Koreans Rally For Peaceful Reunification In Seoul

K-pop Artists, Lawmakers, and International Dignitaries Honor March 1 Independence Movement One Hundred Years Later at Korea's National Assembly Plaza

News provided by

Global Peace Foundation

Mar 01, 2019, 23:05 ET

SEOUL, South Korea, March 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Korean and Japanese singers joined in song against war and violence to open the centenary celebration of the March 1, 1919 Korea Independence Movement at the National Assembly Plaza on March 1. A landmark popular uprising for freedom and self-determination during the era of Japanese occupation, the March 1 Movement was the first non-violent civil protest against colonial occupation and inspired later movements for freedom and civil rights in India, the United States, and South Africa.

Korean lawmakers and international dignitaries, and leading K pop artists celebrate the centennial of the March 1, 1919 Independence Movement with an appeal for reunification, based on the ideals of “living for the greater benefit of humanity” that inspired the Independence patriots.

Following welcoming remarks from Korean lawmakers, Seoul mayor Park Won-son, and American religious leader Robert A. Schuller, Global Peace Foundation Chairman Hyun Jin Preston Moon gave warm tribute to the Korean patriots who, "inspired by the highest ideals, peacefully demonstrated for the right to fulfill Korea's national destiny."

The Unification Declaration proclaimed by more than two million people throughout Korea "did not express enmity toward Japan," Moon said. "Independence leaders wanted more than just freedom from Japanese colonial rule. Guided by the ancient ethos of Hongik Ingan ['living for the greater benefit of humanity'] they believed it was their destiny to create an ideal nation that would be an example to the world."

Moon underscored the importance of youth and the motivating power of music to transcend boundaries and be a force for social change. Expressing the noble vision of a unified Korea through music, he said, could be a revolutionary force for change, not only for Korea but for the world.

The Centennial celebration concluded with the One K Concert featuring leading K-pop artists, who lent their talent to the cause of Korean reunification. The final line-up includes names like: ASTRO (아스트로), DreamCatcher (드리캐쳐), KARD, TRCNG, CLC, DETTO, Laboum(라붐), SF9, Oh My Girl (오마이걸), April (에이프릴), Ha Song Woon (하성운), (G)IDLE (여자)아이들, Kim Jo Han (김조한), Baek Ji Young (백지영), Jung In (정인), ALi (알리), Cheetah (치타), Ben (벤), Seo Ji An (서지안), GB9 (길구봉구), Juniel (주니엘), Sonamoo (소나무)

The Centennial Celebration was organized by the One K Global Campaign Organizing Committee of which the Global Peace Foundation is a member organization. Other centennial events included a convention of international scholars and policymakers, a documentary film, and art and poetry competitions.

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SOURCE Global Peace Foundation