[HWPL]

[HWPL] HWPL's Table Tennis Tournament in Gwangju, Korea

Chairman ManHee Lee is the head representative of the global peace organization HWPL (Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light), which is striving for the enactment and implementation of the international peace law 'Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW)'. The  DPCW is a legal instrument comprised of 10 articles and 38 clauses that can end wars and hostilities throughout the world. HWPL is also spreading a culture of peace and implementing peace education.

Chairman ManHee Lee experienced the cruelty and tragedy of war as a veteran of the Korean War. This is one of the reasons why he founded a global peace campaign as the head of HWPL. He has traveled the globe more than 35 times to meet and persuade politicians, legal experts, journalists, professors, peace activists, civil organization leaders, heads of tribes and others to unite them for the work of peace. The significant fruits borne out of his hard work are the World Alliance of Religions' Peace (WARP) Summit and HWPL Peace Committee. The DPCW was drafted and finalised by the HWPL Peace Committee.

How, you may wonder, do I know this? About 10 years ago, when I had just been discharged from military service, I came to know HWPL and Chairman ManHee Lee while researching the topic of civil conflicts to satisfy my curiosity in ongoing global issues. At that time, the island of Mindanao in the Philippines was suffering from a major civil conflict that lasted more than 40 years, and Chairman ManHee Lee and HWPL resolved this conflict through non-violent means.

Chairman Lee brought an end to the conflict in Mindanao by holding a peace talk between the warring Catholic and Islamic groups. Before the talk, HWPL and Chairman ManHee Lee held a Peace Walk to spread the culture of peace in Mindanao with the many locals who had gathered out of a desire for peace.

Chairman ManHee Lee's pressing appeal today is that humanity unites for sustainable peace in order to pass on the legacy of peace to future generations worldwide. He doesn't just talk peace, but has worked tirelessly for it through practical peace campaigns for over a decade.

I decided to become a supporter of HWPL and Chairman ManHee Lee's peace initiatives because I also desire a world of peace for all posterity.

Today I'd like to introduce an article regarding HWPL's Table Tennis Tournament in Gwangju, Korea :)

A Ping-Pong Ball Sparks a Rally for Peace — The 1st Connect Korea Table Tennis Tournament Held in Gwangju

The 1st Connect Korea Table Tennis Tournament successfully concluded on September 27 at the Dong-gu Multipurpose Gymnasium in Gwangju, drawing enthusiastic participation and heartfelt applause from citizens. The event, held as part of HWPL’s “Together: Connecting Korea” campaign, aimed to deliver a message of harmony and peace beyond the longstanding division of the Korean Peninsula—using the universal language of sports.

Jointly hosted by the Together Gwangju-Jeonnam Promotion Committee, Honam Ilbo, and the Gwangsan District Chapter of the Gwangju Association of Persons with Physical Disabilities, and organized by the Connect Korea Organizing Committee, the event brought together representatives from local governments, civic organizations, associations of North Korean defectors, and disability advocacy groups. Approximately 280 citizens participated, uniting under the shared vision of “practicing a culture of peace through sports.”

More than a mere competition of skill, the tournament became a venue for people from diverse backgrounds to mingle and communicate naturally. As rallies continued, tension gave way to laughter, and cheers gradually filled the stands. Within the small space of a ping-pong table, participants momentarily set aside differences of generation, ideology, and region—sharing one direction and one rhythm.

One of the most moving moments came during a special exhibition match. Former Association of North Korean Defectors board member Kim Chun-hwa and former army commander Kim Dae-gon, who once stood on opposite sides of the military divide, played together as a team. The audience, learning their story, erupted in applause as the two rallied side by side. Their match symbolized how sports can transcend conflict and become a language of understanding and reconciliation.

Meanwhile, a “Peace Message Photo Zone” invited citizens to share their hopes for peace. Participants wrote heartfelt messages such as “Let’s continue the rally toward peace” and “A big dream in a small ball — peace for all”, expressing their aspirations for a united and harmonious Korean Peninsula. Each message, though brief, collectively reflected the public’s sincere desire to overcome division and move toward mutual understanding.

A representative of the Connect Korea Table Tennis Organizing Committee remarked, “Today’s matches were more than just a sporting event—they were a symbolic display of the direction we must pursue for peace. We will continue this rally for peace together with our citizens.”

 

This tournament served as a meaningful example of grassroots peacebuilding in everyday life, made possible through cooperation among HWPL, local governments, regional media, and civic groups in Gwangju and Jeonnam. The “Together: Connecting Korea” campaign continues to promote peace across the nation, fostering partnerships between citizens and municipalities to spread the values of coexistence and unity. The Gwangju event vividly embodied this mission, offering hope that the momentum for peace will ripple across Korea—one rally at a time.

HWPL Official Homepage

https://www.hwpl.kr/language/en/home-hwpl-_en/