Following the historic Inter-Korea Summit where South Korea President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared the end of the Korean War, global attention was brought to the One Korea Global Campaign when its song “One Dream One Korea” played during the finale of the summit’s closing ceremony.

One K Global Campaign aims to garner support for reunification of the Koreas through K-pop concerts, a unification documentary film (now being filmed), and a series of Unification Songs that started with One Dream One Korea in 2015.

Kim Musong (left) from the Saenuri Party (New Frontier Party-NFP) and Moon Jae-In from the New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD)

President Moon himself, at the time the head representative of the liberal Democratic Party, appeared in the original music video along with the opposition party leader of what was called the Saenuri Party at the time.

Crossing barriers of genre, profession, political affiliation and more, Korea’s brightest came together to express the wish to “be a family again.” The release of the One Dream One Korea song in 2015 led to the creation of an entirely new genre of music focused around the message of hope for reunification.

It is worth noting that prior to the third Inter-Korea Summit, North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un had attended a peace concert held at the East Pyongyang Grand Theatre in early April. The show featured, for the first time in years, South Korean K-pop stars. The BBC reported that Kim was “moved” by the peace concert, which ended with a performance of “Our Wish is Unification,” a song with deep roots in both the Korean Independence and Reunification movements.

It was also reported that the North Korean leader proposed more cultural performances between the two countries.

Even while it becomes difficult to measure the impact of cultural exchanges, the fact of Kim Jong-un’s interest in further engagement with the South — directly preceding the Inter-Korea Summit — serves to underscore the important role culture and arts can play in soft diplomacy.

Artists continue to join efforts for the new, eagerly anticipated One K Unification Song, once again composed by Kim Hyung Suk. The song now includes over 20 K-pop stars and is set to be released in August 2018.

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NGOs, music production teams, and K-Pop artists collaborated to spread the message of world peace starting with the unification of the Korean peninsula in the One Korea Global Peace Concert held in Manila, Philippines this March.

Songwriter Hall-of-Fame production team, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, introduced the newest “unification song” in front of the 15,000 fans filling the Mall of Asia Arena. The duo described their inspiration behind creating a song for the Korean peninsula saying, “The idea of reunifying could be about family members who lost their way or could be unifying friends who got into an argument with each other. It could be at a very basic level. It’s really about just coming together and reuniting. That theme, to me, is a very universal one.”

Read more on the One Korea Global Peace Concert from The Korea Times.

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The 2017 Global Peace Convention held in Manila, Philippines gathered thousands of leaders from around the world with diverse ethnic, religious, and political backgrounds to address pressing global issues, specifically that of the challenge facing the Korean peninsula.

Global Peace Foundation Chairman Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon described the significance of acknowledging shared values and a united identity under the Korean mantra “Hongik Ingan,” a country living for the welfare of the entire world, as a cornerstone for uniting the peninsula once again. “Any global perspective or approach based solely on political or economic considerations is inherently limited and insufficient,” Dr. Moon said. “What is required is a simple, clear vision that encapsulates the essence of our common humanity.”

Read more on the 2017 Global Peace Convention from The Korean Times.

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“Be great at what you do. If you are great then people will ask, ‘What is it about you that makes you different?’ And that will change the world.” –Terry Lewis

Five-time Grammy award-winning production team, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, brought a voice of encouragement to the youth attending the 2017 Global Peace Convention held in Manila, Philippines. Moved by the message of world peace beginning with the unification of the Korean peninsula, the duo unveiled their newest song at the One Korea Global Peace Concert. The song is an endeavor to inspire global solidarity in pursuit of peace.

Terry Lewis expressed the transformative power of music saying, “I think music reaches right into the soul of someone. It doesn’t matter what language, doesn’t matter whether you are young, or old or where you are from. A great song can really uplift and provide the soundtrack for the people to do whatever it is they want to do: falling in love, getting married, or changing the world for global peace. Music is always the soundtrack for that.”

Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis with K-Pop stars at the One Korea Global Peace Concert in Manila

Jimmy Jam reiterated the importance of being an active part of the process to achieving peace starting as simple as spreading a positive message on social media. Everyone has a voice and a choice to be positive. “If we don’t speak it into existence, it doesn’t happen,” said Jimmy Jam, “So social media is a powerful way to speak [global peace] into existence.”

Calling the youth to action at the Convention, Terry Lewis said, “Global peace starts, I think, in your house, where you live. It starts in your home, in your community. It starts in your state and in your country. How can you get involved? It starts with you; how you treat people. You have to shed more light by being a brighter light. Bright light will change darkness but a dim light will be consumed by darkness. Please don’t be a dim light. Be involved. Be active.”

You can show your support for One Korea and other peace initiatives by spreading the message on your social media. Use #globalpeace and be a part of the movement to unite under ‘one dream, one Korea, ONE WORLD.”

For more updates from the Global Peace Convention 2017, visit: http://www.hyunjinmoon.com/global-peace-convention-2017/

The original article can be found on www.globalpeace.org. Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon is the founder of the Global Peace Foundation.

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The Global Peace Convention gathers a diverse community of peacebuilding practitioners, including youth and faith leaders and experts in business, international development, and education in a unique opportunity to explore innovative and action-driven solutions to critical global issues, share best practices, and strengthen strong multi-stakeholder partnerships.

The following excerpt is a reflection of a nine-year-old boy on the 2017 Global Peace Convention held in Manila, Philippines.

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There is a story by Danish children’s storywriter Hans Christian Andersen that my son was introduced to this winter, the story of the little match girl.

After we read the story, he could not stop his tears. How could there be children in the world with no one to care for them, no one to feed them, no one to give them warmth and most importantly no one to love them? For him, the story is a reminder of all the suffering children in the world.

Kartikeya Sharma speaks at the Business and Economic Forum for the 2017 Global Peace Convention in Manila

Last night, as we witnessed the close of the Global Peace Convention 2017 from across the ocean in the United States, something again reminded him of the little match girl, and his tears began anew.

It was an important opportunity to drive home the message that we’ve been hearing over the live streamed plenaries and inspiring short videos from the convention: we are the moral and innovative leaders who can tackle problems that our human family faces that sometimes seem insurmountable.

I showed him the short quote from Kartikeya Sharma, spoken during the Global Peace Economic Forum,

“Let us in this hall remember Mahatma Gandhi, who asked us to think of the poorest and needy, and resolve, ‘What would you do, or what would you suggest that could help them.’ Any suggestion, or any change you would like to recommend which would actually effect the lives of the poorest.”

And we remembered, we have a light. We have our hands; we have our minds; we have our hearts driven by service to humanity, and most importantly we have others in this world who, like us, are driven by the same dream of making the world better for our entire human family. And when we work together – we can make sure the children of the world have the families that can love them, feed them and raise them to become successful, active, amazing adults.

Songwriter Hall of Fame recipients, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis speak at the 2017 GPC in Manila, Philippines

Terry Lewis said during the second plenary of the convention:

“You have to shed more light by being a brighter light. Bright light will change darkness but a dim light will be consumed by darkness. Please don’t be a dim light. Be involved. Be active.”

My son and I resolved last night, to do something, even small, for humanity, and pray that it will become a part of something larger that will change the world.

Many matches lit throughout the world can light the world and reach the children who are still cold, hungry and without love.

My son’s tears have dried for now, but the light inside his heart still burns strongly. This week we will find a place where he can put his passion into action. Thank you Global Peace Convention 2017 for lighting the fire in us.

For more updates from the Global Peace Convention 2017, visit: http://www.hyunjinmoon.com/global-peace-convention-2017/

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 peace building models as the foundation for ethical and cohesive societies. Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon is founder and chairman of the Global Peace Foundation.

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“Are you ready to dream? Are you ready to dream the greatest dream of all?” Dr. Hyun Jin Moon, founder and chairman of the Global Peace Foundation addressed thousands of screaming K-pop fans at the “One Korea Global Peace Concert in Manila.”

The concert didn’t just showcase the personality, talent, and looks of the K-Pop stars, including Psy, the ladies of AOA, SHINee, CNBlue, BTOB, BAP and B1A4; it highlighted their shared commitment to an auspicious goal – Global Peace.

Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon opens the One Korea Global Peace Concert in Manila, Philippines addressing 15,000 K-Pop fans

The new Unification Song written by multi-Grammy Award-winning, Songwriter Hall-of-Fame production team Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis made its début at the concert. “You’re going to be the very first in the world to hear that song,” Jimmy Jam chided the audience in the middle of the concert.

In earlier interview the duo described the power of the new song saying, “This is a song we’re giving to the world. It really is about Global Peace.” The team has been working for the past year to compose the song, expressing their conviction that the unification of the Korean peninsula is the first step to global peace.

Following the One K Concert, one attendee shared how moved she was to be a part of the campaign for a united Korea:

I grew up hearing “We are the world.” It could be that my parents also came from a generation who thought peace would come soon, and they liked to make us sing it. When we sang it, we always sang it at the top of our lungs. It’s one of those songs that always raised our spirits – it spoke of something bigger than us – an interconnectedness of humanity, of a hope of a better world – and the confidence that the power to create that world, was given to each of us.

Only later would I find out the origins of that song – over 40 top singers and musicians bound together to alleviate the hunger in Africa. That song raised $63 million and it still inspires generations later. Music can unite; music can move people to action.

K-Pop stars sing new Unification Song at the One Korea Global Peace Concert in Manila

As the notes of “One Korea” rose up through the arena in the voice of the traditional Korean instrument, the piri, something like that stirred in me. The mystical sound of the wind instrument seems to echo through the halls of the history of a people who have been taught that they were created to live to benefit humanity for eons. I felt my heart rise with the notes and tears gather at the corner of my eyes.

“Calling on a generation” sang the K-pop stars flanking Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. “Strength and unity….we’ll serve the world as one.”

I am still humming the chorus – and every note hits a chord in me, telling me that I, we have the power and responsibility to be the generation that will make peace happen. When we stand together as the generation who will not let this opportunity to secure a better world pass, committed to resolving some of the seemingly impossible challenge of our time like the division of Korea, peace will come true.

And now, we have a song to remind us – that the impossible is possible when we believe together. Thank you Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, for giving this generation a song, a song that calls us to be the generation of peace. We are a generation that will bring substance to this vision.

See more reports from the Global Peace Convention 2017.

The original article can be found on www.globalpeace.org. Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon is the founder of Global Peace Foundation.

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Global Peace Convention 2017: Influential Women in Leadership Panel

March 2nd, 2017 – Manila Marriott Convention Center & Hotel, Philippines

New Women’s Leadership Culture for Peace and Development: From the Home to the World

To all the guests, aspiring leaders, and participants gathered here today, magandang umaga, good morning—welcome to this important forum to establish a new women’s leadership culture for peace and development.

I especially wish to recognize the movers and shakers of the Global Peace Women’s movement, including Dr. Nona Ricafort—I hear some audience had a chance to visit her house last night. I heard it was a great success—H.E. Hajiya Amina Namadi Sambo, Dr. Eva Latham, our great friend here, Hon. Cynthia Aguilar Villar, our dear friend Donna Schuller and Rachel Murray, Hon. Yunsook Lee from Korea, and Keiko Kobayashi from Japan. We’re all honored to have all of you here.

Whenever I visit the Philippines, I feel warmly welcomed by my Filipino brothers and sisters. It is fitting that we are gathering in this beautiful country which has a legacy of great women leaders. I was also inspired to hear that during this Global Peace Convention the month-long Panagbenga Festival is taking place. Not only does this powerful festival celebrate the season of blossoms, but it also celebrates the rebuilding of Baguio City after the 1990 earthquake. We often associate blooming flowers with rebirth and new beginning. I hope that this gathering can nourish a new start of women’s leadership in building peace.

The need to focus on women’s leadership characteristics

Today, the global community is making progress toward encouraging women’s participation in peacebuilding. In 2000, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 1325 on women, peace, and security. More than 60 countries, including Uganda, the Philippines, United States, Nigeria, Korea, Paraguay, Japan, and Kenya developed national action plans to include more women in preventing and resolving conflict and sustaining peace.

Although the effort to increase engagement is very important, our focus should not only be limited to the number of women leaders. I invite you to also consider, what are the greatest leadership qualities that women should aspire to cultivate?

Uplifting women’s value as endowed by God

Global Peace Women believes that leaders must first appreciate their own value to understand and respect the value of other people. For this reason, women’s leadership starts with cherishing our innate value as women.

Did any of us choose to be born as a woman or man? None of us chose our identity at birth, but this is our God-given destiny. Both men and women are endowed with intrinsic value by our Creator, and the qualities of each are complementary and essential. The characteristics of women provide an environment where peace can take root and grow on every level.

Yet the world struggles with gender-based violence, human trafficking, and many other social problems because family members and women themselves do not recognize their value. What about us? Do we truly recognize our highest value as a representative of womanhood?

One of Global Peace Women’s priorities is thus to uplift the value of women around the world. For example, GPW Kenya launched a mentorship program for university students and young professionals to work with teenage girls from urban slums. By helping them to understand their value, young women will find the strength to rise above the challenges of drug abuse and teen pregnancy. They will benefit from role models and life skill education to build healthy, successful futures.

Women’s leadership in the family

It is said that women provide a foundation for peace as “The Pillar of the Family.”  Daughters are more likely to care for their elderly parents and siblings. Numerous studies have found that, because of their warm emotional support and frequent communication, sisters develop really harmonious relationships with their siblings.

Most importantly, mothers devote themselves to nourish, educate, and raise children from conception. From painful labor and throughout the child’s life, mothers embody a sacrificial heart for the sake of the next generation. I am happy to hear that, already, the girls in this program are gaining self-confidence and respecting themselves more. This understanding of self-respect naturally leads to respecting and appreciating the value of other people. Relating with our family and community members in this way creates the harmonious culture of One Family under God.

In the family–I can use my own children as an example–the girls have very different qualities from the boys. When Mother gets sick or siblings get sick, they come to me and say, ‘Mom, is everything ok? Is there anything I can do?’ Even at 8 or 10 years old, my daughter always brings me medicine. But sons show their love in a very different way. ‘Oh mom, are you sick? I hope you get better soon.’ That’s it, right? But I can still feel their heart. It’s just the way they show their love and caring. So even through raising children, I can definitely see the differences between men and women from a very young age, and I really appreciate the Creator for creating two different genders. He did so because there is an absolute necessity for two different genders, because they complement each other and they absolutely need each other. In raising daughters, I many times feel that the experience she has when she is young, the learning she gets from her mother, will naturally instruct her when she grows and becomes a mother herself, so that even without me telling or teaching her, she innately will have that love for the caring of children.

At her best, a mother is the lifelong source of unconditional love, harmony, and counsel. Together with the father, a mother instills the core values and moral compass in children so that they can make wise decisions, navigate relationships, and contribute to society. Virtuous mothers ensure that global peace begins in the home, one family at a time.

A balanced understanding of women’s leadership

Unfortunately, the public and media often overlook the peacebuilding impact of women leaders in the family. In some cases, women’s contributions in the home are even described as demeaning. Rather than appreciated for the nurturing heart of a daughter, sister, wife, and mother, women’s roles in the family are often disdained. This is because we live in a culture that values career advancement and material gain above all else.

The truth is, the family is the hub and model for all other social relationships. No one can deny that healthy and happy families depend on women’s unconditional love and sacrifice for the family. Peace begins in the home because it is where we learn to trust, respect, and work together with members of our human family. The warm and nurturing family environment that women create is the model for the peaceful world of One Family under God.

Women also play a crucial role as peace educators. For example, GPW Korea initiated a program for unification education in the home. As you may know, the 70-year division between North and South Korea has also divided the hearts and minds of the Korean people. This is a huge challenge to Korea’s unification. Therefore, South Korean mothers in this program try to teach their children at home, whenever they find the chance, that North Koreans share a common heritage and that they are their family members.  Women-led education is thus healing the division of the Korean people’s hearts to prepare for Korea’s peaceful unification.

The extended family model for peace

Ultimately, GPW believes that true women leaders should aspire to embrace all human beings as members of their own family. This culture is embodied in the intergenerational extended family model.

My husband, Dr. Hyun Jin Moon, emphasizes the importance of the extended family model in the peacebuilding process in his recently published book, The Korean Dream. He writes,

“The structure of the extended family with its many different roles creates a framework for intergenerational cooperation and a wide variety of relationships through which we can cultivate the best elements of our humanity. These lessons, taken to heart by each new generation raised within the extended family, allow us to relate together with other human beings in a cooperative, peaceful, and cohesive manner, whether in the smallest social unit of the family, or the largest: the global community.”

In order to facilitate this ideal, GPW launched the extended family movement through forums and family festivals in nations such as Uruguay and Nepal. Also in the Philippines, I heard that you have the custom of mano. This is when children greet elders by asking for their hands to receive blessing and wisdom. It is a beautiful expression of intergenerational respect. Just as parents serve their grandparents and grandparents educate and love their grandchildren, we naturally cooperate and help each other harmoniously across generations in the family. We want to replicate this culture in society by relating and cooperating with others like our own family members. Traditions that celebrate these types of extended family relationships create a loving and peaceful environment.

Women’s leadership strengths

For the extended family model to succeed, women’s roles are indispensable. After all, women are natural peacemakers. Mounting evidence shows that women promote peace and security through increasing dialogue, building consensus, and de-escalating tension. Experts say that the 2014 Bangsamoro peace agreement in the Philippines was successful because of women’s leadership. Many Filipinos agree that Ates (older sisters) are less likely to be perceived as threats, and more likely to compromise with empathy and love to achieve common goals. Women legislators are also more likely to prevent the recurrence of conflict by caring for marginalized populations.

Global Peace Foundation’s One Family under God Campaign in Nigeria is a good example of how women strengthen reconciliation. Women from different religious, ethnic, and tribal backgrounds came together to serve the community. These different groups have a history of conflict and tension but women were instrumental in bringing them to understand each other and collaborate. This demonstration of thoughtfulness and warmth shows that women leader’s strength is in creating an environment of harmony and cooperation.

The core of the example above is the culture of selfless service and unconditional love. These traits are essential to women’s efforts in building bridges of peace. To promote this ideal, GPW Paraguay created the Living for the Sake of Others Award to honor service-minded women leaders. For the past 8 years, we have discovered many unsung heroes who are under-appreciated for their devotion to service. By recognizing their merit, GPW Paraguay is encouraging and inspiring more women to follow in their footsteps.

Conclusion

Ladies and gentlemen, I want to remind everyone that the dream of peace requires each of our efforts. For women to fully promote and sustain peace throughout the world, their innate God-given value should be recognized and celebrated on every level. Let us cherish who we are as women, and let us strive to become harmonizers and peacemakers in the family and society. As the Global Peace Women motto states, ‘peace begins in the home.’

I am honored to be among such great women who deeply love God and are dedicated to peace. I hope that you can join with me in committing our hearts, effort, and unique qualities to this noble cause.

May God bless you and your families.

Salamat po. Thank you very much

See more reports from the Global Peace Convention 2017.

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“ASEAN Renaissance: Unleashing Entrepreneurial Power for Peace and Prosperity”
-Manila, Philippines

Keynote Address: Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon
Venue: Manila Marriott Convention Center & Hotel
March 1, 2017

Your excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen:

It is very meaningful that we are convening this second Global Peace Economic Forum here in Manila. This is indeed a crucial time in history, as evidenced by major events across the world: the elections here in the Philippines and in the U.S.; the impeachment crises in South Korea and Brazil; the war against terror and identity-based conflicts; the existential threat and instability presented by North Korea; and many more.

It is precisely at such times that a clear vision and exemplary leadership are needed.

I would like to thank the host nation of the Philippines for its hospitality, and its leaders for their genuine commitment to partnering with the Global Peace Foundation to strengthen peace and prosperity for the region and the world.

The timing could not be more appropriate as the Philippines has assumed the ASEAN chairmanship during its historic 50th anniversary year.

Also thanks to the organizers and supporters of this forum, including the Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands, its President, Mr. Jose Yulo, as well as the former Managing Director General of the Asian Development Bank, Mr. Young-Hoi Lee.

I especially want to recognize former President Vinicio Cerezo of Guatemala, and former President Nicolás Ardito of Panama for joining us here today.

Finally, I want to thank all of you for your participation in this forum.

Let us give everyone a warm round of applause.

Free Markets vs. Centralized Bureaucracies

I believe the last century put to rest the “age-old” debate of whether a centralized system or the free market is the way toward economic success. Even former communist nations that still maintain a single political party system have made significant efforts to liberalize their economies to take advantage of what free markets can offer and centralized ones cannot – a highly vibrant, entrepreneurial and competitive environment that delivers goods and services with maximum efficiency.

Just as Adam Smith observed in his book The Wealth of Nations two and half centuries ago, the “invisible hand” of free market aligns one’s self-interest to the greater good of society through competitive forces.

The truth espoused in classic liberal economic theory is very simple: the freer the markets, the greater the efficiency and vitality; conversely, greater regulation and centralized control create inefficiencies and stifle growth. To promote innovation and entrepreneurism, governments and their leaders must begin by building freer markets.

However, in today’s highly politicized world, especially in the West and the more developed Asian nations, many markets have moved toward more regulation and government oversight, losing touch with market-oriented economic principles. This is highly ironic in that the meteoric rise of the Western hemisphere over the last four centuries was due to these classic ideals. While the East was trapped in a rigid social, agricultural caste or class system, the West broke from those traditions to embrace a more dynamic, fluid and entrepreneurial system that free markets create.

The shift towards greater regulation was justified by incidents of rapacious greed and unbridled abuse of the economic system, leading to efforts to make the markets supposedly “more fair” through increased government oversight.

Yet, government regulation stifles the very freedom that leads one to innovate and take risks – the definition of entrepreneurism. The ability to capitalize on timely opportunities – the hallmark of a free market – is hamstrung.

The result is a closed system that benefits only those with influence and special access, while the “little guy” with the great idea and huge dreams never has a shot to participate in any meaningful way.

Thus, here is the dilemma. How does a nation build a freer economic system that taps into innovation and entrepreneurism, yet has sufficient regulatory and enforcement mechanisms to compel actors to behave in ways that align to societal values and levels the playing field for all its citizens?

The essential question of how to deter bad behavior has two clear options: either government bureaucracy provides the regulating force; or conscientious ethical people self-regulate based upon universally recognized principles, values and norms because that is what the markets and society expects. I believe the most effective approach is overwhelmingly clear to business leaders. Most will be more concerned about the markets and their consumer backlash than anything the government can do to their business.

Thus, in a perfect world, the markets themselves are the best means of regulation; for they dictate which businesses provide the best goods and services that society needs, in addition, to aligning to its values. If a business does not meet those market expectations, then it would no longer be competitive and eventually fail. That is why, in the business community, we have all heard the truism that “the customer is king.” It is the consumer of those goods and services who decide the fate of businesses as opposed to some kind of shady boardroom dealings by unscrupulous businessmen.

Changing Global and Technological Landscape

Ladies and gentlemen, there are no shortcuts in life. For there to be a sustainable, equitable and prosperous economic system, there must be people of conscience first, whose collective decisions advance the greater good as opposed to benefiting the few.

Their choices need to be rooted in universal principles and values that uplift the intrinsic God-given human rights and freedoms of all because it is in their self-interest to do so.

In other words, the markets, or their consumers, demand it.

The overarching economic approach of the Global Peace Foundation, hence, calls for less government interference in the marketplace in line with the classic liberal economic principles with one very important addition – the development of societies in which the collective ethos is rooted on a universally accepted ethic that guides the national and global economic systems. Systems are values-neutral; it is people that infuse those structures with their unique values perspective leading to varying outcomes, whether good or bad.

Technologies, too, are values-neutral. In the right hands, technologies can provide miraculous solutions that enable people to live more healthy, fruitful and productive lives. In the wrong hands, however, technologies can cause conflict, insecurity, and financial loss that are hard to quantify. Still, technological advances can liberalize and democratize the markets by providing tools and information to an average consumer.

The advent of the internet and social media provides access to real-time information across different time zones and regions which enable consumers to make more informed decisions about businesses, products and services.

It is essential that freer markets and technology, which are the bedrock of building a well-functioning economic system, are tempered by universal moral values as well as uncompromising adherence to fundamental human rights and common decency.

Vision for the Philippines

When leaders and citizens align to these principles and values, the nation can begin to realize its full potential to become a leading economic and moral force. I believe that the Philippines can and should become such a model nation.

Not only can it thrive economically for its own sake but it can also lead an effort to realize ASEAN’s full potential that also further stabilizes and promotes peace for the rest of Asia. In this age of the Pacific Rim region, I believe the Philippines is well-positioned to become a central player of that growing Pacific Rim influence.

The Philippines already possesses many key attributes to assume that role. It is strategically located, and has forged important ties with nations such as Korea, Japan, U.S. and China. It has abundant natural resources, an attractive environment, and its English-speaking population is 100 million-strong.  Many Filipinos already live abroad and are influencing the local affairs of their host nations.

More importantly, I believe the Philippines can become a key trade and economic hub in the larger Pacific Rim region that is a gateway between East and West, whereby it offers distribution, professional services and manufacturing capabilities, among others.By definition, a hub is a central part that connects multiple elements harmoniously. The Philippines has a unique history with multi-cultural, multi-religious and multi-lingual backgrounds, so its people can interact and connect with others naturally.   

This is an exciting and opportune time for the Philippines. The 10 ASEAN member nations have a combined GDP of more than $2.6 trillion and a population of over 622 million in a strategically significant part of the world, whose relevance and weight will only increase in the coming years. As the Philippines currently chairs ASEAN and hence sets the tone of its discourse, this is indeed a great opportunity for it to demonstrate moral and innovative leadership.

Additionally, the Philippines is on a positive trajectory.  

As announced at our morning session by our close partner, the Heritage Foundation, the Philippines has moved up twelve places in its Economic Freedom Index for 2017. That is a solid achievement! Please give the Philippines a well-deserved round of applause. ‘

Opportunities and Challenges

Let us take a closer look at the Philippine’s economic and business landscape. From 2012 until now, the country has recorded a remarkable rate of growth. Aided by ongoing increase in consumer spending and infrastructure investments, the GDP growth for 2016 was at 6.8%, 2nd best in Asia behind India. International agencies, including Moody’s, are projecting solid annual growth at around 6.5%. Reasonably low level of total foreign debt to GDP, coupled with good macro-economic fundamentals and robust economic growth are giving comfort to the international markets and rating agencies.

Philippines is also among the world’s top five minerals reserve countries, with mining permits currently given to cover only 2% of the reserve area, which promises enormous future revenue opportunities.

On the other hand, there are significant challenges. Chronic reliance on foreign consumers and capital goods forces the Philippines into a constant state of trade deficit. The lack of infrastructure, ranked at 95th among 138 nations by the Global Competitiveness Index, also continues to weigh down the country from reaching fuller economic potential.

The greatest challenges, however, are its inefficient government bureaucracy, crony capitalism, and corruption. They prevent net value creation and discourage the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurism. Furthermore, they stifle the growth of quality jobs and the size of the middle-class, which lead to worsening income inequality between the rich and the poor. More than 50% of the population earns income of less than $2 a day and over 25% of the population lives in poverty, where over 60% of them live in remote areas away from developed cities.

The combination of these factors leads to crime and violence, social unrest and increasing number of those without a minimum level of care and education.

This is in stark contrast with the highest earners in the Philippines. According to the World Bank and Forbes Magazine, the collective personal net worth of the top 50 individuals was around $78 billion, which is about 25% of the country’s entire GDP. Their personal wealth increased about $8 billion year-over-year, representing a 50% GDP dollar growth during the same period.

When a country’s economy grows by 7% and the majority of that wealth increase is captured by less than a thousandth of a percent of the population, that kind of economic phenomenon is not only unsustainable but unjust. The growth that the nation enjoys is not trickling down to the broader population because people are not plugged into the growth areas of the economy. There are too many who are shut out of the necessary education and opportunity, and they are locked in a perpetual state of poverty and disadvantage.

Reforming the Philippines Economy: Liberalization of Financial Markets

This problem has to be addressed and resolved. To reduce wealth disparity while enlarging the pie for the entire population through sustained economic growth, a vibrant and robust working middle-class must take root and prosper. When the few select elites control most of the wealth via a handful of large corporations, and the vast majority is disconnected from the economic drivers, it is essential that more quality jobs become available through more small businesses and entrepreneurial startups.

I believe the most effective way to jump start such a cycle and reach the desired end is through liberalization of capital and allowing easier financial access to small businesses, start-ups and new ventures.

In essence, when capital flows freely, unhindered by unnecessary regulation or policy, into burgeoning economic opportunities, that leads to greater capital creation and results in the natural balancing of supply and demand.

That is why the Philippines financial institutions, with the support of government policies and aided by technology, should deploy more capital toward financing new growth and opportunity so that the brightest and most talented can achieve their dreams beyond the current limited landscape.

Of course, there are other pressing major economic issues and initiatives to tackle, such as infrastructure development, education and health services, and building manufacturing capacity.

However, whereas these areas of investment involve the “hardware” needs of the country which can be readily addressed by securing the required capital from domestic or foreign sources, the collective mindset required for liberalizing capital is akin to developing the internal “software,” where such development could take generations to take root.

By their very nature, the financial industry and its governing regulatory bodies are bureaucratic, inefficient and risk-averse.

Yet, if they are unable or unwilling to develop the necessary culture and the requisite competencies to proactively evaluate risk and reward, and are unwilling to execute on calculated bets then the country’s economy will suffer and it will eventually hit a ceiling. To illustrate this case in point, look no further than to Korea, my home country.

Korean Experience

South Korea, the 11th largest economy in the world, has seen its meteoric rise over the last 70 years, fueled by the growth of chaebols, or family-controlled business conglomerates. This leap to prosperity within one to two generations was unprecedented. Starting from the bottom in a devastated landscape after the Korean War in 1953, not only did Koreans catch up to developed nations within a short period of time, they took the lead in several key industries including automotive, construction, shipbuilding, electronics, high-tech communication, and internet services. Now, many look to Korea’s miracle on the Han River as a model with envy and respect.

However, while seeking maximum growth in the shortest amount of time, the marriage of convenience and the moral hazard that was created between the South Korean government and the chaebols left behind a system and legacy that still favors the select few at the expense of the many. Over the period of extraordinary growth in the last four decades, the Korean economy has become even more consolidated into the hands of fewer chaebols than ever before.

Accounting for nearly all of Korean GDP, these chaebols dominate in every industry and market, hoarding profits and squeezing suppliers while stifling the growth of smaller businesses that employ 90% of the labor market. Consumers are shortchanged by lack of competition, price manipulation, and corruption that follows any excessive consolidation of power. Most of all, the nation suffers as it is held hostage to the whims of a small elite group of chaebol families, suppressing opportunity, innovation, entrepreneurialism and eventually hindering economic growth.

The outcome speaks for itself. The significant unemployment rate of those in their 20s to 30s is one example. While Korea boasts one of the highest education standards of all developed countries, it also has one of the highest unemployment rates in this age group, at over 10%. In turn, growing negative sentiment toward the chaebols is reaching its climax, given the environment of economic exclusion rather than inclusion, where those with the political and business relationships have an unfair advantage, leaving the mass behind to compete over a shrinking pie.

You only need to look at the city of Seoul where over a million people gather in peaceful protest every weekend in order to express their discontent for the corrupt and rigged system in business and politics.

One should take notice when there is even a popular terminology called, “Hell Chosun,” in reference to the widespread perception that Korea, or its old name, Chosun, offers no hope and future for an average person unless one is born rich and connected.

This is made all the more discouraging because even the chaebols, who grew on the backs of the Koreans, are now losing their global standing and competitiveness to other more entrepreneurial and forward-looking players from China, India and others.

In short, the Korean experience should be a lesson for all emerging nations; there is no shortcut to a good sustainable outcome. There has to be sound fundamentals with which to build on; in this case, creating a more robust and growing middle-class of entrepreneurs and business owners through liberalization of capital.

Even the chaebols will benefit from this in the long run because this will force them to adapt to a more competitive landscape, leading to greater market discipline, fair-play, and sustainability. The consumers will of course benefit because of the improved products, services and prices. This is what the ideals of the free market and capitalism should look like; a win-win for all sides.

As for the Philippines, it is now in the process of developing itself into a more industrialized country.

As it looks for ways to grow economically stronger and become more relevant in the world stage, it needs to envision a new economic paradigm. With a new mindset it should seek solutions that can unlock the potential of the Philippines and ASEAN. As observed in Korea’s situation, a country may have all the necessary hardware, such as infrastructure, financial capital and technology, but still stagnate and wither very quickly.

Philippine business and political leaders should cultivate a spirit of entrepreneurism, creativity, individual responsibility and ownership.

The country should not fall into the current default state where the government and a few corporations drive all the growth. That is neither sustainable nor desirable. Instead, the entire system needs to be engaged in the creative growth process together.

The key is lowering the barrier of entry into the market and stimulate free competition by efficiently connecting capital with opportunities. The government’s role is to ensure that there would be fair play by enacting laws which protect all its citizens in a free market landscape; then, to step back and let the market forces determine the outcome.

It should never choose winners and losers or get embroiled in the trap of over-regulation. Laws should be simple but enforced vigorously so that the ideal of “rule of law”—that is the foundation upon which true free markets are built– can start to take hold here in the Philippines and the rest of Asia.

Conclusion

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

We have gathered at a momentous time in history in the Philippines that will play a major role in shaping the economy, security and peace for the entire region and the world. Our collective leadership going forward will be critical as it will leave a lasting legacy with profound and broad global implications.

As leaders, we need to be always thinking long term and in the best interest of the whole based on the universal principles and values. Whether in business, economy, politics, civic, or religion, it is the leaders who will set the tone and the direction.

It is therefore critical that we become moral and innovative leaders who can chart the new course for this nation to reach its greatest potential.

I urge all of you to join me and the Global Peace Foundation to be the problem solvers and the change makers who can tackle the biggest issues and challenges facing our world today, and to leave a better, peaceful world for our descendants.

May God bless you and your families. Thank you very much.

See more reports from the Global Peace Convention 2017

The post Dr. Hyun Jin Moon Keynote Address at Global Peace Economic Forum 2017 appeared first on Hyun Jin Preston Moon.

On the top of Dongdaesan is a 2.5 meter tall monument that reads 우리의 소원은 통일 (“Our wish is reunification”).

The composer of the original Korean unification song, Ahn Byung-Won, lamented in a interview that, “We shouldn’t sing this song any more. When we wrote this song, we thought unification would come sooner.” John Cho reported this quote on his piece in the Korea Herald, lamenting that perhaps “the song has come dangerously close to becoming an anachronism. A symbol of false hope, perhaps.”

And while those sentiments are understandable after nearly 70 years of division, we need to be reminded of the fact that the way things are now needn’t determine the actual future. What’s important is that we work to see how things might be and what we would wish them to be, to work towards something better.

As we await the unveiling of a new unification song, one written, produced and performed by a growing team of notable and talented stars, we might take some time to ponder the meaning of the song that came before it.

Translated, the simple lyrics and tune sing:

Our hope is the reunification
The hope in my dream is reunification
A reunification carried out with all my heart and soul

Let’s achieve the reunification
The reunification will revive our people
The reunification will revive our nation
Reunification, come quickly!

Reunification, come!

Originally sung as a song for independence from Japanese colonial rule, the words were changed after the division of the Korean peninsula to become a song for national unity. The hopes and wishes of this song must not be forgotten and a new generation must take up the challenge with a new vision of a brighter future for One Korea.

The post 우리의 소원은 통일 – Looking Back at the Original Unification Song appeared first on Hyun Jin Preston Moon.