Epistle from the

Friends World Committee for Consultation Asia West-Pacific

Section Annual Gathering held in-person

Seoul, South Korea

19 - 23 October 2025

폭풍이 나무를 뽑고 바위를 굴리지만 하루를 못갑니다.

정말 크고 강한 것은 소리 없이 흐르는 맑은 시내입니다.

• <우물 안 개구리>, 『씨 의 소리』 36호 중 -

The typhoon uproots trees and rolls boulders,

But it doesn’t last one day. What’s truly great and

Powerful is the clear, silent stream that flows.

• Ham Seok-heon (1901-1989) ”Frog in the Well,”, The Voice of the People. (Sound of Seeds, 36)

Loving greetings to Friends everywhere from the Asia West Pacific Section (AWPS) Annual Gathering 2025 held in-person in Seoul.

On a late October weekend, around 50 Friends from more than eleven countries came together near the banks of the great Han River. During the day the river shines and at night the buildings do.

Our gathering began with an excursion to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) with Young

Adult Friends (YAFs) and members of Friends World Committee for Consultation’s Central Executive Committee. We felt the pain, sadness, and despair of the people who continue to be separated by war. We were confronted by the contrast between a joyful local festival with music and laughter and the fact that not far from where we stood were the remnants of the Korean War, with estimates of two million landmines still buried in the land.

We know that peace is not merely the absence of fighting. War still exists here in

Korea. We were touched by Friends’ sharing of their efforts for peace in Myanmar and Gaza and were reminded of the turmoil that remains in other sections of the world.

Throughout our gathering we have considered the ways conflict arises in our day to day lives and the tools we have to resolve these conflicts. These tools include holding clearness meetings, listening before reacting, having humility and humbleness, remembering that sometimes we are wrong, consulting scripture, and listening to God.

We have to make the choice to pause and listen to that which flows in us: the ever present and infinite love of God giving itself to us in and as our very lives.

We worshipped in the colourful garden of the beloved Friend (친구)  Ham Seok-Heon, a 20^th Century pioneer of nonviolence in Korea. We learnt about his life and his dedication to ensuring peace in and between North and South Korea, his two homes.

Ham Seok-Heon wrote of his experiences as a Friend and emphasised that regardless of religion we at our core, share the same values. His life speaks to us today.

We took part in the Peace Games facilitated by the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC). This simulation of regional diplomatic negotiations quickly showed us that even though cooperation is for the common good, it is often hindered by the various roles we take on.

Through the game we learnt how the voices of those affected by violence can be too easily minimised in international structures and negotiations. We were moved to write to the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) to share our appreciation for their work in bringing the voices of survivors of violence and injustice to institutions of political power.

We were grateful for the contributions of Friends online and Friends in-person from the Sections of Africa; the Americas; and Europe and the Middle East (EMES). Hearing about the online youth group for Junior Young Friends running in EMES, the inclusion of Young Adult Friends in all areas of the Africa Section and the greater accessibility brought about by having interpretation at various Quaker gatherings was inspiring.

Young Adult Friends enriched the Gathering and we appreciate the ways they are developing our Section.

Our Section’s efforts for greater language inclusion are making a difference in allowing more Friends to participate in the life of our Section, though we know we are just beginning. We were delighted to see a draft version of our own AWPS Advices and Queries. Translating texts from our Quaker lineage, including those written by Asian and Pacific Friends into the languages of our region, will strengthen the ties between us and help us to know from where we have come and apply it to our context today.

And so, we thank those who made possible our multilingual event, the interpreters and those who shared their skills and resources. We thank our kind hosts at Association Fraternelle Internationale (AFI) Jeonjin Sang Center for their care and generosity which nurtured the spirit of our meeting.

The sharing of Quaker words in our various languages, having Korean calligraphy in the morning, and a rooftop game of 윷놀이 yutnori added fun and joy to our days, shining a light on the potential we have to be more deeply connected.

We discussed what each Meeting and church could do to connect with their community. The question was “What more could you do or what else could you do to nourish your meeting?”

In sharing back to the group, four main ideas came up:

1. Recognising that we all carry some kind of wounds, and need support in healing them.

2. Opening up meeting houses to be a gathering place for community services such as support groups for drug rehabilitation, or counseling for domestic abuse victims.

3. Learning sign language to connect with those who are hearing impaired; and

4. Connecting different interest groups together, such as climate change and environmental groups.

Our time together has spurred our discernment for the future and how we chose to act going forward in our current global climate.

We closed with a joyful, musical concert where Friends shared their talents and voices with one another as we bid each farewell, longing to see each other soon.