True Father, the Messiah at His Second Coming

Hak Ja Han
August 12, 2014
The Second Anniversary of the Universal Seonghwa of Sun Myung Moon, the True Parent of Heaven, Earth and Humankind
Cheongshim Peace World Center

Hak Ja Han July 22, 2014

Distinguished guests from home and abroad and beloved blessed families and members from around the world, I welcome you. I am so pleased to be with you all here. On this second anniversary of the Universal Seonghwa of Sun Myung Moon, the True Father of Heaven, Earth and Humankind, we feel how much God has loved us until now and that he has given us all his blessings. Yet, for our shortcomings in fulfilling our responsibilities, we repent once more.

True Father who saved the United States and the world

As a result of the Fall of Adam and Eve, the first ancestors of humankind, Heaven had to undertake the providence of restoration through indemnity, a history marked by pain and bitter sorrow. However, not once did God forget about His lost children. To save them, he had to go through a miserable and excruciating history. When he had established his chosen people through a long four-thousand year providence and fulfilled his promise to send his only begotten son, humanity once more committed a mistake in front of this great grace given by God.

Even so, the only begotten son said he would return. Two thousand years later, God’s only begotten son has emerged again through the providence unfolding through Christian history!

On this foundation, God prepared his only begotten daughter and elevated us to the position of True Parents. Thanks to this, another page came to be written in human history.

The world today remains fallen. It is a world owned by Satan.

Hence, even though religions have tried to pursue a good lifestyle, they have not known the way to heaven. Now, thanks to True Parents, we have been able to obtain the title “blessed families,” which have been born anew.

How can we describe in words the overwhelming emotions that we feel today? Our True Father, you worked hard, so hard. Our True Father, we love you. Our True Father, we miss you. Yet, just as the people, out of ignorance, did not welcome Jesus two thousand years ago, they did not accept True Father, the Messiah in his Second Coming. The providence, however, continues to move on.

In 1971, when True Father went to the United States, he said he had come as a doctor and as a firefighter. Heaven had prepared the United States as a stronghold for the Free World; yet the nation was moving away from upholding God’s will as he had originally intended it to do. The United States stood at a lifeor- death crossroads because of its culture of decadence, family breakdown and the communist ideology. True Father, who knew how God had worked hard to raise the United States, had to go to the front line once more. That was in 1971. In the 1980s, Father aroused the attention of the United States and followed a path, all alone, to save that nation, which was facing threats to its religious and ideological underpinnings, a threat that came from communism.

He left many accomplishments as his legacy, accomplishments that no ordinary human being could have achieved. In trying to save the United States, his goal was to bring salvation to all of humanity in accordance to our Heavenly Parent’s will. That is why Father called on the Free World, which was wavering, and the United States, where democracy was wavering, to forgive, love and unite. He awakened all the good people of the United States. He himself practiced the love he preached. Yet, rev. Moon, who lived for others in such a way, ended up following a suffering course in prison at Danbury.

Even though he did not have to follow that path, he still followed it, calling us to unite. He cried out, “I do not know what blessings Heaven has prepared in the background where I am going. So be strong! be confident!” From the perspective of the global providence, it is only True Parents who saved the United States and the world.

Be proud citizens of Cheon Il Guk This second anniversary particularly focuses on the activities True Parents carried out in the Americas. Let us all mobilize all our strength, ability and effort in front of True Parents’ great love and become one in heart, body, mindset and harmonize in front of God’s will. It is my hope that we all do our best, as proud citizens of Cheon Il Guk, to lay the substantial foundation for Cheon Il Guk. During the first anniversary of Father’s ascension,

Japan and Korea became one through the Peace bike Tour. This time, fourteen countries took part in the event and the teams cycled a total distance of six thousand kilometers.

How beautiful is that? Despite the changes in climate and bad weather, the participants were not deterred. All brothers and sisters present here have become one in heart and vision. With this second anniversary, you have shown the people of the world and that you are proud sons and daughters of True Parents; you have demonstrated this as well in light of True Parents’ achievements.

I thank you all for all the hard work you have invested so far. Our goal is now clear. Do not forget that our Heavenly Parent and True Parents are always with you wherever you are.

Pictures of The Second Anniversary of the Universal Seonghwa of Sun Myung Moon, the True Parents of Heaven, Earth and Humankind

Hak Ja Han
August 12, 2014
Cheongshim Peace World Center

At 9:00 am around twenty thousand members from many of the world's nations filled the stadium on that day. Kyeong Seuk Lu, president of FFWPU-Korea, was the master of ceremonies during the first part of the anniversary observance.

The event started when True mother entered with Kwon Jin nim. She first offered flowers to True Father and then took a seat. Following this was an opening declaration and the singing of the Cheon Il Guk anthem by everyone present. Yong Cheon Song, chairman of the Federation of Blessed Families in Japan, prayed. Participants and representatives of various circles placed flowers on the altar. The audience watched a commemorative video on True Parents' work in the Americas, followed by a video message from U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch.

Dan Burton, a former congressman, spoke, explaining that True Father's conviction "was not the will of the righteous American people." Finally, the vice-governor of the second administrative office of Gyeonggi Province on behalf of Nam Gyeong-pil, governor of Gyeonggi Province, read a eulogy to True Father. Next was a medley of holy songs, the dedication of the English Cheon Il Guk Scripture and the 2014 white book on public assets worldwide and finally True mother's address.

The second part of the memorial consisted of a musical performance that reflected True Parents' lives and their activities in the Americas. At the end of the musical, the whole event concluded with three cheers of eog mansei. Prior to this main event, a pledge service was held at 7:00 Amin Cheon Jeong Gung. At 12:30, after the main event, a commemorative banquet was also held in Cheon Jeong Gung.

THE SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNIVERSAL SEONGHWA

BANQUET

VICTORY CELEBRATION

Our Common Hope Is Our Desire To Live In a Free, Peaceful and Happy World

Hak Ja Han
August 12, 2014
Banquet commemorating of the 2nd Anniversary of Sun Myung Moon's Universal Seonghwa

I sincerely thank all of you here for setting aside your schedule to come all the way here from your different countries. I believe you may feel the same way I do whenever you come here. We feel that way because we have become one, one family. I have gone on many speaking tours and met a great diversity of people.

A common hope everyone shares is his or her desire to live in a free, peaceful and happy world. I believe that our hope and all the efforts we invest as we pursue this will certainly bring about happiness. However, what I would like to tell you is that doing it by oneself is a lonesome undertaking.

God began the Creation because of his loneliness; He needed a partner. Today, the Unification Church foundation has spread to 194 countries. Many countries have their own path, their own dreams.

I am sure that those in leadership positions, the heads of state and those in charge, people leading nations, would want their people to live well, wouldn't they? However, at this point, it is impossible to pursue one's national interests alone and promote happiness, freedom and peace. There are many national boundaries and many indescribable barriers such as racial and religious conflicts.

We, however, know how this can be achieved. When we serve our Heavenly Parent, the Creator, we know what path the seven billion people on earth should follow. True Parents are the ones who have taught the way we should follow. All countries can become one as sibling nations through True Parents.

Two people can exercise greater power than one. The same applies when three, four… If the 194 countries move together with one heart and vision, all the problems that human beings are agonizing over can be resolved. In particular, we are facing many dangers as a result of environmental problems. The disorderliness of humanity is bringing down the source of creation. The natural environment, which is a source of joy to us, is being destroyed. Even though our leaders are greatly concerned about this environmental problem -- because they worry about everything in the future -- it is quite unfortunate that they have not been able to do anything about it.

I visited Switzerland recently. I heard there are more than four hundred mountains in the Swiss Alps. I went to twelve of the highest peaks. On one of these mountains, I was shown a road that was built during the days of the roman Empire. The Alps connect five countries. When Christians went on missions, instead of going around the mountains, they found it more convenient to follow a mountain path. I heard that that is why a road was built in the mountains during the days of the roman Empire.

The audience listening to True Mother speak

We must communicate. We must be able to talk to one another. In order to do so, however, we must have one center, we must have one goal. So, one thing I would like to ask of you is to please maintain your health. Then you will certainly be able to realize the one world that True Parents, our Heavenly Parent and humanity have desired. However, in order for you to partake in this, you must first be fit. How do I look to you now compared to last year? Even though it hasn't been long, I have been working out. I didn't take any pills or receive any kind of treatment. I have been walking.

Thanks to these efforts, my body has certainly become lighter. It is my hope that all of you in charge of nations be in good health. Then, we can all join in heart and vision and practice true love all together. During my message earlier today, I asked that we forgive, love and unite. If we take the first letter from these three words it becomes "True Parents' flu." However, because this is a "flu" of true love, it is a really good flu. Please remain healthy.

The Second Anniversary of the Universal Seonghwa of Sun Myung Moon, the True Parent of Heaven, Earth and Humankind

Hak Ja Han
August 12, 2014
Cheongshim Peace World Center

Distinguished guests from home and abroad and beloved blessed families and members from around the world, I welcome you. I am so pleased to be with you all here. On this second anniversary of the Universal Seonghwa of Sun Myung Moon, the True Father of Heaven, Earth and Humankind, we feel how much God has loved us until now and that he has given us all his blessings. Yet, for our shortcomings in fulfilling our responsibilities, we repent once more.

True Father Who Saved the United States and the World

As a result of the Fall of Adam and Eve, the first ancestors of humankind, Heaven had to undertake the providence of restoration through indemnity, a history marked by pain and bitter sorrow. However, not once did God forget about His lost children. To save them, he had to go through a miserable and excruciating history. When he had established his chosen people through a long four-thousand-year providence and fulfilled his promise to send his only begotten son, humanity once more committed a mistake in front of this great grace given by God.

Even so, the only begotten son said he would return. Two thousand years later, God's only begotten son has emerged again through the providence unfolding through Christian history!

On this foundation, God prepared his only begotten daughter and elevated us to the position of True Parents. Thanks to this, another page came to be written in human history.

The world today remains fallen. It is a world owned by Satan. Hence, even though religions have tried to pursue a good lifestyle, they have not known the way to heaven. Now, thanks to True Parents, we have been able to obtain the title "blessed families," which have been born anew.

How can we describe in words the overwhelming emotions that we feel today? Our True Father, you worked hard, so hard. Our True Father, we love you. Our True Father, we miss you. Yet, just as the people, out of ignorance, did not welcome Jesus two thousand years ago, they did not accept True Father, the Messiah in his Second Coming. The providence, however, continues to move on.

In 1971, when True Father went to the United States, he said he had come as a doctor and as a firefighter. Heaven had prepared the United States as a stronghold for the Free World; yet the nation was moving away from upholding God's will as he had originally intended it to do. The United States stood at a life-or death crossroads because of its culture of decadence, family breakdown and the communist ideology.

True Father, who knew how God had worked hard to raise the United States, had to go to the front line once more. That was in 1971. In the 1980s, Father aroused the attention of the United States and followed a path, all alone, to save that nation, which was facing threats to its religious and ideological underpinnings, a threat that came from communism.

Public figures and members whose lives were touched by True Father filled the Cheongshim Peace World Center

He left many accomplishments as his legacy, accomplishments that no ordinary human being could have achieved. In trying to save the United States, his goal was to bring salvation to all of humanity in accordance to our Heavenly Parent's will. That is why Father called on the Free World, which was wavering, and the United States, where democracy was wavering, to forgive, love and unite. He awakened all the good people of the United States. He himself practiced the love he preached. Yet, rev. Moon, who lived for others in such a way, ended up following a suffering course in prison at Danbury.

Even though he did not have to follow that path, he still followed it, calling us to unite. He cried out, "I do not know what blessings Heaven has prepared in the background where I am going. So be strong! Be confident!" From the perspective of the global providence, it is only True Parents who saved the United States and the world.

Be Proud Citizens of Cheon Il Guk

This second anniversary particularly focuses on the activities True Parents carried out in the Americas. Let us all mobilize all our strength, ability and effort in front of True Parents' great love and become one in heart, body, mindset and harmonize in front of God's will. It is my hope that we all do our best, as proud citizens of Cheon Il Guk, to lay the substantial foundation for Cheon Il Guk. During the first anniversary of Father's ascension, Japan and Korea became one through the Peace bike Tour. This time, fourteen countries took part in the event and the teams cycled a total distance of six thousand kilometers.

How beautiful is that? Despite the changes in climate and bad weather, the participants were not deterred. All brothers and sisters present here have become one in heart and vision. With this second anniversary, you have shown the people of the world and that you are proud sons and daughters of True Parents; you have demonstrated this as well in light of True Parents' achievements.

I thank you all for all the hard work you have invested so far. Our goal is now clear. Do not forget that our Heavenly Parent and True Parents are always with you wherever you are.

How much God has loved us until now and how He has given us all His blessings

Hak Ja Han
August 12, 2014
Second Anniversary of True Father's Universal Seonghwa

Thank you. Please be seated. Distinguished guests from home and abroad and beloved blessed families and members from around the world, I welcome you. I am so pleased to be with you all here....

On this second anniversary of the Universal Seonghwa of Sun Myung Moon, the True Father of Heaven, Earth and Humankind, we feel how much God has loved us until now and how He has given us all His blessings. Yet, for our shortcomings in fulfilling our responsibilities, we repent once more.

As a result of the Fall of Adam and Eve, the first ancestors of humankind, Heaven had to pass through the providence of restoration through indemnity, a history marked by pain and bitter sorrow. However, not once did God forget about his lost children. To save them, he had to go through a miserable and excruciating history. When he established his chosen people during the long four-thousand-year providence and realized his promise to send his only begotten son, humanity once more committed a mistake in front of this great grace given by God.

However, the only begotten son said he would return. Two thousand years later, God's only begotten son has emerged again through the providence unfolding throughout Christian history! It was on this foundation that Heaven prepared his only begotten daughter and elevated us to the position of True Parents. Thanks to this, another page came to be written in human history.

Today's world is still fallen. It is a world owned by Satan. Hence, even though religions have tried to pursue a life of goodness, they have not known the way to Heaven. Now, thanks to True Parents, we have been able to obtain the name of "Blessed families," who have been born anew.

How can we describe in words the overwhelming emotions that we feel today? Our True Father, you worked hard so hard. Our True Father, we love you. Our True Father, we miss you. Yet, just as the people, out of ignorance, did not welcome Jesus two thousand years ago, they once more did not accept the True Father, the Messiah at his Second Coming. The providence, however, continues to move on.

In 1971, when True Father went to the United States, he said he came as a doctor and as a firefighter. Heaven had prepared the United States as a stronghold of the free world; yet the nation was moving away from upholding God's will as Heaven had originally intended it to do. The United States stood at a lifeand- death crossroads as a result of a culture of decadence, family breakdown and the communist ideology. True Father, who knew how God had worked hard to raise the United States, had to once more stand on the front line. That was in 1971. In the 1980s, Father aroused the attention of the United States and, all alone, followed the path to save the United States, which was facing the threat to its religious and ideological underpinnings, a threat that came from communism.

He left a lot of accomplishments as his legacy. These were accomplishments that no ordinary human being could have achieved. In trying to save the United States, his goal was to bring salvation to all of humanity in accordance to our Heavenly Parent's will. That is why Father called the free world, which was wavering, and the United States, whose democracy was wavering, to forgive, love and unite. He awakened all the good people of the United States. He himself practiced the love he preached. Yet, Rev. Moon, who lived for others in such a way, ended up going a suffering course in prison at Danbury.

Even though he did not have to follow that path, he still followed it, calling us to unite. He cried out, "I do not know what blessings Heaven has prepared in the background where I am going. So be strong! Be confident!"

From the perspective of the global providence, True Parents are the only ones who saved the United States and the world.

This second anniversary particularly focuses on the activities True Parents carried out in the Americas. Let us all mobilize all our strength, ability and effort in front of True Parents' great love and become one in heart, body, mindset and harmony in front of God's will. It is my hope that we all do our best, as proud citizens of Cheon Il Guk, to lay the substantial foundation Cheon Il Guk. During the first anniversary of Father's Seonghwa, Japan and Korea became one through the Peace Bike Tour. This time, fourteen countries took part in the event and the teams cycled a total distance of six thousand kilometers.

How beautiful is that? Despite the changes in climate and bad weather, the participants were not deterred.

All brothers and sisters present here have become one in heart and vision. With this second anniversary, you have shown the people of the world, and also in front of True Parents' achievements so far, that you are proud sons and daughters of True Parents.

I thank you all for all the hard work you have done so far. Our goal is now clear.

Do not forget that our Heavenly Parent and True Parents are always with you wherever you are.

The banquet commemorating of the Second Anniversary of True Father's Universal Seonghwa

Hak Ja Han
August 12, 2014

I sincerely thank all of you here for setting aside your schedule to come all the way here from your different countries. I believe you may feel the same way I do whenever you come here. We feel that way because we have become one, one family. I have gone on many speaking tours and met many diverse people.

A common hope everyone shares is their desire to live in a free, peaceful and happy world. I believe that our hope and all the efforts we invest as we pursue it will certainly bring about happiness. However, what I would like to tell you is that doing it alone is lonesome.

The purpose for which God began the Creation was because of his loneliness; he needed a partner. Today, the Unification Church foundation has spread to 194 countries. Many countries have their own way, their own dreams.

I am sure that those in leadership positions, the heads and those in charge, people leading nations, would want their people to live well, right?

However, at this point, it is impossible to pursue one's national interest alone and promote happiness, freedom and peace.

There are many national boundaries and many indescribable barriers such as racial and religious conflicts. We, however, know how. When we serve our Heavenly Parent, the Creator, we know what path the seven billion people on earth should follow. True Parents are the ones who have taught the way we should follow. All countries can become one as sibling nations through True Parents.

Two people can exercise greater power than one. The same applies when three, four… If the 194 countries move together with one heart and vision, all the problems that human beings are agonizing over can be resolved. In particular, we are facing a lot of dangers as a result of environmental problems. The disorderliness of humanity is bringing down the source of creation. The natural environment, which is a source of joy to us, is being destroyed. Even though our leaders are greatly concerned about this environmental problem as they worry about everything in the future, it is quite unfortunate that they have not been able to do anything about it.

I visited Switzerland this time. I heard there are over two hundreds mountains in the Alps. I went to twelve of the high peaks. On one of the peaks, I came across a road that was built during the days of the Roman Empire.

The Alps connects five countries; as a result, the Christian cultural realm…. When Christians went on missions, instead of going around the mountains, they found it more convenient to follow a mountain path. I heard that that is why a road was built in the mountains during the days of the Roman Empire.

That is right. We must communicate. We must be able to talk to one another. In order to do so, however, we must have one center, we must have a goal. So, one thing I would like to ask of you is to please be healthy. Then you will certainly be able to realize the one world that True Parents, our Heavenly Parent and humanity have desired. However, in order for you to partake in this, you must first be fit.

How do I look to you now compared to last year? Even though it hasn't been long, I have been working out. I didn't take any pills or receive any kind of treatment. I have been walking.

Thanks to these efforts, my body has certainly become lighter. It is my hope that all of you in charge of nations be in good health. Then, we can all join in heart and vision and practice true love altogether. During my message today, I asked that we forgive, love and unite. If we take the first letter out of the three words it becomes "True Parents' flu." However, because this is a flu of true love, it is a great flu. Please remain healthy.

Forgive, Love, Unite

Hak Ja Han
August 12, 2014
Cheongshim World Peace Center, Korea
The Commemoration of the Second Anniversary of True Father's Seonghwa

Distinguished guests from home and abroad! Beloved blessed families and members from around the world! Ladies and gentlemen! I offer my heartfelt appreciation to you all for coming here today to commemorate the second anniversary of the universal Seonghwa of my husband, the Reverend Sun Myung Moon.

Today, many people throughout the world are suffering the effects of war, conflict, climate change, environmental pollution and, most of all, a confusion of values. This reality fills me with pain and makes my heart so sorrowful. We must take action to fundamentally change this situation and open a new era of peace. I believe this can be done by carrying on and further developing the work of Rev. Moon, who dedicated his entire life to liberate our Heavenly Parent, bring salvation to humankind and realize a world of peace.

All people desire to live in a world where they can enjoy freedom, peace, unity and happiness. Rev. Moon and I have invested ourselves fully throughout our lives, working to build one world where God is attended as our Heavenly Parent.

Forgive and Love

Ladies and gentlemen, we must forgive one another, love our families and neighbors, and unite under the banner of peace.

My husband and I forgave those who were unforgivable, and loved even the enemy that could not be loved, all for the sake of the Heavenly Parent and humankind. We called for the breakdown of borders that divide us while working in practical ways to unite people for the sake of world peace.

While working in the underground independence movement, in the 1940s, against Japan's forced annexation of Korea, my husband was incarcerated and tortured to the brink of death. Yet, more than anybody else, he has prayed for Japan, and has continuously loved our Japanese members. This is one of the reasons we have many Japanese members in our movement. Our Japanese members have gone out to the world and have worked actively with international NGOs in different nations.

After Korea's liberation, my husband went to Pyongyang, in North Korea, which was under communist rule. While teaching God's Word in North Korea, he was unjustly imprisoned twice. From 1948 to 1950, during his incarceration in a forced labor camp at a fertilizer factory in Hungnam, a place known as a "death camp," he led such a life that his fellow inmates referred to him as the "saint in prison." My husband narrowly escaped execution there: the prison and fertilizer complex were bombed by UN forces countering the North Korean People's Army during the Korean War on October 14, 1950, the day my husband was scheduled to be shot.

Forty years later, in 1991, my husband and I were filled with emotion as we passed the very site of that prison while we were traveling to meet Kim Il Sung at the Presidential Palace at Hamhung. It was through this meeting that we laid the cornerstone for renewed efforts for the reunification of North and South Korea. I was reminded once again that our Heavenly Parent works miracles when we forgive and love our enemies.

Even in South Korea, my husband endured unjust imprisonment. Yet, we continued to spread the Korean spirit and culture of loving God, loving humankind and loving one's nation, and the Korean language, to the world. I still remember how, in the 1970s and 1980s, many people were moved to tears seeing our western followers from America and the United Kingdom singing the Korean national anthem in Korean.

My husband was also unjustly sent to prison in Danbury in the United States, but he did not relent in his efforts to save the world through moving America. As a result, many American leaders and Christian ministers took the lead in bringing an end to the Cold War, and since then have come together to promote an interfaith peace movement.

My husband and I never stepped back from challenges. Even when we faced persecution, we did not harbor any ill-will but rather prayed for those who opposed us. By overcoming such challenges we were given even greater blessings than we could have dreamed of. In less than half a century, we established missions in 194 nations of the world, laying an international foundation for peace. We built a firm foundation to create one world under God, our Heavenly Parent.

Unite

Beloved world leaders! Then how can we become one? We must first meet our creator, the Heavenly Parent. The path to Him, however, is not an easy one because of the Fall of our first ancestors. The Fall means that human beings fell into ignorance, dimming the light of our original nature bestowed on us at the time of creation. The walls separating us from knowing God have grown tall and thick for six thousand years, while the river of our self-centered nature continues to deepen.

It is difficult for us to climb over this wall or cross this river by virtue of our own efforts. Our Heavenly Parent is always at our side, ready to assist us. Yet everything depends on us. Therefore, we must awaken our conscience; our conscience is our second God. If we are filled with the divine spirit and truth and lead a life of constant prayer and gratitude for all things, we will be able to hear the voice of our Heavenly Parent, which will sweep through our entire being.

Moreover, everyone needs to meet the representative of our Heavenly Parent. Human history is the history of God's providence of restoration through which God sought to establish a single central point. Two thousand years ago, God sent His only-begotten son, yet Jesus died on the cross because the people of that time could not believe in him. Heaven's providence was unavoidably prolonged until the time of the Second Advent.

Humankind is now living in a blessed era where the Second Advent of the Lord has occurred on this earth. The Lord has found his bride, God's only-begotten daughter, and they have manifested as the True Parents. All of humankind needs to meet the True Parents, who are the representatives of the Heavenly Parent. They should attend and follow the True Parents. Only then can they eradicate original sin, which has been passed down for six thousand years.

Unite In One Heart, One Body, One Mindset and One Harmony

Beloved blessed families and ambassadors for peace!

It is easy for siblings to quarrel among themselves when the True Parents are not present. The reason such struggles continue is because children do not always understand their parents' intentions. We can understand our parents' intentions only when we create a bond of heart with them in true love. You must become one with the True Parents in heart, body, mindset and in harmony. Your oneness with True Parents must be manifested through your thoughts, emotions, words and deeds.

When you live your life as a true child who resembles the True Parents, you will understand and feel that other people are not strangers but your brothers and sisters who share the same lineage as you. By freeing yourself from internal anguish, you can ultimately bring an end to conflicts between nations, which are like the quarrels between siblings.

Beloved leaders! Ladies and gentlemen!

All of us desire to live in happiness in a world of peace. We can attain this dream. Let us forgive our enemies, love our neighbors as if they were our own flesh and blood, and unite for the sake of peace. Let us advance toward one world under our Heavenly Parent. Join me in marching courageously forward until the day all people can live as brothers and sisters, as one great family.

Thank you very much.

Creation of the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee at the Second Anniversary of Sun Myung Moon's Universal Seonghwa

Hak Ja Han
August 11, 2014

The launching of the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee attracted significant press coverage.

The Sunhak Peace Prize Committee presented itself to the public for the first time on the nineteenth floor of the Korean Press Center, on August 11. One hundred and thirty people from Korea and abroad attended the event. Starting from August 2015, the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee will annually award the Sunhak Peace Prize to a selected individual or group that has dedicated itself to world peace or for the benefit of humanity. One million U.S. dollars will be presented to the individual or group winner as prize money. This is the most money offered for any prize in Korea. Dr. Il Shik Hong, a former president of Korea University, is the chairman of the committee. Dr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, a former secretarygeneral of the United Nations; Mr. Larry Beasley, president of the Washington Times; and Mr. Yoshinori Ono, a former director-general of Japan's Defense Agency are also among the thirteen members of the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee.

Chairman Hong introduced the committee members offered remarks. Mr. Beasley read the Declaration of the Sunhak Peace Prize. Mr. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, Prime Minister of Timor Leste, and Cheol Seung Lee, president of the Seoul Peace Prize Cultural Foundation, offered congratulatory addresses.

Excerpts from the Declaration of the Sunhak Peace Prize

The Sunhak Peace Prize was founded by Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, the wife of the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon. This award reflects her profound hope of continuing the legacy left by her husband, who lived his life with the spirit of having the heart of a parent, in the body of a servant, shedding sweat for earth, tears for humankind and blood for heaven, dedicating his entire life toward realizing world peace, prosperity and coexistence, where humankind thrives as One Family under God….

Indeed, peace is the highest and ultimate value and desire that has been sought ceaselessly by humankind throughout history. This noble ideal demands the dedication and sacrifice of many righteous and capable individuals. Through founding the Sunhak Peace Prize, we wish to recognize individuals who have willingly sacrificed themselves for peace, and praise them for their work, thereby lighting a beacon of hope that will shine upon each and every person on earth who yearns for world peace.

After introducing the committee members, Dr. Hong offered the following remarks:

Today, human civilization is seeing an end to the era when the nations of the East were greatly influenced by those in the West, an era that begun in the nineteenth century and sees the rise of a great transition, opening the era in which Eastern nations are becoming more influential. The age of economic sovereignty and technological sovereignty of the post-industrial society has passed and as we enter a society requiring expert knowledge and information. Humanity is longing for the creation of new values…. I believe that Korea and its people are standing tall at the center of this great transitional time in human history….

From long ago, a distinct oriental culture blossomed in Korea based on the basic values, which we call Hong-ik In-gan and Ewha Segye, which mean benefiting all people and leading the world based on the truth, respectively. In addition, the universal ideology representing Korea in each era was readily accepted; for example, during the era of Buddhism in Korea, people accepted its ideology and flourished; likewise, in the age of Confucianism, people readily accepted Confucian ideals and the same happened again in today's era of Christianity, creating a peaceful culture of coexistence, co-prosperity with all humanity.

Chairman Il Shik Hong of the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee

Dr. Hong then presented the direction the committee will take by saying,

The late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, who understood such features of the history of civilization, combined Christian ethics, the universal thought representing the Western world, with Korean traditional thought, creating a new philosophy of peace. He presented a vision for the path we should follow…. The Sunhak Peace Prize committee will do its best to practice true love transcending race, religion and nation based on the peace ideology that all people are one family. Upholding the noble will of the founders, Rev. and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon, who lived this ideology and encouraged us to become peace-loving global citizens, we will keep searching for and supporting people who are dedicating their lives to building a world of peace.

Mr. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, Prime Minister of Timor-Leste

Among Prime Minister Gusmão's remarks in this congratulatory address, he said the following:

Rev. Moon taught that there were two basic principles of peace. The first principle was a motto that he lived his life by, "Live for the sake of others." The second principle was his vision of the world as, "one family under God." In essence, Rev. Moon saw public-mindedness and family values as the pillars and beams for building world peace…. I believe it was Rev. Moon's passionate love for God and humankind that were central to his vision for peace. He shared this dream most intimately with his lovely wife and lifetime partner, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon. It is their unbreakable love and her desire to carry on Rev. Moon's legacy of peace that is at the heart of the Sunhak Peace Prize.

In essence, the message that this Sunhak Peace Prize should carry is this: by living unselfish and altruistic lives, we can build families and communities of peace. by transcending religion, race, nationality and culture, we can build nations and a world of peace. With this message, the Sunhak Peace Prize will serve as a beacon of hope, guiding us all toward a culture of peace.

Mr. Cheol Seung Lee, President of the Seoul Peace Prize Cultural Foundation

Cheol Seung Lee, who is a retired member of the Korean National Assembly, as well as head of an organization that recognizes those who work for peace, said the following in his congratulatory address:

Despite tremendous persecution and criticism, Rev. Sun Myung Moon firmly continued to carry out worldwide peace initiatives and also endeavors to bring about peace and unification between the divided Koreas. He dedicated his entire life to loving humankind…. He initiated memorials to remember patriots that fought for the independence of Korea including Jung Geun Ahn in China. In 1990, at the height of the cold war, he met Mikhail Gorbachev, president of the Soviet Union. The following year, in 1991, he went to Pyongyang and met with Kim Il-sung, the leader of North Korea, whom he embraced and negotiated with. Many people have been moved by his courage in doing so. I cannot but bow my head in solemn respect for the depth of Rev. Moon's ideology and his courage as he unhesitatingly met even heads of the enemy camp for the sake of world peace. Unless one is a true saint, loving enemies in this way would be impossible.

I express my deep gratitude to Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon for enacting the Sunhak Peace Prize and continuing her husband's legacy in working toward realizing a world of peace even though Rev. Moon has ascended. I fervently hope that this prize can be a driving force in enhancing and developing the spirit of Rev. Sun Myung Moon.

Before the conclusion of the meeting, Secretary-general Man Ho Kim gave a general introduction of the Sunhak Peace Prize, explaining how they had instituted a fair process to select the winner and that they would continue to work in raising the authority of the prize. He also added that by the end of October this year, the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee would receive candidate recommendations from a nominating committee of about a thousand people from eighty countries who have fulfilled certain criteria to be included on that committee.

The Sunhak Peace Prize Committee will gradually assess the eligibility of all the candidates and will chose next year's winner in April. The committee's involvement with the winner will not simply end with the prize presentation; the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee intends to provide continuous support to candidates and winners for their activities and to publicly promote the values that make for peace.