UPF Gapyeong, Korea Honors the UN International Day of Peace 2021

Gapyeong, Korea — On the occasion of the UN International Day of Peace 2021, the 40th anniversary of the Day, UPF-Korea held a wreath-laying ceremony on September 17, at the Korean War Memorial of the U.S. Army located about 30 miles from the capital, Seoul. The people of South Korea hold the UN and International Day of Peace in high esteem, and they have a heart of gratitude toward the UN Peacekeeping forces who intervened on their behalf in 1950 at the start of the Korean War.

The event opened with the Little Angels Children’s Folk Ballet holding placards announcing “Happy 2021 UN International Day of Peace,” and the theme for this year’s Day, “Recovering Better for an Equitable and Sustainable World.” Prof. Yeon Ah Moon, chair of UPF-Korea, said: “The day the peace that all humankind longs for begins with all of us having an altruistic heart to live for the sake of one another.”

Rev. Jin-Tae Joo, president of UPF-Korea, Seoul-Incheon, remarked, “The International Day of Peace established by the United Nations as a day to bring an end to war and violence is a day for all people to take small steps toward peace in our daily lives.” Mr. Hyung-Young Lee, president of UPF-Korea, said, “UPF works for the sake of building stronger families, serving our communities, uniting our nation and for world peace. Let us create these together!”

A UPF delegation of approximately 30 people walked solemnly, carrying a banner and flags of Korea, the United States and UPF, towards the war memorial in honor of the soldiers who died during the Korean War. The banner read, “Commemoration of the 40th UN International Day of Peace, September 17, 2021, Korean War Memorial of US Army Gapyeong, Korea.”

At the memorial, Prof. Moon and Mr. Don-Seob Lee, president of the Korean Red Cross, Gangwon-do Branch, placed a wreath on the altar and offered words of gratitude. “The vision for a Heavenly unified Korea will become the cornerstone toward peace and prosperity for the entire world including the Korean peninsula,” said Prof. Moon. “The unified Korea movement carries the beautiful dream that the Republic of Korea can become a leader to the world. UPF will strive to support the initiative to achieve that dream,” Mr. Lee said.

Two representatives of the Youth and Students for Peace (YSP), an affiliated organization, read the UPF Peace Statement, which was followed by a signing ceremony by all present and an interfaith prayer for peace by several religious leaders.