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Y. Yun: Address to World Summit 2022, Opening Ceremony
Written by Dr. Yun Young-ho, co-chair of the Executive Committee of the World Summit 2022; director general of UPF
Friday, February 11, 2022
Address to World Summit
February 11-13, 2022
Your excellencies, H.E Mike Pence, presidents and distinguished world leaders, ladies and gentlemen,
My name is Dr. Yun Young-ho, co-chair of the Executive Committee of the World Summit 2022. It is my great honor to address you today on behalf of our host and the co-founder of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF), Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon. Welcome to Korea and to the World Summit 2022. Many of you traveled a long way to participate in person in this event, and millions of others are participating in it virtually through two-way live stream or various broadcast and social media networks. I am delighted to see all of you; my heart is so moved. Thank you for coming to Korea and devoting yourself to the search for peace on the Korean Peninsula. Since today's event is taking place in and is being broadcast throughout Korea, I will speak in Korean.
Respected current and former high officials, beloved peace leaders from around the world,
At this moment, the world is suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Tremendous challenges have arisen and continue to arise, and the desire to pursue populist and self-centered policies could lead to greater division and conflict among societies and nations. In the Asia Pacific region, the fight for hegemony among the superpowers is concerning. They are also raising tensions and influencing the status of peace on the Korean Peninsula.
In the past two months, North Korea has conducted seven missile tests, which are not only a threat to the Korean Peninsula, but also to the Asia Pacific and the world. Citizens who are eager to realize peace are very concerned about North Korea's missile tests. The Mother of Peace, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, is not only concerned about peace on the Korean Peninsula, but also realizing lasting peace in the Asia Pacific and throughout the world. To actualize a world of interdependence, mutual prosperity and universal values, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon is advocating that we can realize one family of humanity under God by recognizing that God is in the parental position to humanity, and that we can realize a heavenly unified Korea and world.
To realize a heavenly unified world, we first need to realize a heavenly unified Korea. Unfortunately, the Korean Peninsula remains divided 70 years after the Korean War. Realizing a heavenly unified Korea goes beyond the idea of unification, it is a way to advocate the ideology of love God, love humanity, love your country based on the values of interdependence, mutual prosperity and universal values. This vision of a heavenly unified Korea has been presented since 2018, and various summits were held, including at the continental level in Africa, Europe, the Asia Pacific and other regions.
These summits were convened for the realization of lasting peace in the world. Stakeholders, thought leaders and peace-loving leaders from around the world have been invited to Korea to share their wisdom on how to realize this. More than 10,000 dignitaries were invited to the World Summit in 2020 on how to bring about the reunification of and realize lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula and realize a heavenly unified world, focused on the themes of interdependence, mutual prosperity and universal values. This journey continues.
In 2020, after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, barriers emerged. Nonetheless, despite the difficulty of gathering people, we have been able to use online platforms to do that. Since then, seven Rallies of Hope, which millions of people have participated in online and through live broadcast, were held. Furthermore, UPF’s associations the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP), International Summit Council for Peace (ISCP), Interreligious Association for Peace and Development (IAPD), International Media Association for Peace (IMAP), and International Association of Academicians for Peace (IAAP) are bringing together more than 2,200 stakeholders and experts from around the world to present viable suggestions and policies to realize peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Moreover, experts in Korea and excellencies from around the world, including former U.S. President Donald Trump, Prime Minister of Cambodia Samdech Hun Sen, former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe, H.E. Jose Emmanuel Barroso, and other current and former heads of state and government, are participating in this initiative to support the noble goal of lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula. More than 583 national and civilian broadcasters covered this program, which has reached more than 2 billion people worldwide. This has been an innovative approach to gathering goodwill for the importance of realizing peace on the Korean Peninsula. Furthermore, experts in the fields of politics, security, culture, media, the arts, society and business have come together to discuss various policies.
For example, former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and international investor Jim Rogers participated in Think Tank 2022 to present ideas and suggestions for policies on how to realize peace on the Korean Peninsula. Just as small streams together make a great river that flows into the ocean of unification, it is indeed my great honor that from today until February 14, the Summit for Peace on the Korean Peninsula will take place [with everyone gathered here].
There are 157 nations that have diplomatic ties to North and South Korea. If all those nations came and worked together, I believe that peace on the Korean Peninsula, in the Asia Pacific and around the world could be realized. It is indeed our great honor that Prime Minister of Cambodia Samdech Hun Sen and former UN Secretary-General H.E. Ban Ki-moon are the co-chairs of this Summit for Peace on the Korean Peninsula. The Sunhak Peace Prize Award Ceremony as well as the main event and various sessions will be held.
Also 30 years ago, Rev. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon visited North Korea, and they are eager to begin the second phase of their North Korean project. A number of current and former heads of states wished to come and be here in person, but because of Omicron were unable to. However, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister of Cambodia Samdech Hun Sen and all the heads of state who are here with us. Let us give them a warm round of applause. The journey to Korea was not easy.
This Summit is being held 20 percent in person and 80 percent online. A total of 3,517 national and local broadcasters are covering it. Once again, I would like to thank all the peace-loving leaders here and online for participating in this Summit.
Thank you very much, and once again, welcome.
To go to the World Summit 2022 Schedule page, click here.