Religious leaders around the nation have issued their Christmas messages.

In a message issued Wednesday, Cardinal Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk of the Seoul metropolitan archdiocese hoped that confrontation and conflict would end and that love, peace, mercy and forgiveness would fill the world.

He said that when people lead a truly loving life following Jesus Christ's example, the baby Christ will be reborn and the church will become a beacon of hope to society.

General Secretary Kwon Oh‐sung of the National Council of Churches in Korea pledged to realize a peaceful world without war or terrorism. He said that world would help sufferers of famine and disease.

He urged the new president to use his power to serve the public, calling on the two Koreas to establish a peace regime for coexistence and cooperation.