Seoul, South Korea – UPF chapters all over South Korea are actively expanding the domestic ambassador for peace network, appointing members of the National Committee on Preparation for Reunification, and sharing their vision of a Unified Korea with local leaders. All of these activities are taking place as tensions rise between North and South Korea, and throughout the world.
Speaker Advises Daegu Leaders to Act in Face of New Cold War
Daegu – On November 22, 2024, during a seminar in the Daegu Unification Hall's 6th-floor auditorium, approximately 100 participants reaffirmed their commitment to unification. Twenty-three new peace ambassadors were appointed and enlisted as members of the national committee.
Mr. Choi Jong-hoo, UPF director for organization, hosted the meeting. Mr. Kim Jin-hwan, chair of the Daegu Peace Ambassadors Council, gave the welcoming remarks, followed by Mr. Yoon Yong-hee, an advisor to the council. Both speakers emphasized the active participation and significant role of Daegu peace ambassadors in preparing for unification.
Mr. Song Gwang-seok, chair of the National Unification Movement Federation, spoke on "The Path South Korea Must Take in the Era of a New Cold War." He covered a wide range of topics, including recent trends in North Korea, the implications of the North Korea-Russia military alliance, strategies to counter the North Korean nuclear threat, and North Korea's demolition of railways and roads as well as its fortification of the DMZ.
“North Korea is like a massive concentration camp, and our mission is to liberate the North Korean people and achieve unification,” Mr. Song emphasized. He added, “If South Koreans can truly love the North Korean people and shed tears for them, unification can happen immediately.”
Next, Mr. Oh Se-gwang, chair of UPF for the Daegu region, explained the mission and role of peace ambassadors, saying “Peace Ambassadors must strengthen families, serve their communities, and dedicate themselves to Korean unification and global peace.”
The appointment ceremony included veterans of the Korean War, adding deeper significance to the discussion on Korean unification.
Seongnam Event Stresses Potential of a Unified Korea
Seongnam – On November 23, 120 participants joined a seminar in the auditorium of the Seongnam Jeonbuk Residents Hall. The event, hosted by local UPF leader Mr. Yong Mun-soo, began with a traditional Korean folk song performed by Ms. Baek Myung-hee.
Ms. Lee Ok-yi, chair of the Jungwon District Peace Ambassadors Council, gave the welcoming remarks, emphasizing the importance of unification. In his congratulatory remarks, Mr. Yang Soon-seok, UPF chair for southern Gyeonggi Province, expressed the hope that those present would help turn the vision of unification into reality.
Mr. Cho Yuk-hyun gave a presentation on the "Vision for the 21st Century and a Unified Korea." He highlighted Korea's potential to advance beyond current limitations of material civilization through inter-Korean unification. He also explained the realities of North Korea and offered a possible path to unification.
Seventy-seven peace ambassadors were appointed during the event. It concluded with group photos, three victory cheers led by honorary advisor Mr. Lee Seok-hyun, and a closing declaration.
UPF-Busan Concludes Peace Academy Program Busan – On On November 28, the 8th session of UPF-Busan’s Peace Academy program was held, with over fifty local peace leaders participating. Mr. Jang Deok-bong, senior advisor to UPF, offered a profound exploration of the essence and meaning of life in his lecture, “Speak of Hope! Life and Death.” The event was hosted by Mr. Park Nam-uk, secretary general of UPF-Busan
In his welcoming remarks, Mr. Park Sung-yeol, chair of UPF-Busan, said, “The Peace Academy for a Unified Korea is part of the effort to preserve and continue the spirit of the Korean people’s grand historical epic.” He expressed the hope that the current and future participants in this program would widely share what they had learned, and become key figures in history.
Mr. Jang Deok-bong began his keynote address with the question: “What does a true human being, who can speak of hope in the face of life and death, look like?” He explained the position of humanity within the tangible and intangible realms of existence – spiritual and material – and stressed the importance of understanding life in both realms.
This session marked the final lecture of the 8-week Peace Academy program, which began on October 10. Each program included a welcoming address by a local NGO leader and keynote lectures by expert speakers and professors.
More than eighty people participated in the program, with 41 receiving completion certificates. The peace leaders who attended the graduation ceremony pledged to put their learning into practice and contribute to the construction of a Unified Korea, bringing the academy to a meaningful close.
