Citizens demonstrate for the unification of Korea and show solidarity with the Koreans in the north

1 of 5 | Hyun Jin Preston Moon (center) is pictured during the “Korean Dream Grand March 2024” for a united Korea.

This philosophy was developed by Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon, founder and chairman of the Global Peace Foundation, a nonprofit organization and co-sponsor of the march. He looks to Korea’s history – and reconnection with its deep spiritual roots – to provide the glue that can unite diverse groups of Koreans around a common goal.

He told a lively crowd that they were at a “turning point in our people’s history” where “a confluence of problems is moving Korea toward unification.” He urged the audience to help revive Korea’s ancient “high spiritual civilization,” embodied in the Hongik Ingan ideal associated with the founding of Korea, which means “living for the benefit of all humanity” and in the Spirit of Independence March 1, 1919 Movement.

These mobilized around 20% of the population to peaceful mass demonstrations, the first in modern times, against Japanese colonial rule.

Moon invoked this heritage, saying: “We are a providential people with a mission to serve humanity. Stand up and show the world who we are!”

He called on the government to reconstitute the Ministry of Unification as a committee of academics, experts and civil society representatives to ensure continuity and avoid the political changes that have now accompanied administrative changes.

North Korean refugees were prominent among the speakers and artists at the rally. Chol-hwanKang, author of “Aquariums of Pyongyang” and founder and president of the North Korea Strategy Center in Seoul, noted that September 28 marks the anniversary of the “recapture” of Seoul from the North Korean army during the Korean War.

“Today, righteous citizens have gathered here for the freedom of Pyongyang, which has not yet been regained,” he added.

Key to this was the emergence of an unification-led movement in South Korea. He believed that the Korean Dream was a “historic unification vision that both North and South Koreans could agree with.”

“If the South Korean people embrace this vision of unification, the Kim regime will soon collapse,” he said.

Kang was sent to the notorious Yodok political prison camp at the age of nine along with most of his family after his grandfather was accused of treason. He spent ten years there before being released and eventually escaping North Korea.

Ja-un Lee, lead actress in the docudrama “Acorn,” which dramatizes the experiences of North Korean refugees, fought back tears as she recounted her experiences working with about 100 refugees who narrated and reenacted their experiences.

“I realized how blessed I was to have been born in South Korea and was ashamed of my previous indifference to reunification,” she said.

The singers, dancers and musicians who performed at the rally were all North Korean refugees.

This event was planned as a precursor to 2025, the 80th year of Korea’s liberation after World War II, but also as the beginning of the current division of Korea. AKU is planning large rallies across South Korea in support of reunification, reviving the model of the March 1 independence movement demonstrations.

Disclaimer: Dr. Moon is chairman of the UCI, which owns UPI’s parent company.