HWPL Marks 10 Years of Global Peace Efforts with Worldwide Celebrations

Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) celebrated the 10th anniversary of its World Peace Conference with a series of ceremonies across 40 countries. The main event, held on September 18, 2024, in Gapyeong-gun, South Korea, showcased the organization's decade-long commitment to fostering global peace and harmony.

Under the theme "Building a World Peace Community through Interregional Cooperation," the ceremony reflected on HWPL's past achievements and outlined future strategies for peace-building. The event featured progress reports, video presentations, and speeches by key figures including HWPL CEO Lee Man-hee and IWPG CEO Un Hyun-sook. A significant highlight was the signing of memorandums of understanding and the awarding of appointment certificates, underscoring the organization's expanding influence.

HWPL's growth over the past decade is remarkable, with its membership now reaching 500,000 across 170 countries. The organization has gained international recognition for its efforts in promoting peace awareness and fostering inter-cultural and inter-religious understanding. Notable achievements include facilitating a civil peace agreement in the Philippines, which has been hailed as a model for conflict resolution between nations.

The anniversary event also saw the launch of a public campaign called 'Together: Connecting the Republic of Korea,' co-hosted by approximately 230 civic groups. This initiative aims to address social conflicts and promote harmony through citizen-led efforts, drawing inspiration from the spirit of the Saemaul Movement.

HWPL's focus on building 'regional networks' represents a strategic shift towards tailored peace strategies that address the unique challenges of different regions. This approach is expected to enhance the organization's ability to respond to peace threats and mobilize local resources more effectively.

As an NGO with special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council, HWPL's continued efforts and growing influence in the international peace movement are significant. The organization's work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in spreading a culture of peace through various educational and cultural initiatives.

The 10th-anniversary celebrations mark a crucial milestone in HWPL's journey and highlight the increasing importance of citizen-led, cross-border initiatives in fostering global peace. As geopolitical tensions persist in various parts of the world, HWPL's model of interregional cooperation and dialogue offers a promising approach to conflict resolution and peace-building.