Greetings of peace and solidarity in Christ to all members of the EKD and the wider ecumenical community who continue to work tirelessly for justice and peace.

The National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK) expresses deep concern and strong regret over the recent documentary ‘INSIDE SÜDKOREA - STAATSKRISE IM SCHATTEN VON CHINA UND NORDKOREA’ aired by German public broadcasters ARD and ZDF. Rather than presenting a balanced and factual account of South Korea’s complex political and social realities, this documentary dangerously amplifies the narrative of far-right groups, thereby legitimizing their threats to democracy at an international level.

For decades, the German Church has stood in deep solidarity with the Korean people in their struggle for peace and democracy, and we deeply cherish this enduring partnership. Since the 1970s, the EKD has been actively engaged in supporting Korea’s democratization movement. The late mission co-worker Lutz Drescher, among many other German Christians, stood alongside the Korean people during the military dictatorship, advocating for democracy and human rights. Moreover, the EKD has provided refuge for persecuted Korean faith leaders and activists while ensuring that the global church remained informed about the realities in Korea.

We highly respect this historic commitment of the German Church, and we firmly believe that this moral and theological conscience continues today. Therefore, we urge the EKD to take this matter seriously and formally raise these concerns regarding the role of German public broadcasters in producing and airing content that undermines Korean democracy.

1. A Distorted Narrative that Threatens Democracy

This documentary presents the claims of far-right groups in South Korea as if they were objective facts. It dangerously frames Korea’s political situation within a Cold War binary of “China - North Korea – South Korean opposition parties” versus “United States – Japan – South Korean ruling party,” reinforcing a conspiratorial narrative that seeks to conflate South Korean election fraud allegations with international geopolitics. Such framing is based on misinformation and risks undermining not only South Korea’s electoral processes but also the legitimacy of its legislative and judicial institutions.

Additionally, the documentary lacks journalistic balance by disproportionately featuring far-right politicians and religious figures while ignoring diverse perspectives. By doing so, ARD and ZDF have neglected their responsibility to uphold democratic values and may have inadvertently contributed to the international legitimization of far-right propaganda.

2. A Historical Contradiction from German Public Broadcasters

ARD was the broadcaster that first exposed the truth of the 1980 Gwangju Democratic Uprising to the world through journalist Jürgen Hinzpeter. The Friedrich Ebert Foundation also recognized the South Korean people’s democratic struggle by awarding the 2017 Human Rights Prize to the civil movement that led to the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye.

For decades, the EKD and the German Church have been steadfast allies in Korea’s journey toward democracy and peace. In the 1980s, German churches provided crucial support to Korean theology students and human rights activists, many of whom faced persecution. German mission workers and peace activists remained committed to solidarity with the Korean Church and civil society despite surveillance and repression from the military regime. Leaders like Lutz Drescher and others continuously prayed for and actively supported Korea’s democratic transformation.

However, this documentary fundamentally betrays that legacy by distorting history and legitimizing forces that seek to undermine democracy. ARD and ZDF’s actions contradict the very principles of democracy and human rights that German public institutions have historically upheld, and we seek an explanation for this contradiction.

3. The Current Crisis is Not a Shift in Public Opinion, but a Product of a Far-Right Political and Religious Alliance

The current political crisis in Korea is not merely a shift in public opinion but the result of an alliance between far-right politicians and extremist religious groups. In recent years, these groups have actively spread misinformation and attempted to divide the public, using anti-communist and anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric to justify their attacks on democratic institutions. Some far-right religious leaders have even engaged in political violence, openly defying legal and democratic processes.

Given this reality, the decision of German public broadcasters to amplify their narrative is deeply troubling. ARD and ZDF must recognize that their content does not exist in a vacuum—this documentary will be weaponized by anti-democratic forces in Korea to justify their actions, and it may also mislead German audiences about the actual state of Korean democracy.

NCCK urges the EKD to recognize the seriousness of this issue and to hold German public broadcasters accountable for their actions. The EKD and the wider German Church have historically stood in deep solidarity with the Korean people’s struggle for democracy. We hope that this solidarity continues through the present, and we therefore request the following actions from the EKD:

• Formally raise concerns with ARD and ZDF regarding the distorted and misleading nature of this documentary, and request an official explanation.
• Encourage a more accurate understanding of Korea’s political reality within German society, particularly by highlighting the dangers posed by the alliance between far-right political and religious groups.
• Strengthen cooperation with Korea’s ecumenical community to ensure continued efforts for democracy, peace, and justice.

The democracy that South Koreans have fought for through great sacrifice and struggle must not be undermined by misinformation. The international community has a responsibility to uphold truth and democratic principles. We trust that the EKD will take this issue seriously and join us in calling for accountability and justice.

March 7, 2025 National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK) General Secretary Rev. Kim Jong Seng