“A unified Korea of high ideals will end the ominous threats to peace and security in East Asia and will greatly benefit the world. With vision, leadership, and robust civic action, Korea’s historical quest for one free, independent sovereign nation can and will be a reality that is firmly within our reach.”
Dr. Hyun Jin P. Moon
GPF Chairman
2021 International Forum on One Korea
Korean Dream Rally Builds Momentum for 80th National Liberation Day Anniversary
August 15, National Liberation Day, holds unique significance as the only holiday jointly celebrated in both North and South Korea. It commemorates the end of Japanese occupation in 1945 and the establishment of independent governments in both Koreas in 1948. As a symbolic expression of unity, the holiday serves as both a reminder of the human tragedy of division and the enduring aspiration of all Koreans to embrace their shared culture and history as one united people.
Advancing the Korean Dream Vision
The 2025 National Liberation Day carries special weight as the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation. In preparation for this milestone, approximately 500 South Korean political, economic, and cultural leaders gathered at the National Assembly in Seoul on March 5 for the Korean Dream Unification Action Rally. The Global Peace Foundation co-hosted the event as part of broader domestic and international initiatives building support for Korean reunification.
Central to the rally was the Korean Dream 10 Million Signature Campaign, which seeks international support for the 80th anniversary celebration. The campaign promotes Dr. Moon’s “Korean Dream” vision, first introduced in 2012 and detailed in his 2014 book Korean Dream: Vision of a Unified Korea. This framework emphasizes Korea’s shared cultural roots and civil society’s essential role in peacebuilding.
Key Messages
Distinguished attendees included the deputy speaker of the National Assembly, the secretary-general of the National Unification Advisory Council, the chairman of the Association of Families of Independence Patriots, representatives of Action for Korea United, and a standing committee member of the National Unification Advisory Council and a former North Korean diplomat.
The speakers emphasized the Korean Dream’s focus on unification through shared history and culture, advocating for the human and civil rights of North Koreans. They drew inspiration from the March 1st Movement and Korea’s founding philosophy of Hongik Ingan – “to live for the benefit of humanity.”
Looking Ahead to August 15
The chairman of the Korean Dream Ten Million Campaign Committee outlined strategic plans, analyzing North Korea’s current situation, international dynamics, and South Korea’s political landscape. He emphasized that the Korean Dream’s realization depends on the collective will and power of the Korean people.
As the campaign’s centerpiece, organizers announced plans for an international leaders’ conference and large-scale Unification Festival on the Han River on August 15. The event will feature a record-breaking drone show with approximately 5,000 drones – potentially the largest display of its kind – symbolizing the collective strength and aspirations of Korean citizens.
The original post appears on Global Peace Foundation. Global Peace Foundation is an international non-sectarian, non-partisan, nonprofit organization, which promotes an innovative, values-based approach to peacebuilding, guided by the vision of One Family under God. GPF engages and organizes a global network of public and private-sector partners who develop community, national, and regional peacebuilding models as the foundation for ethical and cohesive societies. Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon is the founder and chairman of the Global Peace Foundation.