HWPL Chairman Lee, Avid Global Peace Movement Advocate

Chairman & President Lee Man-hee of the Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) holds a news conference as he returned from his 12th global peace tour at Incheon International Airport on July 18. He headed a peace delegation during the tour that went to Turkey, Croatia, France, Germany, Montenegro, Bosnia Herchegobia, and Spain for 20 days starting June 29.

Chairman & President Lee Man-hee of the Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL)’s crusade for peace is attracting global attention. In particular, Lee earned a global reputation by touring the Mindanao region in The Philippines, risking his life in an effort to solve the long-standing conflict no one could not solve for 40 years and paving the way for the conclusion of a peace deal this past January.

Some 5,000 citizens, including youth, holding pickets with a message of peace and national flags of all the countries around the world, march for a walkathon for the cause of peace at the UN Memorial Cemetery in Busan.

HWPL Chairman Lee made his 12th global peace tour on June 29, which took him to Turkey, Croatia, France, Germany, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Spain for 20 days from June 29. During the tour, Lee met with political leaders of the countries and appealed for peace.

Lee has visited 54 countries in the recent three years from May 2013. The figure represents more trips than a former Korean president had made during his five-year term.

HWPL Chairman Lee (2nd from left) gives a key-note speech at the Inter-Parliamentary Coalition for Global Ethics Peace Conference, hosted by Unesco in Paris.

HWPL said Chairman Lee delivered a keynote speech at the Inter-Parliamentary Coalition for Global Ethics Peace Conference, hosted by UNESCO in Paris on July 2, in which he stressed the creation of a culture of peace to solve conflicts in disputed areas, the practical application of 11 resolutions on the creation of a culture of peace adopted by the United Nations, and also called for parliamentary legislation and religious leaders’ awakening.

HWPL Chairman Lee (sixth from right, front row) poses for a group photo with those on hand at the Inter-Parliamentary Coalition for Global Ethics Peace Conference, hosted by Unesco in Paris on July 2.

The conference brought together 25 parliamentary, religious and academic leaders, including former Romanian president Emil Constantinescu and renowned UN negotiator Gianni Picco for the first time. Welcoming Chairman Lee's speech, the leaders concurred on creation of a peaceful world.

A Korean resident in Germany said, “I’m deeply moved to hear the news about Chairman Lee at the peace conference hosted by UNESCO, and I extend high esteem to the peace delegation in recognition of the promotion of global peace and enhancing Korea’s prestige.”

Youth shake pickets while acknowledging citizens’ who were welcomed at a walkathon hosted by the International Women’s Peace Group to mark the first anniversary of the declaration of the World Peace and Restoration of Light Statement at the Archery Center of the Yeomju Integrated Sport Complex in Gwangju on May 25. The rally was held for the cause of global peace and putting an end to wars.

Chairman Lee was also invited as a keynote speaker at a symposium hosted by the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy (ICD) on July 9.

At the symposium, which consisted of a first and second session, Dir.-Gen. Mark Donfried of the ICD and the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Montenegro presented HWPL Chairman Lee and Chairperson Kim Nam-hee of the International Women’s Peace Group under the umbrella of the HWPL with awards and certificates of appreciation in recognition of meritorious work for the spread of peace awareness.

Chairman Lee delivered a message of peace while meeting with political and religious leaders, including former Croatian President Stjepan Mesic, ex-Bosnia-Herzegovina President Salem Halilovic, and German Orthodox Church bishops. They joined other political and religious leaders on hand at the UNESCO conference in signing a peace agreement.

The Bosnia-Herzegovina government, in a whirlwind of strife from a civil war of religion and ideology, accorded Chairman Lee the treatment of a state guest. Christian Orthodox, Jewish, and Catholic leaders also concurred on the end of religious strife by signing a peace agreement.

HWPL Chairman Lee receives a certificate of appreciation from Veracruz Mayor Lemon Pugil of Mexico on April 20.

Reporters from media outlets around the world such as CASA RHEMA TV, ERF Christian Broadcasting, and Balkan TV, and Bosnian state-run BHT gave Chairman Lee’s peace initiative prominent coverage. A BHT reporter said, “I’m very glad a heartfelt peace message has been delivered to the people.”

Chairman Lee said, “Even though we have a little hard time, let’s bestow a good world on our descendants by putting a confusing world in order.” He called for Korea to become a light to shine on the whole world, saying, “(We have to know) what the light of the world essentially is and what is done in silence.”

Lee continued, “I will put a full stop in North Korea after finally meeting the greatest president, and as humans are certain to finish up with death, I will plead for the restoration of the division.” He also unveiled a plan to make his 13th global peace tour.

Chairman Lee, a veteran of the Korean War, has made travelled around the wrold for tens of occasions for the cause of global peace for the past three years. He has met with political and religious leaders of several countreis and signed with peace agreements.

Chairman Lee, an avid peace movement activist, sheds a light of hope for the people in conflict-hit areas.

Chairman & President Lee Man-hee of the Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light, serving as an avid global peace activist.

Questions & Answers with HWPL Chairman Lee

HWPL Chairman Lee underwent an ordeal during World War II at the time of his youth and participated in the Korean War. Lee is a man who knows and cherishes the preciousness of life and peace better than any other person. The following are excerpts of a Q&A session with him.

Q: Has an answer for “peace” been discovered so far?

A: Some people were awarded peace prizes in recognition of their peace movements. But have they changed the world? Despite the fact, they had advocated a peace initiative since it is the answer that can lead to peace. If anyone works toward peace without a solution, it is nothing but a distraction. If all the people around the globe become peace messengers, peace can be achieved. This can be possible since I’m with God, who has told me to do so.

Q: The population around the world is over 7 billion. Can everyone become peace messengers?

A: I’ve not discussed peace in only one place, but I’ve travelled around the globe, visited each country’s former and current presidents, kings, religious leaders, and women and youth representatives and obtained peace agreements. The statements they promised were made public to each country’s people, and we’ve marched for peace with the people who know them.

Q: Does a peace march directly lead to peace?

A: One year has passed since the World Peace and Restoration of Light Statement was read at the Gate of Peace in Seoul on May 25, 2013, and a peace march ensued. What we’ve done while traveling around the globe on 10 occasions has coalesced into one mind of peace. Not only political and religious leaders, women and youth heads of each nation, but also Maya, Inca, and Lomi people, neglected tribesmen without statehood, joined forces for one thing. God, who has ordered this thing, came together there and awakened people to become one.

Q: Most of the serious global conflicts and troubles are caused by religion. Have religious leaders joined forces?

A: If religions are made in accordance with the true will of the Creator, how could they cause strife, kill, and launch wars? The Creator is one, but are there hundreds of religions, then? I’ve urged them to offer their religions to the Creator, the Lord of religion to become one within the Creator. If they become one within the Creator, will wars and conflicts, caused by religion, disappear? Every religious leader who I meet consented and signed a peace agreement.

Q: Why do you stress the spearheading of a peace movement walkathon by the youth?

A: If war breaks out, innocent youth die. The law of the world and politics cannot compensate for it, however. We have to make up for the compensations. Now we have to defend. None will exchange lives with the world. How many youth die in the event of a war? Now we have to put an end to it. For whom do we do it?