By Kim Chan-souk
Korea, the land of the morning calm, is moving swiftly toward peace. It is because the country is holding the 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit.
It is the first time in Korean history that leaders of 53 countries and four international organizations are here for the summit. Korea has emerged as a key player on the global stage after holding large-scale international events successfully, including the G20 Seoul Summit in 2011, the Korea-Japan World Cup in 2002 and the Seoul Olympics in 1988, which attracted keen interest from many people around the world.
The Seoul summit is the second following the 2010 Washington conference proposed by U.S. President Barack Obama. It is the world's biggest summit to discuss ways of promoting international cooperation for global peace by protecting nuclear materials and facilities from terrorist groups.
Such concrete steps to be implemented to fight against nuclear terrorist attacks as the minimization of possession and use of highly-enriched uranium (HEU) and plutonium and other dangerous nuclear materials, the protection of nuclear facilities and prevention of illegal trade of nuclear materials are expected to be included in the Seoul Communique.
Koreans' love for peace is extraordinary as they experienced war 60 years ago. Korea's famous female singer Park Jung-hyun who graduated from Columbia University in America sings "Peace Song." K-pop singer JYJ, who has many fans around the world, has also used his talent for peace.
More than 5,000 children in Korea participated in the "International Children Peace Art Exhibition" under the topic of "a safe world without nuclear terrors" and "the peaceful use of nuclear power."
Korea, which has contributed to the global economy and democracy while being called the "Miracle of the Han River" and the "symbol of Asian democracy," is emerging as a key player for peace to keep the globe from nuclear terrorist attacks.
Kim Chan-souk is a professor at Cheongju University and visiting professor at the University of Southern California. Contact him at luckyk55@naver.com.