HWPL’s 9th annual commemoration of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW)
New Committee Launches to Bridge Korean Peninsula Divide and Focus on Legal Framework for Unification
CHEONGJU, South Korea – March 14, 2025 – HWPL’s 9th annual commemoration of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) was held in 93 countries around the globe. During the main event in Cheongju, South Korea, a significant step was taken with the launch of the Preparatory Committee for Peaceful Unification on the Korean Peninsula. Under the theme, ”Building Bridges for Korean Reunification: Establishing Legal and Practical Frameworks for Peace,” the event in Korea drew about a thousand domestic and international leaders, and outlined a comprehensive plan for nationwide peace and unification.
HWPL has spearheaded the “Together: Connecting Korea” campaign. This initiative, which involves approximately 170 civic groups, aims to foster communication and harmony throughout Korean society. The newly formed committee will focus on expanding socio-cultural exchanges between North and South Korea and establishing a robust foundation for future unification.
“The expeditious path to unification lies in the implementation of free movement. It is imperative that we pursue unification through constructive dialogue without force,” said HWPL Chairman Lee Man-hee, presenting a vision for peaceful unification on the Korean peninsula. “Our country must become a testament to peace. We should work together thereby future generations can be happy and our wishes can come true.”
“We will unite people’s hearts through campaigns, expand the public understanding and support for unification through education, and conduct research on post-unification social and economic integration, said Ven. Seok Yeonhwa, chairman of the Supreme Patriarch of the World Buddhist Sangha Council as he explained the committee’s future plans.
Kim Yeong-geun, the 32nd rector of Sungkyunkwan, emphasized the critical role of civilian exchanges, calling for “a legal and institutional framework to ensure their continuity, regardless of political shifts.”
A key component of the main event was the presentation of a draft of the constitution establishing a unified Korea by Professor Ciarán Burke of Friedrich-Schiller University Jena. Developed by the HWPL International Law Peace Committee, this draft establishes legal foundations for a unified Korea, including denuclearization goals and a peace system that protects citizens’ rights and welfare.
“(This initiative) will be furthering the cause of Korean unification, of future stability, and ensuring that the region – and the world – is likely to remain a more peaceful place,” Professor Ciarán Burke said.
The Together Campaign’s Connect Korea Challenge is actively promoting unification through advocating free movement and international support. Within 10 days, participants from 243 cities across 72 countries contributed over 1,350 pieces of content, showing global interest in peaceful unification on the Korean Peninsula.
