HWPL Global Branch 02 Hosts ‘Global Peace Academy for Ending War and Life Sharing’ in Damyang: Honoring Patriots and Veterans and Reflecting on Peace
June is a month when we remember and honor those who made sacrifices for their country.
But what if honoring and remembering those
who sacrificed for the nation went beyond simply looking back at the past—and
became an opportunity to envision a world where war never happens again?
That was the spirit of the “Global Peace Academy for Ending War and Life Sharing,” held in Damyang, South Jeolla Province, on June 20.
Hosted by HWPL Global Branch 02, the event
brought together around 600 people, including representatives from civil
society, politics, the media, and diplomatic circles, as well as citizens, to
discuss the meaning of honoring those who sacrificed for the nation, respect
for life, and world peace.
🎖
Reflecting on Peace During the Month of Patriots and Veterans
The event began with a welcoming address by Yoo Jae-hyeok, head of HWPL Global Branch 02.
Venerable Sanghwa, head of Yeombul Seonwon
of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism and an ambassador for HWPL Global Branch
02, introduced HWPL’s vision and major initiatives, emphasizing that peace can
be achieved through a culture of understanding and mutual respect.
When you think about it, this idea is very
much grounded in reality.
When we hear the word “peace,” we often think of international affairs and major global issues, but perhaps peace ultimately begins with people understanding and respecting one another.
🕊 “What Are We Willing to Give Up for Peace?”
The theme of the Peace Academy was “In an Age of Conflict, What Are We Willing to Give Up for Peace?”
The question alone is enough to make us stop and think for a while.
Yonghyeon Sunim, head of Dalma Seonwon of
Daehan Hoguk Bulgyo Sorim Seonjong, said that peace begins with letting go of
our own greed, anger, and attachment to our own views.
The chairman of the Association for Honoring Korean War Student Soldiers also reflected on the spirit of sacrifice shown by the student soldiers and emphasized the need to let go of arrogance and hatred.
Perhaps peace is difficult because, before
trying to change others, there may be things within ourselves that we first
need to let go of.
🌏 Peace
Begins in the Heart and Extends to Our Institutions
Kim Hyeong-wook, a lecturer at the Future
Vision Academy, highlighted the importance of building a human-centered peace
system, upholding international law, and promoting a culture of peace.
Peace cannot be achieved through individual mindsets alone, nor can it be created through laws and institutions alone.
I think we can come closer to making peace
a reality when personal change and social institutions work together.
That is why the Peace Academy felt meaningful—not simply as a series of lectures, but as a space where people from different fields could come together and engage in dialogue.
🎶
Experiencing Peace Through Pansori and Daegeum
The event was not simply a series of formal lectures.
This was followed by a pansori performance by master pansori singer Kim Young-hee and a daegeum performance by master musician Omokdae, giving participants an opportunity to experience the meaning of peace and harmony through arts and culture.
There are times when peace can be explained through words, but sometimes a single piece of music can stay with us much longer. 😊
Seeing people from different backgrounds
gather in one place, watch the same performance, and share the experience felt
like a small glimpse of peace.
💌 The
Message Behind a Child’s “Peace Letter”
The second part of the event also included a ceremony to present plaques of appreciation to countries that participated in the Korean War.
A young representative also read aloud a “Peace
Letter.”
I found this part especially moving.
It was a generation that had never experienced war firsthand remembering the sacrifices of Korean War veterans and those who gave their lives for their country, while conveying a message of peace.
Remembering history is not about staying in the past; it can also become a promise to change the future.
In addition to the cultural performances, the event also highlighted blood donation as an act of giving that can help save lives.
The event’s message came through even more clearly as it moved from remembering those who sacrificed for their country to taking action to help save lives.
After all, peace is not achieved through
grand slogans alone—it can begin with a small action that each of us can take.
🌱 “Our Hearts Are United for Peace”
Yoo Jae-hyeok, head of HWPL Global Branch
02, said that although people may differ in generation, race, and religion,
they are united in their desire for peace. He expressed hope that, through
mutual understanding and respect, the event would serve as an opportunity to
spread the values of honoring those who sacrificed for their country, respect
for life, and world peace throughout the local community.
Honoring those who sacrificed for their
country. Respect for life. World peace.
They may seem like three different ideas, but ultimately, they are connected by the same desire: to protect precious lives and ensure that such sacrifices never have to be made again.
The Peace Academy held in Damyang seems to have provided an opportunity to reflect together on that shared meaning.
Our desire for peace does not have to be
grand.
Taking the time to listen to others once more, letting go of needless resentment, valuing life, and remembering the sacrifices of the past.
Perhaps this is where the kind of peace we can practice in our everyday lives truly begins.
In June, a month when we remember war, perhaps what should stay with us in the end is not war, but peace.
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