The 10th anniversary ceremony will be held in 122 countries, including South Korea, continuing the message of peace. The event will focus on the theme of “Building a Global Peace Community through Regional Cooperation.” The “Together” campaign, involving over 230 civil society organizations, will implement activities tailored to local characteristics. 

On September 18, 2024, the “HWPL 9.18 Peace International Conference 10th Anniversary Ceremony” was held in approximately 40 countries, including South Korea. This significant event attracted over 100,000 participants at the HWPL Peace Training Center in Gyeonggi Province, with numerous dignitaries and members from both domestic and international backgrounds in attendance.

Hosted by the Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), the ceremony centered on the theme of “Building a Global Peace Community through Regional Cooperation.” It aimed to commemorate the contributions of world leaders and citizens toward peace over the past decade and to explore future strategies for global harmony. Notable attendees included the head monk of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, Hyegong, and the Minister of Higher Education, Science, Culture and Arts of Timor-Leste, José Honório da Costa Pereira.

In his keynote speech, HWPL Chairman Lee Man-hee expressed gratitude to all attendees, stating, “On this historic day marking ten years of peace, let us not draw lines that divide us. Instead, let us unite through love and peace to protect our planet. Together, we can preserve valuable peace as a legacy for future generations.”

The 10th anniversary ceremony provided an opportunity to review the tangible results of peace initiatives since 2014 and to discuss future plans. A key focus was the establishment of a “Regional Network” tailored to local characteristics, enabling regions to proactively address peace-related threats and consolidate their collective efforts.

In line with the theme of inter-regional cooperation, HWPL signed partnerships with intergovernmental organizations such as the Group of Seven Plus (G7+) and the Latin American and Caribbean Parliament (PARLATINO) to enhance peace initiatives. The G7+, established to promote harmony among conflict-affected nations through peace, stability, and development, consists of 20 member countries, while PARLATINO aims to foster development and integration based on democratic foundations, comprising 23 member countries.

Additionally, the ceremony marked the launch of the national campaign “Together: Connecting South Korea,” alongside the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The “Together” campaign, which had previously been piloted in major South Korean cities in July, will now actively engage with over 230 civil society organizations to bridge generational cultural divides and promote diverse peace initiatives.

Chairman Lee appointed Kim Dong-hee as the head of the campaign, followed by the reading of the campaign’s declaration. The declaration emphasized the commitment to reducing generational gaps and fostering mutual understanding for a better future, as well as creating opportunities for various cultures to respect and comprehend one another.

The “Together” campaign aims to inherit the spirit of the Saemaul Movement, which significantly contributed to South Korea’s economic growth and social transformation in the 20th century. Just as the Saemaul Movement modernized rural areas and strengthened community consciousness for national development, the “Together” campaign seeks to overcome social conflicts arising from generational, regional, gender, and ideological differences through social solidarity and cooperation.

Moving forward, the campaign will establish various sessions centered around diverse communities in South Korea and worldwide, under the goal of achieving a “Regional Network.” It will also empower individuals to become “Messengers of Peace,” promoting peace through the slogan “Let Everyone Become a Messenger of Peace.” Specifically, it will collect and share messages of peace and unity from citizens across various sectors both domestically and internationally.

HWPL, a non-governmental organization under the United Nations Economic and Social Council, first convened the Peace International Conference in Seoul in 2014, inviting over 1,000 leaders from political, religious, women’s, youth organizations, and the media from more than 140 countries. The conference addressed various agendas, including conflict resolution, religious harmony, and the implementation of legal frameworks for sustainable peace.