other pastors about the problems facing our society. I’m simply speaking out from the position I’ve been given, and this has been my consistent stance. Furthermore, telling pastors, “Don’t speak out,” is problematic, and I oppose those who seek to use the church to build political power.
Pastor Yang Hee-sam attended a candlelight vigil on the 5th of last week to mourn the victims of the Itaewon stampede and condemn the Yoon Suk-yeol administration. (Photo: Yoon Byung-ik)
Reporter: The religious community is becoming more conservative or even reactionary. What are your thoughts on this?
Yang Hee-sam: Religion is becoming entrenched as a privileged class. I heard that President Yoon Suk-yeol recently attended a church service. I’m tempted to ask whether any pastor has questioned why religion is becoming entrenched as a privileged class, but I don’t know the answer. Jesus died on the cross while fighting against the privileged class. According to the Bible, Jesus sacrificed His life on the cross to save us, but the current actions of those who claim to believe in and follow Jesus are not right.
Reporter: What are your thoughts on the gender conflicts currently plaguing Korean society and the growing conservatism among men in their teens and twenties?
Yang Hee-sam: I don’t think we can simply blame the younger generation. As the saying goes, “Generosity comes from a full granary,” but it’s not easy for people in their teens, 20s, and 30s to find hope in our society. It’s a world where, no matter how hard you work, it’s difficult to buy your own home. However, I think it’s only natural that they end up feeling dissatisfied with society. I deeply feel that the older generation bears responsibility for the growing conservatism among young men in their teens and twenties. I believe the older generation bears significant responsibility for creating a world where money is all that matters—a world where money is everything. However, I hope that the young people in our society will ask themselves, “What is a just world? What kind of life is worth living?” and to reflect on “a world where we thrive together—not just for our own benefit—a world where we can live with dignity.” To that end, I hope they take the time to discover “what they truly want to do” and consider “how their actions can contribute to this nation and our national community.”
Reporter: Where do you think the root causes of social issues—such as gender conflict, the growing conservatism among young men in their 20s, and the discrimination our society faces—lie?
Yang Hee-sam: I think it’s about hatred. In other words, “hatred” is “discrimination.” I believe discrimination persists in our society because self-centered people wield too much power. I also think that dissatisfaction with society among teenagers and young adults in their teens and twenties is building up and turning into hatred. However, the world won’t change just because we engage in discrimination and hatred. I hope we can become a society where we work together to figure out how to build a better world.
Reporter: Finally, do you have any words of advice for teenagers and young adults?
Yang Hee-sam: It’s important to live your own life. I find joy and happiness in having chosen to live as a pastor. Of course, navigating the world itself is difficult. However, I have absolutely no regrets about living the life I’ve chosen. That’s because I’ve come this far by constantly asking myself what kind of pastor I should be. I want to tell teenagers and young adults that what’s important is to ask themselves, “What should I do?” “What will make me happy?” and “What brings me the most joy?” and to strive to find the answers to those questions within themselves.
