Hak Ja Han Moon Appointed Me as the International President of WFWP

Julia Hoon Sook Moon March 6, 2019 Appointment of fourth International President of WFWP Little Angels’ Performing Arts Center

Beloved distinguished guests from home and abroad, greetings! Respected peace ambassadors, leaders from all walks of life, and beloved WFWP chapter leaders and other members who have all come together today with the joint desire of world peace in this month of March that ushers in the warm spring temperatures. I would like first to express my sincere greetings to you all for honoring this inauguration with your presence despite your busy schedule to extend your heartfelt congratulations.

On February 5, the lunar New Year’s Day, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon appointed me, even though inadequate, as the international president of WFWP. This was an appointment I did not expect or think of, even in my dreams. As you well know, I received the responsibility of international president of WFWP on top of my existing responsibilities of operating the Universal Ballet troupe and an elementary school, middle schools, and high schools under the Sunhak Institute. I did not know where to put myself at this sudden responsibility. However, knowing so well how Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon has been investing herself toward world peace, day and night with a desperate heart and constant worries, following the ascension of Rev. Sun Myung Moon, I accepted that responsibility even though inadequate with the desire to lessen that heavy burden she has been carrying.

When I reflect on Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon’s heart as she gave this important responsibility to someone as inadequate as I, I feel tremendously sorry. When I think of the blessings she gave me through such undeserved responsibilities, I also feel infinitely grateful. I bow my head in gratitude to Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon for always believing in and leading me in love.

Gratitude to benefactors

I would like to particularly express my gratitude to Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, who is presently overseas, for sending a special message of encouragement for the development of WFWP, and to its members. All WFWP members and I once more resolve to realize the founder’s hopes as expressed through her message.

I would like to express my gratitude to outgoing international president Yeon-ah Moon, who attended Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon closely, visiting and encouraging WFWP members despite her busy schedule, and leading WFWP in line with the founder’s vision and founding purpose for the past ten years. Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in giving another warm round of applause to Chairwoman Yeon-ah Moon.

I would also like to extend my respect and gratitude to all other former WFWP international presidents including first chairwoman Won-bok Choi, as well as Gil-ja Sa, De-hwa Jeong, and Lan-young Moon, and to all WFWP members around the world for your hard work and great love for the Women’s Federation for World Peace. I believe that the sacrifices of those volunteers who were lost to endemic diseases in the remote areas of Africa, dispatched volunteers who lost their lives in some nations of the Middle East, and the sacrificial spirit by which WFWP volunteers conduct activities worldwide, laid the foundation that enables WFWP to have its amazing achievements of today.

When I think of the local WFWP members around the world, who even at this very moment, are holding high the banner of WFWP and conducting education and services in their local communities to bring about the realization of one large family under God, I can feel my heart beat hard in pride and with a sense of mission.

Secretary General Yoon greeting Julia Hoon Sook Moon as she comes to the podium to begin her acceptance speech

Sacrifices we stand upon

Respected leaders, WFWP members, this year is a significant one to us as it is the one hundredth anniversary of the March 1 Movement, when our ancestors called for the independence of Korea at the risk of their lives. While preparing for this inauguration, KBS requested that I participate in a program introducing one hundred independence activists who are not well known. I was honored to introduce patriot Ran-sa Kim, who was both a secret envoy of King Kojong and the teacher of Gwan-sun Yu, an organizer in what became known as the Mansei Movement.

I was amazed to find out that patriot Ran-sa Kim was born in Anju, Pyeongan Province, the same hometown as Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon. Patriot Ran-sa Kim was one of the first students to study in the United States at her own expense. Upon her return to Korea, she became an educator at the Ehwa School. There, she taught her students about the state of affairs of the world and the reality of the Korean people, teaching all that a future that will illuminate the dark age of those times lay in each of their hands.

She believed that it was essential to educate capable women and raise women independent fighters in order bring to an end that era. In a time when women were ignored for simply being a woman, her passion raised independent activists like Gwan-sun Yu and made many women in this land to reflect on themselves and to consider playing key roles in the liberation of their homeland.

As a woman, patriot Ran-sa Kim was ahead of her time, continuously paving the way throughout her life, and directing her passion toward the independence movement. When I reflect on her life and how she willingly sacrificed it to awaken the Korean People, the line from the founders’ address that said, “Women are not assistants to men or objects of protection, but global leaders who work alongside men in realizing a world of peace” echoed deeply in my heart.

New age, new vision

Respected and beloved distinguished guests, leaders and members of WFWP, today, a hundred years after the March 1 Movement, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon is proposing going beyond the limits of nations and embracing humanity as a whole and the world with a mother’s heart so as to bring about the realization of a world of peace, mentioning that the time has come for the unification of a heavenly [shin] Korea.

The term Korean “shin” as used here doesn’t mean new, but refers to our “Heavenly Parent.” Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon emphasizes that the unification of the two Koreas and world peace cannot be realized by human power alone, and that the unification of the two Koreas does not simply imply a political or ideological unification, but a unification based on fundamental proper values. Only the vision of one large family under God or the teaching of true love centered on God that has no traces of human- centered egoism, can bring about a world of peace.

Under this vision and goal, WFWP, until now, has conducted many exemplary activities such as the true family movement, sisterhood ceremonies between nationalities, diverse education programs centered on the UN offices in New York, Geneva and Vienna, the annual Middle East Women Peace Conference, relief activities to resolve natural disasters or hunger in different parts of the world, and the unification and reconciliation movement that WFWP-Korea regularly led.

However, the world peace movement conducted by WFWP until now should not remain at its present level. We need to take WFWP a level higher by focusing and working together with woman leaders around the world and NGOs in bringing about the fundamental realization of a world of peace. In order to do so, WFWP should go beyond its role as an NGO, connect governments, groups and individuals around the world and work all together in fulfilling its mission as the Abel Women UN or the Global Woman’s Peace Network.

Respected leaders and WFWP members! There are times when world peace feels like an impossible dream. Yet, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon turned down living a comfortable life, choosing instead to offer continuous devotion and love, dedicating her entire life toward realizing Heavenly Parent’s dream. Whenever I see this, I cannot but confess that she is the True Mother of humanity. As a person who was able to witness the lives of both founders, who practiced a life of true love in all situation, I completely commit myself to take after their example and continue this work.

With faith that we can overcome any kind of difficulty if we completely unite with True Mother, who showed us the path to world peace, the dream of Heavenly Parent and of humanity, let us join hands and advance together. If we do not give up and love over and over again to our utmost ability, I believe that our sincerity will move the hearts of people. Our devotion and efforts to seek the realization of actual peace worldwide will never disappear.

Julia HJ Moon, who is now president of WFWP International and co-president of WFWP-Korea, receives the organization’s flag from Prof. Yeon Ah Moon and began waving it to and fro with verve.

Respected and beloved distinguished guests, leaders and WFWP members! Actually the day I was appointed to WFWP was my birthday. Looking back now, my new responsibility felt like a heavy burden in the beginning, but as I prepared for this inauguration, I realized that WFWP was in a sense a birthday present.

The founders, who also established the Universal Ballet Troupe, also taught that “art is a way to serve humanity.” I dedicated my entire life to ballet with the philosophy: Make the world beautiful through heavenly arts. Now, together with all WFWP members, I have received the opportunity to go beyond the stage, to serve the world and to practice true love on a wider and more substantial scale.

I will do my utmost to practice a leadership of service, hand in hand with joint president Su-yeon Kim of WFWP-Korea and all other WFWP members to make the Women’s Federation for World Peace shine even more beautifully as an organization that is like a gift to encourage us to become key people who build beautiful peace as mothers and women of this age. My responsibility as the international president of WFWP is a new challenge to me; hence, I look forward to your unstinting advice and guidance. Let us all work together, encourage and support one another. With this, I conclude my acceptance speech. Thank you!