Professors World Peace Academy Launched

Newly elected PWPA President Dr. Hang-Nyong Lee reads prospective constitution.

Pioneering the study of peace as a new field of academic study

The Professors World Peace Academy, formed in February this year, held its founding general assembly meeting on May 6, 1973, at the Cosmos Room of the New Korea Hotel in Seoul. 163 professors transcending all disciplines and academic fields, gathered at 11:00 AM to elect officers, discuss the form of the constitution, announce future projects, set up a budget, and write a founding prospectus.

The idea for the PWPA grew out of the 2nd and 3rd Korea-Japan Friendship Seminars, sponsored by IFVC and CARP in July and August, 1972. The role of intellectuals and the necessity for a new ideology were emphasized by the professors of these two countries, and so they discussed the need for a world academic research organization to search for world peace. “With the full understanding and support of Mr. Sun Myung Moon, who has contributed to the cause of world peace all his life, this hope and dream came to be realized,” the conference program said. After three preliminary foundational meetings, this Founding General Assembly was held on May 6 to establish the final form of the Academy.

Election of Officers

The meeting began with an opening address by Dr. Ki-Kun Chang, Seoul National University Then the officers and heads of the various committees were elected. The officers’ names and positions are as follows:

President: Dr. Hang-Nyong Lee, President of Hongik University

Vice Presidents: Prof. Dong-Wook Shinn, Konkuk University

Dr. Ki-Kun Chang, Seoul National University

Chairmen of Committees:

Political Science Committee: Dr. Chull Paik, Dean of Graduate School, Choongang University

Social Science Committee: Dr. Tae-Soo Han, Dean of College of Politics and Economics, Hanyang University

Physical Science Committee: Dr. Se Won, Yoon Dean of College of Industry, Kyunghee University, (member of CURE)

Art Committee: Dr. Dong Ni, Kim Dean of Sorabol Arts College

Publications Committee: Dr. Kwang-Sur Park, Choongang University

Public Relations Committee: Dr. Joung-Sik Lee, Dongkuk University

Managing Committee: Dr. Eun-Woo Kim, Ehwa Women’s University

Dr. Kun-Sik Lee, Yonsei University

Dr. Dai-Hyen Baick, Konkuk University

Prof Yin-Young Yim, Sookmyung Women’s University

Prof. Dong-Hee Choi, Korea University

Prof. Kwang-Pil Choi, Dankuk University

Prof. Dai-Sik Bae, Choongbuk University

Supervisors: Dr. Kyung-Koo Lee, Sungkyungwan University

Prov. Ke-Soo Kim, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies

Secretariat: Mr. Chung-Hwan Kwak, Director of CARP and special lecturer at Meong-Ji University

A congratulatory address was then given by Dr. Hi-Sung Lee, former President of Seoul National University, followed by an encouraging address read by Dr. Sang-Hun Lee on behalf of Mr. Won-Pil Kim, Chairman of the Board of directors of HSA-UWC, which is the main financial contributor of the PWP A.

Historical Significance

Newly elected president Dr. Hang-Nyong Lee remarked in his acceptance speech: “There have been two professors’ committees before in Korea: one was formed after the student revolution of 1960 to solve problems involved in that revolution; the other was in 1965 to resolve problems brought on by students involved in the demonstrations against the Japan-Korea treaty. This third professors’ committee that we have established today is not to resolve any problems that came about by chance, but rather to purposely prepare for the future peace in advance through study and research. The former two committees were temporary, but ours is permanent.” He continued by saying, “considering that the study of peace has never been undertaken academically anywhere in the world, it is most meaningful and quite natural that Korea, which has experienced the tragedy of ideological conflict, should come to take the initiative in this field of study. The great powers of the world have repeated their mistakes in destroying world peace, not using their greatness and potential for world peace and the welfare of mankind”

Professors study text of PWPA constitution and prospectus

Future Projects

The professors then decided upon future projects for the PWPA. Among the projects voted upon were publishing a newsletter every month containing the theses of professors doing research for the academy; holding seminars, collecting books and survey materials, international exchange of research materials, etc.

The PWPA constitution emphasized that each research project must be directed toward the establishment of new educational ideas, improving social welfare, and encouragement of social morality.

They also voted to extend friendship and cooperation with other educational and cultural groups; give scholarships to professors; and establish an award program for outstanding contributors to world peace.

After going over the budget, they then discussed and voted upon the founding prospectus, the text of which is given below:

Text of Founding Prospectus

“Mankind can enjoy happiness only on the basis of world peace, and the dedicated spirit and infinite intelligence given to man must be directed toward the peace and welfare of all mankind.

Although we optimistically reflect that the history of mankind has gradually developed toward creation and prosperity by the wisdom and efforts of people seeking truth and goodness, we find that man, in the course of history, has hurt his own dignity, deviated from his true ideal and original standard, and has wandered in chaos, not fulfilling his true potential in accomplishing his responsibilities.

Meanwhile, today’s intellect and conscience are facing a real challenge. The human talents, resources and cultural heritage, which ought to be utilized only for the welfare of mankind, are rather being abused in some corners of the world as motivation for terror and oppression. The marvelous developments of scientific techniques have been degraded into an instrument of suppression and tyranny, and the civilization and resources from which all people should be benefitting have often been monopolized by selfishness and avarice.

The self-centered, biased development which forgets the general welfare and harmony has brought forth unprecedented pollution in various forms, and fear about the destruction of the earth and Nature.

Current human society is being drowned in serious contradictions and irrationality. Society is in agony from the mutual contradictions between benefit and loss, disharmony between egoism and altruism, individual and the whole, the people and mankind, nation and world.

Furthermore, man, in both the East and West, is not harmonizing the mind and body, the spirit and body, the spiritual and material, the ideal and reality, being in spiritual crisis and confusion of values.

Hereby, we professors, having the same will, with intellect and conscience, have determined to search for the way which leads to truth and goodness, and have established the Professors World Peace Academy with this purpose: ‘To contribute ourselves to the development of national culture, and to establish a World Peace Ideology for the welfare of mankind and construction of a new civilization.

We firmly believe that the final goal of every field of study, despite their differences, is united in the goal of world peace and happiness for mankind. Therefore we have a high determination to sincerely carry out our academic activities, exchanging widely and cooperating closely, connected with one another through this common academic forum of professors from all over the world. Also, we are going to demonstrate in a practical way to all mankind that investment in study and learning will bring forth the most instructive, hopeful, and abundant fruits.”

Founding Meeting May 6th, 1973 Seoul, Korea

Prospects for the Future

In the words of Mr. Chung-Hwan Kwak, secretary of the PWPA and director of CARP, “The future of the world is not only dependent upon politicians and statesmen, but also on the scholars and professors who represent the intellectuals of the world.

For a long time, conscientious professors and scholars never had the opportunity to participate in a world peace organization with a firm financial, organizational, and ideological foundation.” Dr. Kwak said that 80% of the participants in the foundational meeting had attended at least one of the series of ten Divine Principle Seminars for Prominent People, the last one of which was held in Dec. 27, 1972 and all the members fully recognize and appreciate the leading role of Dr. Sun Myung Moon and the Unification Church in this organization. In the future, according to Mr. Kwak, the PWPA will link up with other related organizations such as CURE (which is holding its next conference in Tokyo this November), the International Pioneer Academy in San Francisco, and other prominent scholarly organizations around the world. In this way the intellect of all mankind will be directed unwaveringly to the goal of world peace and unification.