The 2025 International Forum on One Korea received significant national attention and was featured prominently across Korea’s media networks. Many stories highlighted the forum’s vision for a free and unified Korea, coinciding with the historic commemoration of the 80th Liberation Day.

Hosted in Seoul, the Forum convened policymakers, scholars, civil society leaders, and youth to advance the Korean Dream and chart a path toward peaceful reunification. Complementing the forum, the 2025 Korean Dream Hangang Festa—held at Ttukseom Hangang Park—brought together thousands for a cultural celebration featuring music, performances, and messages of hope from global voices. These twin events inspired a new generation and underscored the growing momentum for a unified Korea.

The Korea Times: Address by Global Peace Foundation Chairman Hyun Jin Preston Moon at banquet marking Korea’s 80th Liberation Day

MK News: 드론쇼와 함께 한 ‘2025 코리안드림 한강대축제’

Joongang: 광복절 기념 ‘코리안드림 한강대축제’ 성료 [출처:중앙일보]

Economist: 시민 3만 명, 광복절 저녁 드론쇼에 ‘코리안드림’ 띄우다

Munhwa: 하늘 위 1200대 드론, 통일 염원 그렸다

News 1: ‘코리안드림 한강대축제’ 대규모 불꽃쇼

News 1: 광복 80주년 기념한 ‘코리안드림 한강대축제’

Asia Today: 80주년 광복절 기념 ‘2025 코리안드림 한강대축제’ 개최

Herald Economy: ‘케데헌’ 까치호랑이, 한강 하늘서 ‘통일’ 외치자, 3만명 열광·환호·합창[함영훈의 멋·맛·쉼]

Sports Trends: 시민 3만 명, 드론쇼에 ‘코리안드림’ 띄우다

Newsis: 2025 코리안드림 한강대축제 드론쇼

Yonhap News: [K스토리] 광복 80년, ‘코리안드림’으로 하나 된 축제

Dong-A News: 광복 80주년 3만 시민 한강서 ‘통일’ 외쳤다‘2025 코리안드림 한강대축제’ 개최… ‘케데헌 까치호랑이’ 드론쇼 밤하늘 수놓아

Asia Today: [전문] 문현진 글로벌피스재단 세계의장, ‘광복80주년기념만찬’ 기조연설문

Asia Today: 문현진 글로벌피스재단 의장 “통일부 대신 비정부기관…일관된 방향성 중요”

Munhwa: “통일은 제2의 ‘한강의 기적’… 젊은이들에 큰 기회될 것”

World Daily: 한강 밤하늘에 드론 1200대 떴다…“통일은 통합의 지평”

Nate News: 한강 밤하늘에 드론 1200대 떴다…”통일은 통합의 지평”

Nate News: ‘케데헌’ 까치호랑이, 한강 하늘서 ‘통일’ 외치자, 3만명 열광·환호·합창[함영훈의 멋·맛·쉼]

Chosun: 뚝섬 한강서 드론 1200대 투입 ‘2025 코리안드림 한강대축제’

“The impact of the principled reunification of the Korean people, artificially divided for way too long, will be enormously significant. Not only will it benefit the peninsula and the East Asia region through greater peace, stability, and prosperity. It will be a light to the world, showing how even the most extreme division and conflict can be overcome.” -Dr. Hyun Jin P. Moon (2021 Global Peace Convention, Keynote Address)

The dream of a unified Korea is a moral and human calling shared by people across the world. From the halls of Japan’s National Diet to youth forums in Tanzania and Indonesia, a growing international chorus is calling for peace and reunification on the Korean Peninsula. This global wave is not driven by governments but by students, activists, and citizens who believe that the division of Korea is not just a regional issue, but a human one.

Korea’s division after World War II left deep scars that still affect millions of families. But the movement to reunite the peninsula is now powered by a vision that transcends geopolitics—the belief that all people deserve peace, freedom, and dignity.

At the heart of global efforts for reunification lies the Korean Dream—a vision that draws on Korea’s ancient spiritual heritage to inspire a peaceful, values-based unification. This dream envisions a Korea rooted in its founding ideal of “Hongik Ingan”—to live for the benefit of all humanity—and positions reunification not as a political outcome, but as a moral awakening with global relevance. Supporting Korean reunification, then, becomes a step toward a more principled, peaceful world.

Around the globe, young people and civil society are making this dream their own, breathing new life into the call for peaceful reunification.

In Tanzania, the Korean Dream inspired a surge of grassroots engagement. Students, faith leaders, and youth organizations united under the One Korea Global Campaign, collecting thousands of signatures and sharing messages of solidarity. Through virtual conversations with Korean students and signature drives, Tanzanians reaffirmed a simple truth: peace in Korea is peace for the world.

As one Tanzanian student leader said, “We believe the reunification of Korea will be a symbol of hope for divided peoples everywhere.” Their efforts exemplify how shared values—not shared borders—are what truly connect us.

Meanwhile, in Tokyo, over 200 youth leaders from 25 countries gathered for the Japan Young Leaders Assembly, advocating for peace and reunification. The forum featured North Korean defectors, international scholars, and activists who encouraged youth to become “peace creators” in their own communities.

What stood out was the power of story—young leaders using digital media, art, and public speaking to share the message of reunification. Their participation showed that global youth are not bystanders but stakeholders in shaping a more peaceful East Asia.

One speaker noted, “This isn’t just about Korea—it’s about how the world handles division, conflict, and reconciliation.”

In Indonesia, 600 youth came together to reflect on Korea’s March 1st Movement—an early 20th-century struggle for independence that resonates with Indonesia’s own anti-colonial history. The virtual gathering wove together narratives of national identity, peace, and interfaith cooperation.

Indonesian speakers highlighted how principles like Pancasila—the country’s philosophical foundation—align with the Korean Dream’s emphasis on unity and human dignity. This cross-cultural connection deepens global empathy and commitment to Korea’s peaceful future.

Reunification is not just a Korean dream—it’s a global hope. From Africa to Asia and beyond, young people are answering the call for peace with clarity and conviction. Their message is clear: unity is possible when we act with courage, compassion, and shared purpose.

Original posts appear 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.

The Korea Times published an article on the 79th Liberation Day Unification Implementation Resolution Rally for Action for Korea United, where hundreds of government, civic, and North Korean defector groups celebrated as well as prepared for the landmark 80th Liberation Day in 2025.

Read the original article on The Korea Times website here or read the article in full below:

Gov’t, civic groups, defectors unite for unification of 2 Koreas, global peace

By Kim Hyun-bin

Over 530 South and North Koreans, including members from approximately 130 civil society organizations, 350 political and social leaders and 180 North Korean defectors, gathered in Seoul on Thursday for the 79th Liberation Day Unification Implementation Resolution Rally for Action for Korea United, according to the Global Peace Foundation, Friday.

Participants, including defector-turned-lawmaker Rep. Park Choong-kwon and North Korea Strategy Center President Kang Cheol-hwan, vowed, “I will be the owner of the realization of a new unified nation.”

In a welcoming address, Rep. Lee Yong-sun of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) expressed his “respect and gratitude” for citizens working toward peace and unification on the Korean Peninsula, despite the tense military situation between the two Koreas. He emphasized the importance of continuing preparation and action for unification and peace, echoing the “Korean Dream” vision.

Kim Choong-hwan, co-chair of Action for Korea United, expressed his hope that next year’s 80th National Liberation Day would be celebrated by both South and North Korea together.

“The Constitution of the Republic of Korea recognizes North Korean residents as citizens of South Korea,” he said. Kim urged the government to issue temporary one-time passports to North Korean defectors stranded in China and establish a pension system for defectors. “I sincerely hope that next year’s National Liberation Day will be one that North and South Korea can celebrate together.”

Rep. Joo Ho-young, deputy speaker of the National Assembly, noted the significance of the event in his congratulatory remarks. “This gathering is even more meaningful as it is a place where civic leaders and defector organizations pledge solidarity and cooperation for a free and unified Korea,” he said.

Rep. Park echoed these sentiments, saying, “The noble sacrifice of the martyrs, who were ordinary citizens, created today’s Republic of Korea. As pioneers of early unification, we will work alongside North Korean defectors to usher in a new era of unification.”

Seo In-teck, co-chair of Action for Korea United, presented a business plan titled “How to Achieve Unification,” emphasizing the current opportunity for unification. “Now is the opportunity for unification, as the three pillars that supported the North Korean regime — distribution-based economy, ideological control and politics of fear — have collapsed,” Seo said. He urged the resolution of internal conflicts among South Koreans and stressed the importance of the “Korean Dream” vision for a unified Korea that contributes to global peace.

Following the rally, participants adopted a resolution for action for unification, committing to overcome political and religious differences and work alongside North Korean defectors to achieve a free and unified Korea. The resolution underscored the “Korean Dream,” which draws from the spirit of Hongik Ingan — a concept rooted in ancient Korean mythology and Confucian principles — and is integral to Korean identity and culture. The participants also vowed to promote this vision to the international community.

The event concluded with attendees participating in the 2024 Korean Dream Festival held in Seoul. The festival is part of the Global Peace Youth Summer Camp, which aims to build a global network among young people from 30 countries and raise awareness of the international importance of Korean unification.

In a series of unification speeches, Jang Man-soon, chairman of the 10 Million Separated Families Committee, pledged to work toward unification.

“The 10 million separated families will strive to fulfill the two points mentioned by President Yoon in his Liberation Day address on the 79th anniversary of liberation: to inspire the North Korean people to yearn for free unification and to work in solidarity with the international community for unification,” Jang said.

Kim Yong-in, co-chair of the Korean Dream 10 Million Citizens Campaign, read the speech on behalf of former North Korean diplomat Ri Il-kyu, who said, “Unification will certainly come. I believe that if we unite our will, combine our wisdom and gather our thoughts, unification, the dream of 70 million Koreans, will soon be realized.”

The Korea Times published an article about the Korean Dream Unification Action March, which drew roughly 30,000 people near the Demilitarization Zone (DMZ), the border between North and South Korea.

You can read the original article on The Korea Times website here or read it in full below: Citizens rally near DMZ in support of Korean unification

Korean Dream Unification Action March draws 30,000 participants

By Lee Hyo-jin

Around 30,000 people, including North Korean defectors and international experts on Korean Peninsula affairs, participated in the Korean Dream Unification Action March near the Demilitarization Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas on Saturday.

The event, aiming to create a new nation that contributes not only to unification but also to global peace, was organized by the civic group Korean Dream 10 Million Campaign’s citizen organizing committee, which includes the Committee for 10 Million Separated Families and People Practicing Unification. It was sponsored by the Ministry of Unification, the Paju city government and the Global Peace Foundation (GPF).

According to the organizers, the marching event aimed to highlight the vision of Korean unification as a grassroots movement rather than a political ideology.

As participants marched down the 2-kilometer route around Imjingak Peace Nuri Park, they chanted slogans such as “Unification through the power of citizens” and “Realizing free unification and world peace.”

Notable participants included Hyun Jin Preston Moon, founder and chairman of the GPF, Edwin Feulner, chairman of the Asian Studies Center of the Heritage Foundation and Rep. Park Choong-kwon of the ruling People Power Party.

Edwin Feulner, chairman of the Asian Studies Center of the Heritage Foundation, gives a congratulatory speech during the Korean Dream Unification Action March in Imjingak, Paju, Gyeonggi Province, Saturday. Courtesy of Global Peace Foundation

In his congratulatory remarks, Feulner said, “The construction of a free, unified Korean Peninsula based on liberal democracy is an inalienable right granted by our Creator as part of the pursuit of happiness. Let us all move forward together for the unification of the Korean Peninsula.”

The American scholar also expressed his support for the citizen-led unification movement under the vision of the Korean Dream, which unites a diverse global community including North Korean defectors, overseas Koreans and foreigners.

In his keynote speech, GPF Chairman Moon said, “Just as my father visited North Korea, I am also ready to visit North Korea. Let’s cherish this opportunity and rise together to become the masters who reclaim the destiny of our Korean people and restore our national identity.”

Moon is the third son of the late Rev. Moon Sun-myung (1920-2012), the founder of the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity, also known as the Unification Church. The older Moon visited North Korea in 1991.

The chairman further suggested that the unification ministry should be restructured as a non-partisan organization involving representatives from all sectors of society, rather than being merely a government ministry.

Rep. Park, a lawmaker who defected from North Korea, emphasized the significance of the march in light of Pyongyang’s rising belligerence.

“The current international situation surrounding the Korean Peninsula is more urgent than ever, and the reckless provocations of North Korea and the oppressive tyranny of the Kim Jong-un regime are reaching their limit,” he said.

“At such a critical time, the hosting of the Unification Action March, where all citizens have gathered to wish for the peaceful unification of a free, unified Korean Peninsula, holds significant meaning.”

During the event, seven citizens representing different countries, including South Korea, the United States, Japan and India, read the Global Citizen Declaration for Unification in various languages, symbolizing the participation of global citizens in the Korean Dream Unification Movement.

“Korean unification is not solely the responsibility of governments and societies. Historically, monumental events have always been achieved through bottom-up changes driven by the voluntary interest and participation of the citizens themselves,” said Shreya Sahey, an Indian national.

Japanese national Keiko Kobayashi said, “A unified Korea under the Korean Dream will resolve the various challenges we face today and build a truly global community. This will mark a great turning point, opening up a new world of international peace and prosperity unlike anything we have experienced before.”

The event also included cultural performances such as singing by North Korean defectors, who sang a range of songs and music that both South and North Korean residents could enjoy together, as well as a taekwondo performance.

The Korea Times reported on the International Forum on One Korea held on September 27, 2024 in Seoul, Korea. In response to the North Korean government’s move away from Korean reunification, national and international experts called to continue to push for reunification while placing human rights at the center of North Korean policy.

Read the original coverage of the event on The Korea Times website or here below:

Experts call for placing human rights at center of NK policy

By Jung Min-ho

Reunifying the Korean Peninsula into one nation has always been a challenging mission. But over the past year, skepticism has grown to an unprecedented level. After the North Korean regime officially abandoned its goal of unification late last year, some politicians in the South have also joined increasing calls for “peaceful coexistence.”

During this year’s International Forum on One Korea, co-hosted by the Global Peace Foundation (GPF), Action for Korea United and One Korea Foundation, political leaders, security experts and human rights activists urged the government and people in the South to reject that shift, saying that permanent division on the peninsula betrays Korea’s founding vision and would not bring lasting peace.

“The fact that (North Korean leader) Kim Jong-un abandoned unification, which was a key policy of both his father and grandfather, is an admission that he has already lost,” Hyun Jin Preston Moon, left, founder and chairman of the GPF, said at Friday’s event held in Seoul.

According to Moon, that decision was tantamount to abandoning the aspirations of modern Korea’s forefathers who led the independence movement from Japan’s 1910-45 colonial rule and those who established the nation under the founding value of “Hongik Ingan,” interpreted as “to benefit humanity widely.”

“Who’s carrying the torch of those aspirations and staying true to our 5,000-year history and the destiny of the Korean people (now)? It’s you,” he said, calling on the government to reform its unification ministry as a pan-government, nonpartisan entity for that critical task.

North Korea’s attempt to leave the peninsula divided will not be supported by any countries, not even China, one of its most important allies, according to Hao Su, professor emeritus at Renmin University of China.

“The Chinese government has always supported the policies for the peaceful reunification of the peninsula led by the people of the peninsula. North Korea’s recent policy changes will not affect China’s perception, nor will it change China’s stance of supporting the peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula,” he said.

Dignitaries, including security scholars and human rights experts, pose during the International Forum on One Korea at a hotel in Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of Global Peace Foundation

Dozens of prominent scholars and activists shared their insights and discussed ways to make the vision possible there. One thing they all agreed on was that prioritizing denuclearization of North Korea above the human rights of its people has achieved neither of the objectives.

“For 30 years, our North Korea policy has sacrificed human rights for the sake of addressing nuclear weapons. Both North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs have thrived. Sidelining human rights to appease the regime is not the answer, but a fundamental flaw in policy. Our task is to turn this record of failure into success,” said Robert Joseph, a senior scholar at the National Institute for Public Policy and former special envoy for nuclear nonproliferation in the U.S.

Given that the greatest vulnerability of the Kim regime is from within, from the alienation of its own people who suffer under its totalitarian repression, Joseph suggested placing human rights and a comprehensive information campaign at the center of a new strategy for North Korea.

His view was echoed by Suzanne Scholte, a U.S. rights activist and chief of the North Korean Freedom Coalition.

“Today, the people of North Korea are far more informed about the outside world than ever before. It is precisely why Kim Jong-un is using such draconian measures to isolate them from the outside world: It is the only way he can stay in power,” Scholte said. “He is terrified that he is losing control over their minds, which will mean the end of this triple family dictatorship.”

What those experts suggest is to maximize the international efforts to let ordinary people in North Korea know what the whole world already knows — the reality of their terrible human rights situation, the incompetence of their leaders and the world outside their borders.

David Maxwell, a GPF senior fellow and vice president at the Washington-based Center for Asia Pacific Strategy, said such efforts matter not just for the country’s peaceful unification but also for another important mission of creating a new Korea.

One of the subjects addressed during the forum was the economic cost of unification, which is one of the major reasons for growing skepticism, particularly among young South Koreans.

According to Nicholas Eberstadt, a political economist, such worries are vastly overblown.

“First: the economic reconstruction of northern Korea will be an immense project — but if the returns on investment in this project are high, the project can basically pay for itself in the long run,” he said. “Second, thanks to generations of market-led modern development, both South Korea and the world as a whole are richer and more productive than ever before — better poised to mobilize and deploy the immense amounts of capital and know-how a successful Korean reunification will surely require.”

If reunification suddenly occurred today, the newly reunified Korean Peninsula would count as a fairly affluent country, he noted.

Rough calculations indicate that overall wealth per adult for a reunified Korea would be over $150,000 today, he added — about the same level as in much of Southern Europe.

“None of this will be easy of course — but all of it is surely doable,” Eberstadt said. “But Korean reunification is ‘unthinkable’ only if we fail to think about it.”

United Press International published an article on the mass citizens’ rally that commemorated Korean National Liberation Day in 2024 at Imjingak Peace Park as a show of solidarity with the North Korean people.

You can read the original article here or read it in full below:

Citizens rally for Korean unification, show solidarity with Koreans in the North

By Michael Marshall

Sept. 29 (UPI) — Tens of thousands of Koreans from across the South and the Korean diaspora marched and rallied Sunday for Korean unification and the freedom of the people in the North at the Imjingak Peace Park,about 47 miles from the DMZ.

The event was held to mark Korea’s National Foundation Day, officially celebrated on Thursday.

Billed as the 2024 Korean Dream Grand March for a Unified Korea, it was organized by Action for Korea United, the largest coalition of civil society groups supporting Korea’s unification in the country.

AKU has 17 regional chapters and has run hundreds of educational workshops in the Korean Dream philosophy of unification.

That philosophy was conceived by Hyun Jin Preston Moon, founder and chairman of Global Peace Foundation, a non-profit and co-sponsor of the March. He looks to Korea’s history — and a reconnection with its deep spiritual roots — to provide the glue that can unite diverse groups of Koreans around a common purpose.

He told a lively crowd they were at a “watershed in the history of our people” in which a “confluence of issues is moving Korea toward unification.”

He called upon the audience to help revive Korea’s ancient “high spiritual civilization” represented in the hongik ingan ideal linked to Korea’s founding, which means “living for the greater benefit of all humanity,” and the spirit of the March 1, 1919, Independence movement.

These mobilized around 20% of the population in peaceful, mass demonstrations, the first in modern times, against Japanese colonial rule.

Appealing to this legacy, Moon said, “We are a providential people with a mandate to serve humanity. Rise up and show the world who we are!”

He urged the government to re-establish the Ministry of Unification as a committee of scholars, experts, and civil society representatives to provide continuity and avoid the policy shifts that now came with changes of administration.

North Korean escapees were prominent among speakers and performers at the rally. Chol-hwanKang, author of “Aquariums of Pyongyang,” and founder and president of the North Korea Strategy Center in Seoul, noted that Sept. 28 was the anniversary of Seoul being “reclaimed” from the North Korean Army during the Korean War.

“Today, righteous citizens have gathered here for the freedom of Pyongyang, which is yet to be reclaimed,” he added.

The key was the emergence a unification-led movement in South Korea. He believed that the Korean Dream was a “historic unification vision that Koreans in both North and South could resonate with.”

“If the people of South Korea unite around this unification vision, the Kim regime will soon collapse,” he said.

Kang was sent to the notorious Yodok political prison camp at the age of nine with most of is family after his grandfather was accused of treason. He endured ten years there before his release and eventual escape from North Korea.

Ja-un Lee, lead actress in the docudrama, “Acorn,” which dramatized the experiences of North Korean escapees, fought back tears as she recounted her experience working with around 100 escapees who told and re-enacted their experiences.

“I realized how blessed I was to be born in South Korea and felt ashamed of my previous indifference to unification,” she said.

The singers, dancers, and musicians who performed at the rally were all North Korean escapees.

This event was planned as a precursor for 2025, the 80th year of Korea’s liberation after World War II, but also the start of Korea’s current division. AKU is planning large rallies across South Korea in support of unification, reviving the model of the March 1 Independence Movement demonstrations.

Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon has consistently advocated for Mongolia to play a role in facilitating critical discussions about Korean reunification and other regional issues, given its friendly diplomatic relations with both North and South Korea and the many lessons Mongolia has to offer from its peaceful transition out of communism.

The following is an unofficial English translation of excerpts from coverage of the 6th Mongolia Forum on Northeast Asia: Peaceful Development and Korean Unification. The forum focused on environmental concerns while exploring opportunities for regional cooperation, promoting a departure from the current trend towards traditional Cold War-style alliances. UPI coverage of the event can be found here.

Kim Young Jin from the Korean-language news organization Weekly Chosun provides a report on the forum, which is also available here on their website (in Korean).

Original article title: “Why is the ‘unification of the Korean Peninsula’ being discussed in Mongolia?”

As North Korea persists in launching waste balloons toward South Korea and ramping up ballistic missile provocations, tensions on the Korean Peninsula continue to escalate. On June 19, North Korea signed a ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty’ with Russia during President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Pyongyang. In light of these security threats, the ‘Mongolia Forum’ aimed at discussing peaceful development in Northeast Asia and the unification of the Korean Peninsula took place on July 9 at a hotel in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

The opening speaker emphasized the need to enhance the involvement of civil society organizations and engage the younger generation in the peaceful development of Northeast Asia. An important topic of discussion was the role of civil society in promoting the goal of a unified Korean Peninsula.

This sixth iteration of the forum was organized by ‘Blue Banner,’ a Mongolian NGO dedicated to denuclearization and co-hosted by the ‘Global Peace Foundation’ founded by Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon, along with the ‘One Korea Foundation’ and ‘Action for Korea United (AKU).’

Mongolia itself has experienced both division and regime change in its history. The country, often referred to as Outer Mongolia, was once divided into Outer and Inner Mongolia, with the latter incorporated into China as the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Outer Mongolia became independent from China with Soviet support and was the second communist nation after the Soviet Union. In the early 1990s, it transitioned to a democracy and market economy without bloodshed, making it an influential case study for discussions on unification.

Mongolia maintains diplomatic relations with both North and South Korea, fostering traditional friendships with the North and a ‘strategic partnership’ with the South, celebrating 34 years of diplomatic relations this year. Geopolitically positioned between powerful nations like Russia and China, Mongolia pursues a policy of neutrality and balanced diplomacy.

As a ‘nuclear-weapon-free zone,’ Mongolia is not only devoid of nuclear weapons but also prohibits their use. The UN General Assembly designated it as such in 1992, and its denuclearization was reaffirmed by a UN resolution in 1998. In 2012, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council confirmed its status, solidifying Mongolia as a denuclearized country. Speakers emphasized the potential for Mongolia, with its experience in establishing a nuclear weapon-free zone, to serve as a model for Korea’s denuclearization.

At the forum, the first joint declaration summarizing discussions was unveiled, which includes commitments to promote the Mongolia Forum to build consensus around civil society goals and to establish regional mechanisms in Northeast Asia for cross-border initiatives like the Greater Tuman River Development Initiative(GTI). It also calls for realizing the Korean Peninsula’s political, economic, and cultural potential to support establishing a free and unified Korea in accordance with the Hongik Ingan philosophy, alongside efforts to enhance soft power cooperation across Asia through initiatives such as tree-planting campaigns to combat desertification in Mongolia. The declaration also aims to empower youth through the Global Peace Leadership Corps to act as significant contributors to the international community.

David Caprara, a strategic advisor at the Global Peace Foundation, noted to reporters that a mention of a ‘new clean energy platform’ was added to the declaration, which was not included in the initial draft.

Discussion also arose about the feasibility of ‘peaceful unification.’ In-taek Seo, the standing representative of Action for Korea United, noted that worsening conditions on the Korean Peninsula might actually create favorable circumstances for unification. He highlighted “anomalous signs predicting a crisis in the North Korean system,” drawing parallels to the unification of East and West Germany, which resulted from decisions made by the populace. Seo concluded that achieving a consensus on the vision for unification in South Korean society is crucial for preparing for future unification.

The ‘Camp David Declaration’ agreed upon by the leaders of Korea, the United States, and Japan last August included a commitment to ‘support a free and peaceful unified Korean Peninsula.’ With the possibility of a government change in the U.S. ahead of the presidential election, questions arise as to whether this declaration will be upheld with one speaker commenting, “When a president changes, previous policies often get overturned, but there is a chance that a new administration may continue the Camp David Declaration if it is found beneficial to the administration.”

Dr. Hyun Jin P. Moon’s vision-driven approach to the peaceful unification of the Korean peninsula has inspired a cross-sectoral, global movement to advance human rights, economic growth, and a model of national transformation. The newly inaugurated Alliance for Korea United (AKU) Washington has joined the growing number of coalitions inspired by Dr. Moon. The alliance is comprised of Korean and Korean diaspora organizations and individuals advancing the cause for a united Korea that fulfills the historic ideals and aspirations of the Korean people.

AKU partners closely with the Global Peace Foundation as a sponsor and partner for international forums and conferences that advance a comprehensive approach to Korean reunification. Through forums, education programs, policy initiatives, and community engagement projects, AKU Washington and GPF work to build consensus and momentum in support of a unified Korea, to strengthen the long-standing partnership between ROK and USA, and to deepen the bonds of friendship connecting the Korean and American peoples.

Most recently, AKU-Washington organized a special commemoration for the newly established “North Korean Defectors’ Day” on July 14, 2024. More than 100 delegates were joined by ten North Korean defectors in Washington D.C. to kick off a fundraising campaign to build a memorial facility for North Korean residents. Organizers said that the memorial would be a space for remembrance, prayer, and meditation… a record of the North Korean regime’s atrocities and an opportunity for education for the next generation.

One North Korean defector shared his experience visiting the Holocaust Museum in the U.S. capitol, comparing it with the horror he experienced in North Korea. He said that the establishment of a memorial space would serve as an opportunity to record the North Korean regime’s anti-human rights atrocities and educate the next generation. The cost of land purchase and construction is expected to be 1 million dollars (1.38 billion won).

An ambassador of the U.S. State Department special envoy for North Korean human rights attended the event. She said that the project would create an opportunity to commemorate the North Korean people and publicize the reality of the peninsula as an important part of the process of responsibility, truth, and reconciliation. She encouraged the Korean diaspora and North Korean defector community to work together. She fortified the U.S. government’s support for the North Korean defector community and the importance of shedding light on the extreme human rights violations and abuses of the Kim Jong-un regime.

A respected researcher at the Woodrow Wilson Center also presented at the forum, criticizing the claims by the North Korean regime that the country’s chronic famine was due to bad weather, climate change, and international sanctions against North Korea. He called out the regime’s frivolous spending of billions of dollars on nuclear and ballistic missile programs and imports of more than 600 million dollars in luxury goods. The researcher pointed out that this is due to a deliberate mass starvation policy that does not use the 200-400 million dollars needed to resolve the annual food shortage of 1.36 million tons.

Speakers praised the establishment of the first North Korean Defectors’ Day, calling it a “fatal blow” to the Kim regime. A former high-ranking official of the North Korean Workers’ Party who attended the event said that the number of North Korean residents who view South Korea as an object of envy is increasing, making it more difficult for the Kim regime to maintain its long-term system. He elaborated saying that Kim Jong-un would suffer a fatal blow, and hope would arise for the people who yearn for freedom.

The president of AKU Washington called the newly established day far greater than a simple memorial day saying that it would send a valuable message and be described as a historic event for future generations.

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.

A unified Korea in which the vision of the Korean Dream is given practical expression will be a new nation of high ideals. It will be a powerful witness to the fundamental principles expressed in the U.S. Declaration of Independence as well as be deeply rooted in its own historic cultural identity. In short, it will draw on the best lessons from the West while also looking to the ancient wisdom of Asia for new insights into the 21st century.

Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon

International Forum on One Korea, Seoul, October 2023

The unification of the Korean peninsula continues to build momentum on the international stage, inspiring collaboration between nations in the interest of regional and worldwide security. The United States, Japan, and Republic of Korea declared a trilateral partnership in August 2023 in which the governments expressed their commitment to fostering peace in the Indo-Pacific region and a unified Korea. Their joint statement declared, “We express support for the goal of the ROK’s Audacious Initiative and support a unified Korean Peninsula that is free and at peace.”

Korean reunification is not a new concept. The Korean people living in both the North and South have long lived through the pain of separation. The Korean Dream of a free and unified Korea that can benefit the region and world has been at the forefront of Dr. Hyun Jin P. Moon’s work for decades. The movement continues to build as world leaders recognize that peaceful reunification is essential to security and is being regarded by many policymakers as the best path forward.

This and more was discussed at the most recent International Forum on One Korea 2024 in Washington D.C. on June 6, 2024, organized by Global Peace Foundation (GPF). President of GPF, James Flynn, opened the forum by saying, “The power of ideas enables us to look beyond the way things are and to see totally different possibilities.” To this end, thought leaders from the U.S. participated in the discussion to develop a comprehensive U.S. strategy for a free and unified Korea centered on two key topics: the economic benefits of unification and the path forward to support the quest for change and peaceful unification through the lens of human rights and information sharing.

Esteemed speakers included a U.S. congressman and representatives from the Center for Asia Pacific Strategy, American Enterprise Institute, Woodrow Wilson Center, Northeast Asia Economics and Intelligence Advisory, International Council on Korean Studies, and Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, among others.

In the first panel, “Economic Considerations: Opportunities from Korean Unification,” speakers agreed that South Korea must be the driving catalyst for unification with support from the international community and institutions. One speaker stated that a free and unified Korea would benefit the world economy. He cautioned that if unification is to drive economic development, North Korea must be given the opportunity to develop its own companies rather than having outside companies forced upon it. Nevertheless, the panel concurred that now is the best time for unification, with human rights brought to the forefront.

“Operationalizing Government and Citizen Support for Korean Unification – Challenges – How to Create Conditions for Change in North Korea,” was the forum’s second panel discussion. Speakers highlighted transforming the region by addressing the human rights crisis in North Korea and focusing on getting information to the isolated people of North Korea.

One ambassador acknowledged that economic, political, military, and diplomatic dimensions are important to bringing peaceful reunification to the peninsula; however, upfront attention to human rights is the key to unification.

The Capitol Policy Forum: U.S. Support for a Free and Unified Korea highlighted the economic benefits associated with the unification of North Korea and South Korea. While unification will not be an easy task, it can be achieved through preparation, global support, information sharing, and a fervent desire to end human rights abuse in North Korea. The forum moderator, an American, adamantly stated that the international community must support the Korean people. He described all people as member of the same human family and therefore have a responsibility to help the peninsula and fulfill the Korean Dream together.

Read the full article 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.

On October 3, Korea’s Foundation Day, more than 20,000 people gathered in Yeouido with groups waving red placards declaring, “Unification is our strength,” and blue placards with the phrase “Unification through people power” written across them.

In the morning, the sky was overcast with clouds, but later in the afternoon, the sun appeared. As we walked along the Han River, enjoying the smell of the grass, we came to Yeouido Park. We saw the Korean flag stretched across the sky as we entered the cultural center where the 2023 Korean Dream Unification Festival was held.

Praying for reunification in the spirit of Taekwondo

Around 2 p.m., we could hear loud shouts in the distance. It was the sounds of more than 1,000 demonstrators from the ‘Taekwondo Ship Taekwondo Hero Corps’ participating in a Taekwondo-themed flash mob event (flash mob: a crowd that gathers at a location and performs coordinated shows for a short period before dispersing). The crowd performed spinning kicks. They incorporated exciting songs along with Taekwondo’s signature movements. The whole show was a colorful spectacle.

The audience roared as they enjoyed the 20-minute Taekwondo demonstration. Periodically, international travelers thrilled with the performance shouted, gave a thumbs-up, and exclaimed, “Wonderful!”

Lee Young-man, an office worker at the event, shared, “This was my first time watching a Taekwondo demonstration, and it was exciting – not stiff or solemn,” he said, adding, “I hope that the spirit of Taekwondo will unite the North and South and that our wish for unification will be fulfilled as soon as possible.”

In addition to the Taekwondo flash mob, there were K-POP cover dances, competitions, a photo and video archives exhibition of the Korean Dream movement, and the Eurasian Peace Fellowship pavilion.

A Citizens’ Organizing Committee member for the Korean Dream 10 Million Campaign for the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Korea observed, “Unlike the older generations, Korean youth tend to think that unification is unnecessary. It is a problem that the younger generation does not recognize the importance of unification. As such, we planned a program that would appeal to the youth and draw their interest while teaching the importance and necessity of unification.”

Kim Byung-chan, the host of the 2023 Korean Dream Unification Action Festa, opened by playing the national anthem to announce the event’s start. As the national anthem played, flags with the phrase “Korean Dream” and the Korean flag fluttered across the sky. The event commemorated the 4,355th anniversary of Korea’s founding, making it all the more meaningful.

The Korean Dream is the Second Samil Movement

The event was organized as part of the Korean Dream, a new movement to contribute to world peace based on the Hongik Ingan spirit, a running thread throughout the nation’s history and culture. The goal is to create a unified nation that can contribute to world peace.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government organized the event with a committee of eight unification and civil society organizations. The committee included Action for Korea United, Korea Senior Citizens Association, Korea Veterans Association, Korea Federation of Arts and Cultural Organizations, Ten Thousand Mountain Families Committee, Scent of Reflection, Korea Federation of Free Associations, and the Korean Federation of Unification Leaders.

The 2025 Korean Dream 10 Million Campaign is a citizen-led effort to achieve peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula in 2025, the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation.

A hundred years earlier, two million Koreans demonstrated to the world the legitimacy of their efforts for independence through the Samil Movement. Likewise, the Campaign aims to develop a “Second Samil Movement” based on the Korean Dream again to demonstrate the legitimacy of the Korean Peninsula’s reunification and draw the international community’s sympathy and support.

To this end, the organizers plan to mobilize 100,000 citizens this year, followed by 1 million in 2024 and 10 million in 2025. In addition, by 2025, plans are underway to conduct a 10 million citizens walking campaign, the Korean Dream Volunteer Festival, and the August 15^th Grand Festival to engage the participation of the 8.5 million overseas Koreans.

A variety of events will be held to unite the country. Along with the domestic campaign, the organizers are also conducting an international campaign to raise global awareness of the massive unification movement.

The “Korean Dream Expedition” launched in March and traveled to more than 85 cities in 29 countries for 137 days, spreading the vision of the Korean Dream.

The 2023 Korean Dream Unification Action Festa culminated with a keynote address by Dr. Hyun Jin Moon, Chairman of the Global Peace Foundation. As Moon took the podium, he repeatedly shouted, “Aju! Aju!” Aju combines the Chinese characters a (我), meaning ‘I,’ and ju (主), meaning ‘owner.’

Instead of reading a prepared speech, Dr. Moon walked among the event participants, interacting with them, making eye contact, and inviting them to say “Aju.” In promoting the idea of Aju, Dr. Moon encouraged citizens to see that – rather than relying on governments or political leaders – a new Korean nation would only be realized when individual citizens desired unification enough to take up their initiatives to support it.

“Ten years ago, when we said we would build a grassroots unification movement centered on citizens, Korea was divided between the left and the right, even along religious lines such as Christianity and Buddhism. At the time, they said that a grassroots unification movement was impossible under these circumstances. But today, so many people have gathered here. So many people have come together today – across differences – and this is powerful evidence that our dream of unification can be realized. The most important thing in the unification movement is the spirit of ownership. Let’s chant “Aju,” which means I am the owner. Aju!”

Unification with the spirit of Aju and the spirit of Hongik Ingan

Dr. Moon intertwined the spirit of Aju with the spirit of Hongik Ingan, the founding ideal of the Korean nation to “benefit all humanity,” and emphasized that we should start with ourselves and let others know the value of unification.

He emphasized the spirit of Hongik Ingan, a national identity and providential mandate that can unite all Koreans, including North Koreans. Dr. Moon observed, “The most important thing in this grassroots movement for unification is the ownership over the Korean Dream vision by the Korean people themselves. If you become the owner and through whatever foundation you have, you spread this message and wake other Koreans up, then this will grow like wildfire.”

Dr. Moon delivered his speech in English and emphasized the importance of global solidarity. He said, “If I were to speak only in Korean about Korean Unification, how can we have foreigners listen, and how can we inspire foreigners to help us be a part of this movement? The Korean Dream is not just a dream to inspire Koreans; it can inspire the entire world.”

In response to the idea that we should “teach children about the importance of the Unification,” Mr. Cho Young-hwan, a citizen who attended, said, “I’m a history teacher, so I heard that this is an event that tells the growing generation the meaning of the unification of the Korean Peninsula. I drove in the rain early in the morning to attend the event. While attending the event, I vowed to realize the peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula with my children.”

The 2023 Korean Dream Unification Action Festa was held on October 3, 2023,  at the Yeouido Park Cultural Courtyard in Seoul, October 7 at KBS Changwon Hall in Gyeongnam; October 9 at the Hanbitop Square in Daejeon; October 14^th at the Busan Station Square, Busan, Korea, Oryunmun Square, 14^th at the Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do, 5-18 Minjungwang, in Gwangju;  October 22nd at  Deokjin Park in  Jeonju; and on October 28^th at the Orong Outdoor Music Center in Daegu.

The organizers estimate that more than 100,000 people attended the events nationwide. One representative commented, “This event confirmed the potential of the Korean Dream and the unification movement. We are grateful for the citizens’ active participation throughout all the events.”