HWPL Global 10 Branch New Year’s Party: “A Warmer Companion of Peace Together”
On January 14, HWPL Global Branch 10 held a New Year’s party with the theme, “A Warmer Companion of Peace Together.” A total of 101 people from all walks of life supporting peace, including HWPL public relations ambassadors, war veterans’ groups, religions, youth, media, and civil society, attended the event.
▲ HWPL Global 10 Branch New Year’s Party
The event was organized to discuss the practice of ‘peaceful unification of the Korean Peninsula’ and ‘peace culture’ based on mutual understanding and respect among people from all walks of life, together with HWPL Global 10 Branch, which aims to achieve the end of war and world peace in 2025. This New Year’s party, held under the theme of ‘peace’ and ‘companion,’ was a meaningful time for peace supporters from various fields to gather together, share their thoughts, and seek ways to practice peace together.
Attendees were touched by a traditional Korean music performance, a performance by an electric violinist, and a choir singing “Our Wish is Unification.”
▲ ‘Our Wish is Unification’ chorus
During the discussion and presentation time, peace activity ideas were shared that could be practiced in daily life to minimize social conflict and create a peaceful atmosphere under the theme of ‘Peaceful Unification of the Korean Peninsula, the Beginning of Peace.’ The young people who participated discussed various peace activity plans that could be practiced with people from various fields, wrote them on a board, and then had time to present them.
▲ Monk Manju giving a presentation on ‘Peaceful Unification of the Korean Peninsula, the Beginning of Peace’ and a young man writing on a board
The following are opinions presented through the discussion:
1. First, I must show myself as the right person.
2. Since our country is one people, the people must be of one mind and one heart.
3. We must actively participate in the movement for religious harmony and peaceful unification.
4. Religion and politics must be separated.
5. We need to be educated about peaceful unification from a young age.
6. We must create a place for communication between the older and younger generations.
7. We must be interested in and support communication and cultural exchange that respects ideology, religion, and thought.
At the HWPL Public Relations Ambassador Appointment Ceremony that followed, Monk Myung-an, the General Director of the Korean Buddhist Yeorae Order, and Imam Ehsan Mirza of the Daejeon Islamic Center were appointed as public relations ambassadors. After the appointment certificates and plaques of appreciation were presented, letters expressing gratitude were also read.
Monk Myeong-an said, “The reason I have been with HWPL for nine years is because I have consistently prayed for world peace and unification of South and North Korea according to the teachings of ‘coexistence, co-prosperity, and co-existence’ preached by Monk Inwang. After he passed away, I was thinking about how to preserve his will, and that is when I came into contact with HWPL Global 10 Branch, and nine years have passed since then. I also express my deep gratitude to the HWPL Chairman for allowing me to be here today by gathering the will of many religious leaders, including Buddhist and Islamic leaders, for world peace and unification of South and North Korea.”
He also said, “I would like to once again express my gratitude for the support of the HWPL Global 10 Branch’s volunteer work in restoring flooded temples during the great flood in Okcheon and Yeongdong, Chungcheongbuk-do in July 2024. Let us continue to work together to achieving world peace and the end of war, which HWPL pursues, Geoncheong (Inviting and welcoming the spirits of gods and Buddhas), and Haehyang (Attributing the merits and virtues of one’s own cultivation to other living beings or to oneself)” recalling his long relationship with HWPL and expressing his will to realize peace.
Imam Ehsan Mirza said, “Everyone, it is a great honor to be able to gather here under the theme of ‘A Warmer Companion of Peace Together.’ In a divided world, we are reminded of the importance of empathy, respect, and cooperation. Over the past year, we have come to realize how important the value of ‘unity’ is in overcoming various challenges. Now, we must move forward and walk even closer to peace.”
He continued, “Peace is not simply the absence of conflict. It is harmony in diversity. True integration is respecting each other’s differences and connecting with each other through dialogue, justice, and compassion. Small acts of kindness and understanding can bring about positive change in the world. Peace begins within us. If we work together, we can create a ‘future of integration’ in warmth and harmony.” He emphasized the importance of peace and integration.
▲ Commemorative photo at the appointment ceremony for public relations ambassadors, Monk Myeong-an, HWPL Global 10 Branch Director Kim Joo-heon, Imam Ehsan Mirza
Religious leaders participated as panelists in the ‘Scripture Comparison Discussion’ and ‘Religious Dialogue’ hosted by the religious office of the HWPL Global 10 Branch seeking to realize world peace through interreligious dialogue and cessation of war, setting an example of religious peace and harmony. In recognition of this, the panelists were awarded the ‘Peace Achievement Award’ with gratitude.
Monk Manju, the General Director of the Korean Buddhist Great Order who attended the event, said, “I sincerely hope that HWPL and various organizations can hold the ‘National Stability Prayer Service’ every year at the Unification Observatory or Panmunjom so that we can bring forward free and peaceful unification as soon as possible.”
The participants shared their pledge to stay together as a “family of peace” until peace is realized, and chanted “We Are One.” Under the theme of “A Warmer Companion of Peace Together,” this New Year’s party was a time to take a new leap forward toward the peaceful unification of the Korean Peninsula and the beginning of peace in 2025.
