Press Release: 2017 Global Rally for the Peaceful Reunification of the Korean Peninsula

“Our Hope: May Korea Become the Bright Light of Peace!”

“2017 Global Rally for the Peaceful Reunification of the Korean Peninsula” - 80,000 Attendees, Including International Religious and Political Leaders from 70 countries including Korea, US and Japan

- At the Seoul World Cup Stadium on November 11 (Sat.), at 1:30pm

The “2017 Global Rally for the Peaceful Reunification of the Korean Peninsula Organizing Committee” (hereafter referred to as the “Organizing Committee”) revealed that it will be holding the “2017 Global Rally for the Peaceful Reunification of the Korean Peninsula” just around the corner on November 11 (Sat.), 1:30pm, at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, located in Sangdam-dong, Mapo-gu. This global rally will be held to promote the realization of one global community, centering on true love, through interreligious and international harmony, as well as sparking the movement for peace and reunification on the Korean Peninsula. An expected crowd of 80,000, including religious and political leaders from Korea, US, Japan and 70 countries throughout the world and Korean citizens, will unite under the cause of establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula.

In 2017, South Korea remains mired in international and domestic crises. Domestically, groups remain hostile to one another based on polarizing partisan claims, including the extreme hostility between the liberal and conservative parties, regional disputes, as well as generational and hierarchical conflict.

Under the theme, “Our Hope: May Korea Become the Bright Light of Peace,” the “2017 Global Rally for the Peaceful Reunification of the Korean Peninsula” will be held as a peace gathering to share and go on to realize the vision for true peace that all of humankind must follow, for peace in Northeast Asia, and to overcome the crises surrounding the Korean Peninsula caused by division and strife to open a new era of harmony, unity and peace.

The first half of program, “Peace Vision Speech,” will begin with the opening remarks, followed by the National Anthem, an invocation ceremony by representative leaders from core religions, congratulatory remarks by a Korean representative leader, a vision of peace presented by an American representative leader, a congratulatory performance by the American Clergy Leadership Conference (ACLC) and a joint choir, comprising 1,200 singers, a video message, FFWPU Founder Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon’s keynote address and the Peace Prayer Ceremony.

Following the opening remarks and the National Anthem, representative leaders from Christianity, Buddhism, Confucianism and Islam will hold an invocation ceremony for the realization of peace on the Korean Peninsula, as well as one global family, through practicing a life of true love lived for the sake others, which stands as the pillar of absolute value for interreligious harmony.

Representative political leaders and religious leaders from Korea and the US will give the congratulatory address and share the vision of peace. Over 200 clergy from ACLC and a joint choir of 1,200 will convey the ardent desire for peace through “Every Praise.” Following, a film displaying the global peace movement initiated by the Organizing Committee’s affiliated organization’s founders, Rev. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, will be shown. Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon will present the vision of this 2017 Global Rally for the Peaceful Reunification of the Korean Peninsula.

During the Peace Prayer Ceremony, leaders and citizens in attendance will adopt the “Platforms for the Implementation and Realization of Peace on the Korean Peninsula” for overcoming the crises of the Korean Peninsula, along with its peaceful reunification. On behalf of all participants, representative political leaders and religious leaders will express their determination through their thumbprints of approval. A “true love temperature” will be displayed on an LED screen. The political and religious leaders will first join hands, and then all 80,000 participants will rise, join hands, and the “true love temperature” will rise to 100 degrees. Then, opposite to the stage, a large-scale world map banner with the lit “peace light” will be unveiled. All 80,000 participants will then wave their flags for peace, and the ceremony will conclude with Founder Hak Ja Han Moon striking the “peace gong” to mark the moment in

which everyone becomes united as one, centering on the vision of peace and the determination to implement the peace movement.

The second half of the program, “The Hyojeong Peace Concert,” will unfold with cultural performances for peace. Performances from guest singers, along with a performance from The Little Angels, a Korean traditional performing arts dance troupe formed by angelic children conveying the peace-loving spirit and vibrant culture and performing arts of the Korean people to the world, will be given. The program will conclude with the singing of “The Song of Unity” by all participants for peace.

Every time Korea was trapped in crisis, FFWPU founders Rev. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon conveyed new messages and visions of hope, and implemented efforts for the protection and survival of the nation through the complete mobilization of FFWPU members. The most notable among these efforts includes the “World Rally for Korean Freedom” held at Yeouido Plaza in June 7, 1975, and Rev. Sun Myung Moon, as well as Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon’s visit and talks with leader Kim Il-Sung during the period between November 30 and December 7, 1991.

In early 1975, when Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam were Communized, Rev. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon held the World Rally for Korean Freedom, and displayed their great efforts for the security of their fatherland, and presented the direction and mission location assignments that Korean citizens and world citizens must follow.

On November 30, 1991, Rev. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon swiftly made their way to Pyongyang, met with leader Kim Il-Sung on December 6 of that same year, and demanded for him to accept nuclear inspections from international entities. In addition, Rev. and Mrs. Moon opened the path for family members separated across borders to meet, as well as for economic cooperation between North and South Korea, including the development of Mount Kumgang. Rev. and Mrs. Moon invested their utmost in various fields throughout society, including religion, culture, education and NGOs, for the realization of peace on the Korean Peninsula and throughout the world.

In addition, in 2017, under Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon’s direction, FFWPU held the “Hope for Korea! Marching Forward Rally for the Harmonious Unification of the Nation,” and presented a vision to enable us to overcome the international and domestic crises and turmoil, mutually harmonize and unite into one, share future-oriented values, and go forth towards a bright future for the Korean Peninsula, one of a new era of a unified Korea.

The 2017 Global Rally for the Peaceful Reunification of the Korean Peninsula that will spark the light of peace with the gathering of patriots for overcoming the crises surrounding the Korean Peninsula and implementing the peaceful reunification movement, is scheduled to be held at the Sangam World Cup Stadium on November 11 just around the corner. The Sangam World Cup Stadium was the venue for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, which symbolized the harmony of all of the world’s citizens.

The “2017 Global Rally for the Peaceful Reunification of the Korean Peninsula” will transcend the notion of being limited by a particular race, language, religion, nation and culture, and will become the starting point for the march for peace. We will stand united, hand-in-hand, in the name of God, under a common dream with a genuine passion for establishing peace. The implementation of the peace movement born through the resolution of 2,000 religious leaders, political leaders and citizens from 70 countries throughout the world and over 80,000 Korean citizens, along with the first steps of the peace revolution upon overcoming these crises, will lead the way in realizing the peaceful world God and all of humankind has sought throughout history.

Tongil Group, Public Relations Department

Ho-Yeul An (02-3279-6353, 010-8626-1910)