Kyung Hee celebrates 34th anniversary of Int'l Day of Peace

The Grand Peace Hall at Kyung Hee University’s Seoul campus in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul / Courtesy of Kyung Hee University

School contributing to world peace through education, research and practice

By Chung Hyun-chae

Kyung Hee University begins the two-day Peace BAR Festival at its Seoul campus today to celebrate the 34th anniversary of the International Day of Peace.

BAR is an acronym representing the three main values central to this festival ― spiritually Beautiful, materially Affluent and humanly Rewarding.

“In this era of uncertainty, characterized by growth and alienation, prosperity and pain, this event offers us a chance to reflect on the potential of higher education,” said Kyung Hee University President Choue In-won.

Within uncertainty, Choue includes ongoing conflicts between nations as well as global issues, such as climate change.

Under the theme of “On the Possibility of Common Values for Humanity,” the festival aims to provide opportunities for participants ― students, faculty and staff ― to ponder on world peace and co-prosperity in the 21st century.

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon sends a congratulatory message during the Peace BAR Festival 2014 with the theme of “Cosmic Humanity and Public Practice” at Kyung Hee University on Sept. 22, last year. / Courtesy of Kyung Hee University

“The theme is an underlying message of our common value ― humanity,” said Chung Jong-pil, acting rector of the Global Academy for Future Civilizations at Kyung Hee University.

“The title also sends a message that educational institutions should take a more proactive role, beyond their campus boundaries, as they are required to offer solutions for the international issues.”

Festival organizers are trying to answer the pressing question, “How are we to establish a set of common values that will ensure human security and happiness for all?”

The Global Academy organized the event. It is sponsored by the Embassy of the Czech Republic, the Czech Centre Seoul, the Vaclav Havel Library and Nexen Tire.

The festival will begin with an event celebrating the International Day of Peace. The conferment of a posthumous honorary doctorate for former Czech Republic President Vaclav Havel will follow, and then a roundtable discussion.

Choue will give an opening speech, while U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will deliver a congratulatory video message.

On the second day, there will be a forum in which three current and former presidents of local universities will discuss the role of universities and politics in the future.

Other events accompany the main programs. Some exhibitions and forums took place last week and others will be held during and after the festival.

Last Wednesday a College World Peace Week Proclamation Ceremony was held at the Seoul campus, and at the global campus in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, Thursday.

“With the aim of encouraging all our students to ruminate on the issue of world peace and take part in the festival, we’ve decided to announce World peace week,” Chung said.

During the Sept. 16-22 peace week, students can attend forums and exhibitions instead of attending classes if they submit an absence report.

Another event called Peace Talk, run by the Humanitas College Student Planning Committee, took place last Friday. Participants were given a chance to read books and watch videos related to the Peace BAR Festival.

The school invited students from other universities as well to an event titled “UNAI ASPIRE Kyung Hee Peace Forum,” at which they shared opinions on world peace through education.

Kyung Hee’s contribution to world peace

On Nov. 30, 1981, the 157 members of the 36th U.N. General Assembly unanimously endorsed the proposal of Dr. Choue Young-seek, founder of Kyung Hee University, to create the peace day.

This resolution declared that the day invited “all member states, organs and organizations of the United Nations system, regional organizations, non-governmental organizations, peoples and individuals to commemorate in an appropriate manner the International Day of Peace, especially through all means of education, and to cooperate with the United Nations in the observance of that day.”

The special day gives global citizens a chance to think about how higher education can contribute to world peace.

Honoring its founder who proposed the International Day of Peace, Kyung Hee has hosted the Peace BAR Festival for 34 years. It has provided opportunities for the school to think about how it can contribute to world peace as one of the nation’s prestigious higher education institutions.

The school set up the Kyung Hee Graduate Institute of Peace Studies in 1984 in Gwangneung, Gyeonggi Province. All classes and official events at the institute are conducted in English. Its students receive full scholarships covering tuition and accommodation.

“Founder Dr. Choue created the institution to realize his vision for peace,” Chung said.

In addition to regular programs, the school provides special lectures to help students deal with global challenges, such as climate change, nuclear proliferation, energy insecurity and poverty.

The school has also conducted diverse research projects at the Kyung Hee Institute for Human Society since 1976.

According to Chung, the Global Academy for Future Civilizations was also launched to enable more studies about world peace.

As part of practical efforts, the school created a volunteer group called Global Service Corps to send students to serve the communities in other countries.

“They teach the Korean language and build houses for local residents,” Chung said.

“I believe the students’ volunteer activities have provided practical help for solving global issues including poverty, hunger, women and human rights.”