Sun Myung Moon
June 10, 2006
Korea
[Editor's note] This address was given by the Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Gimpo Aviation Industrial Complex of the Times Aviation of Korea, which took place on June 10, 2006.
Respected Governor Hak Gyu Sohn, Honorable Minister Byeong Jik Choo of the Ministry of Construction and Transportation;
Leaders of the Korean Helicopter Industry;
Residents of Gimpo, and distinguished guests from at home and abroad;
And, in particular, Sikorsky executives who have come from overseas to congratulate us on this joyous day!
We are truly grateful to all of you for coming such a distance, in spite of your busy schedules, to attend the groundbreaking ceremony of the Gimpo Aviation Industrial Complex of the Times Aviation of Korea
Furthermore, we would like to express our gratitude once again to all of you, who have made it possible to hold today's groundbreaking ceremony for the Gimpo Aviation Industrial Complex, situated halfway between Incheon International Airport and Gimpo International Airport which was opened more than half a century ago. It is our hope that it will develop into a state-of-the-art aviation industrial complex, both in concept and in reality, through its receiving approval as an industrial complex and being designated as an enterprise drawing foreign investment.
I have dedicated my entire life to teaching the path of "living for the sake of others" through the practice of true love. This is a basic principle that surely applies not only to individuals but to all levels of life -- from the family to the society and to the nation. Early on I had the conviction that my homeland of Korea -- which at the time was suffering in poverty -- would become prosperous and, furthermore, that it would become a nation that could share what it had with the rest of the world. It should be able to contribute spiritually; furthermore it would need a strong foundation of technical engineering skill, and therefore I founded Tongil Heavy Industries Co. Ltd., some forty years ago. The company imported the most advanced automobile technology from German companies and thus laid the foundation for the automobile technology of modern-day Korea.
Pursuing world peace through efforts that reach beyond particular religions and nations, I have dared to initiate the large-scale project of connecting the regions of the world through constructing a tunnel and/or bridge across the Bering Strait between Russia and the United States Through such an undertaking, I am doing my utmost to inspire all technology contribute to the peace and welfare of humankind.
Now that I have concluded 34 years of work away from my homeland of Korea and have returned to my country, I have decided to lay the foundation for aviation technology -- which of all industrial technologies requires the most precision -- so that in the twenty-first century Korea may become a leader in the machinery industry, and, in particular, contribute to the development of the aviation industry. Therefore, I have established the Times Aviation of Korea, and pursued technological cooperation from the Sikorsky Company, which prides itself on having the best helicopter technology in the world.
Henceforth, the Times Aviation of Korea will focus on developing helicopters for transportation of large groups of people, thus to meet public demand, while opening new horizons in the helicopter industry. We expect it will not only revolutionize mass transportation in Korea but will also contribute to improving the quality of life in this country by raising the efficiency of the utilization of its territory.
It is my hope that the Times Aviation of Korea will, through the foundation of the Tongil Group, extend to 180 nations across the world through the realization of an "even distribution of technology" campaign that I have always advocated. This will play an important role in establishing Korea as an industrial power, and thereby contribute greatly to the nation's development as well as to the happiness of all people of the world.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
My efforts for the sake of all humanity's welfare and peace are even now being carried out in various fields.
After inaugurating the Universal Peace Federation in New York, on September 12th last year, I traveled to 120 nations of the world in order to pass on my inaugural message. I proposed that the Universal Peace Federation, in the position of the "Abel UN," should be developed as a new international peace organization. At the same time the United Nations, as a Cain-type institution should be reformed by having a Peace Council, a legislative organization consisting of global religious leaders of the same rank, as members of the current UN Security Council. I am referring to the founding of a Peace Council that will speak not for the interests of a particular nation, as the existing UN representatives do, but that will truly work for the welfare and peace of humanity from an inter-religious and universal perspective.
I am undertaking this awesome project for the sake of peace and for the welfare of humanity. Therefore, people all over the world call me the Peace King and the True Parent of humanity. The Times Aviation of Korea will eventually become a big contributor to fulfill such a universal project.
I extend my gratitude to the government of Gyeong-gi Province and the city of Gimpo, and to the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of Finance and Economy, and particularly to the Ministry of Construction and Transportation. I would also like to express my deep appreciation for the support of the residents of Gimpo, and last, but not least, for the firm commitment of technological cooperation from the Sikorsky Company.
Thank you.