Afrigather 1 of 5 | Hyun Jin Preston Moon C) is pictured through the 2024 Korean Dream Grand March for a Unified Korea.
Sept. 29 (UPI) — Tens of 1000’s of Koreans from throughout the South and the Korean diaspora marched and rallied Sunday for Korean unification and the liberty of the individuals within the North on the Imjingak Peace Park,about 47 miles from the DMZ.
The occasion was held to mark Korea’s Nationwide Basis Day, formally celebrated on Thursday.
Billed because the 2024 Korean Dream Grand March for a Unified Korea, it was organized by Motion for Korea United, the most important coalition of civil society teams supporting Korea’s unification within the nation.
AKU has 17 regional chapters and has run tons of of academic workshops within the Korean Dream philosophy of unification.
That philosophy was conceived by Hyun Jin Preston Moon, founder and chairman of International Peace Basis, a non-profit and co-sponsor of the March. He seems to be to Korea’s historical past — and a reconnection with its deep religious roots — to offer the glue that may unite numerous teams of Koreans round a typical function.
He advised a full of life crowd they have been at a “watershed within the historical past of our individuals” during which a “confluence of points is transferring Korea towards unification.”
He referred to as upon the viewers to assist revive Korea’s historic “excessive religious civilization” represented within the hongik ingan ultimate linked to Korea’s founding, which suggests “dwelling for the higher good thing about all humanity,” and the spirit of the March 1, 1919, Independence motion.
These mobilized round 20% of the inhabitants in peaceable, mass demonstrations, the primary in trendy instances, in opposition to Japanese colonial rule.
Interesting to this legacy, Moon stated, “We’re a providential individuals with a mandate to serve humanity. Stand up and present the world who we’re!”
He urged the federal government to re-establish the Ministry of Unification as a committee of students, consultants, and civil society representatives to offer continuity and keep away from the coverage shifts that now got here with adjustments of administration.
North Korean escapees have been distinguished amongst audio system and performers on the rally. Chol-hwanKang, creator of “Aquariums of Pyongyang,” and founder and president of the North Korea Technique Heart in Seoul, famous that Sept. 28 was the anniversary of Seoul being “reclaimed” from the North Korean Military through the Korean Warfare.
“At this time, righteous residents have gathered right here for the liberty of Pyongyang, which is but to be reclaimed,” he added.
The important thing was the emergence a unification-led motion in South Korea. He believed that the Korean Dream was a “historic unification imaginative and prescient that Koreans in each North and South might resonate with.”
“If the individuals of South Korea unite round this unification imaginative and prescient, the Kim regime will quickly collapse,” he stated.
Kang was despatched to the infamous Yodok political jail camp on the age of 9 with most of is household after his grandfather was accused of treason. He endured ten years there earlier than his launch and eventual escape from North Korea.
Ja-un Lee, lead actress within the docudrama, “Acorn,” which dramatized the experiences of North Korean escapees, fought again tears as she recounted her expertise working with round 100 escapees who advised and re-enacted their experiences.
“I noticed how blessed I used to be to be born in South Korea and felt ashamed of my earlier indifference to unification,” she stated.
The singers, dancers, and musicians who carried out on the rally have been all North Korean escapees.
This occasion was deliberate as a precursor for 2025, the eightieth 12 months of Korea’s liberation after World Warfare II, but in addition the beginning of Korea’s present division. AKU is planning massive rallies throughout South Korea in help of unification, reviving the mannequin of the March 1 Independence Motion demonstrations.
