Asia Pacific—The fourth session of the August 19-20 International Leadership Conference 2021 (ILC2021) for UPF’s Asia Pacific region was held on August 19, and had as its theme: "Toward Peaceful Reunification of the Korean Peninsula: Expanding Intra-Korean Trade - International Role and Opportunities.” Three speakers, a former parliamentarian and two leaders from the legal and business sectors, contributed their insights.
A total of 1,168 people registered for the event. Around 220 participants watched it live via Zoom while thousands did so on various social media platforms.
Ms. Sophie York, a barrister and law lecturer from Australia, emphasized that “Peace is possible if goals are aligned." She also said: “This is the Koreans’ moment for national unity and sovereignty. They could show the entire world that peace matters more than political regimes. It can be done, and with the support of enough good people, it will be, but preparation is vital.”
Hon. Udaya Nepali Shrestha, a member of the Constituent Assembly (2013-2017) of Nepal, said that a unified Korean Peninsula and peaceful Korean people could be an example of economic development in the new world.
The final speaker, Mr. Gayrat Baudonov, founder of Choco Design Company, Uzbekistan, spoke about the role of economists in the reunification of Germany and said that it serves as an example of the economy’s influence in the reunification process. He continued, remarking that he hopes the same thing could be applied in the peaceful reunification of North and South Korea.
A Q &A session followed, which was conducted by Rev. John Adamedes, president of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU)-Australia.
Rev. Yutaka Yamada, director of UPF-Oceania, served as the moderator.