Former U.S. envoy awarded for peacemaking on Korean Peninsula

Rev. Dr. James T. Laney, who served as U.S. ambassador to Korea from 1993 until 1996, receives the World Methodist Peace Award during a ceremony in Atlanta last month. Courtesy of World Methodist Council

By Do Je-hae

Rev. Dr. James T. Laney, who served as U.S. ambassador to Korea from 1993 until 1996 during the Clinton administration, has received the 2019 World Methodist Peace Award.

The World Methodist Council, an association of Methodist churches in more than 130 countries, has recognized individuals or groups for their special contribution to promoting world peace since 1977. Former recipients have included leaders such as Jimmy Carter, Mikhail Gorbachev and Nelson Mandela.

The council and the United Methodist Church's Global Ministries held an award ceremony for Dr. Laney last month in Atlanta to honor his lifelong commitment to peace on the Korean Peninsula as a missionary, educator and diplomat.

"Laney's approach to diplomacy and foreign policy emphasized the search for mutual understanding, empathy and reciprocity within relationships,” the United Methodist Church's Global Ministries said.

“In order to help bridge and heal the divisions he saw between North Koreans and South Koreans, as well as between Korea and other nations, Laney advocated for the way of peace over the way of war. He was instrumental in helping to diffuse the North Korean nuclear crisis in 1994."

Many Koreans still remember him fondly as a friendly ambassador who truly loved and cared for Korea.

In an interview with the General Board of Global Ministries, Laney paid tribute to his "dear friends in Korea, some of whom have given so much, some actually their lives, for peace."

"And the war was unbelievably tragic for the whole peninsula, just horribly tragic in the cost of human lives and property,” Laney said. “What they had to go through made me realize that this cannot happen again."

Laney quoted a famous verse from the Bible to explain the reason behind his passion for peacemaking: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God." (Matthew 5:9)

After receiving the award, Laney said: “Korea has figured in my life ever since I turned 19. It has figured prominently and in the most profound ways.”

He also shared some lessons in peacemaking. "Peace is not possible as long as we demonize the other side,” he said. “Peace is best achieved through face-to-face conversations. We have to move in peace stage by stage.”

Laney came to Korea in 1947 as part of the United States Army Counter Intelligence Corps and returned to Seoul as a Methodist missionary with his wife Berta in 1959 to serve at Yonsei University. He later served at Emory University as the dean of the Candler School of Theology, 1969-77, and president, 1977-93.