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| Hyun Jin Preston Moon, chairman and founder of Global Peace Foundation, speaks at the Global Peace Festival on Dec. 3 in Clark, Philippines. Newsis |
Three-day forum addresses need for peacebuilding on Korean Peninsula
By Lee Yeon-woo
CLARK, PHILIPPINES ― Around 40,000 people, including policymakers, scholars, practitioners, and educators, gathered in the Philippines last week for a three-day forum to promote world peace hosted by the Global Peace Foundation (GPF).
"All people ― beyond any external differences of race, ethnicity, religion, and nationality ― belong to the one human family under God," Hyun Jin Preston Moon, the founder and chairman of the Washington D.C.-based non-profit group GPF, said in a speech to the opening ceremony.
Moon said such beliefs can motivate people to overcome differences and solve the problems that plague the human race.
"A fine example is the Philippines national motto ― 'Maka-Diyos, Maka-tao, Maka-kalikasan at Maka-bangsa' (For the love of God, people, nature and country)," he added.
Moon also introduced the Korean founding ideal of "Hongik Ingan," meaning to live for the greater benefit of all mankind, as one of its examples, and said Korea should, and could become a global model for peace by achieving unification.
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| Hyun Jin Preston Moon, center, and the officials from the Global Peace Foundation pose with Filipino university students during the Global Peace Festival held last Friday in Clark, Philippines. Newsis |
Experts highlighted the importance of Korean unification at the global peace leadership conference, an event that aims to address critical issues including peace and security, media, education and women as leaders.
"What happens on the Korean Peninsula, whether war, regime collapse, or unification, will have global effects," retired Col. David Maxwell said during the event.
"The Korean security situation must concern us all and the international community must provide support to Koreans as they achieve their long-sought goal of a free and unified Korea," he added.
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| Oh Young-jin, president-publisher of The Korea Times, gives a speech at the Media Track of the Global Peace Leadership Conference, held last Thursday at the Widus Hotel, Philippines. Newsis |
Oh Young-jin, president-publisher of The Korea Times, participated in the Media Track and talked about the ongoing danger of polarization. He said that the division of the two Koreas is one of the main obstacles in solving the issue.
"It constrains our imagination and impedes us from bigger achievements … This dream doesn't stop at the unification of the two Koreas. It's a bigger pool rising, reaching out for the common prosperity and global peace."
The grand finale of the three-day event was marked by the Global Peace Festival held on Dec. 3. More than 10,000 Filipino youths gathered to build a network of people who work together toward global peace. Famous K-pop group K.A.R.D and P-pop girl group BINI also gave live performances free of charge.
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| University students in the Philippines wave a sign saying "Philippines supports 1 Dream 1 Korea 1 World" at the Global Peace Festival last Friday in Clark, Philippines. Newsis |
AC Garcia, who is in his first year at the University of Makati told The Korea Times that he believes all people deserve to have peace in the world.
"That's why I support the unification of Korea. It is a small step to achieve that," Garcia said.
Kyra Angco, 21, said she realized that the problem is not among the people but in the North Korean regime after watching the K-drama "Crash Landing on You." She was holding a sign with the words, "I support One Korea" on it when this reporter asked to interview her.
"I know a lot of friends who support Korean unification as well." The student from the National University of Philippines said K-drama is one factor that draws Filipinos closer to the Korean issue.
"Who would want to go separate ways? As a Filipina, I don't want the Philippines to go separate ways and that would be awful just thinking about it. It's something I don't wish for anytime in this lifetime," Xheann Halley Salib, 19, who majors in marketing management at the University of Makati, said.
