Prominent News Outlets Interview Unificationists
In light of True Parents’ birthday celebration in February, several prominent Korean media and news outlets conducted interviews with Unificationists who had gathered in Korea for both the celebration and concurrent commemorative and administrative events.
As a whole, these interviews provided Unificationists with an opportunity to share more deeply about our vision, culture and activities, indicating the far-reaching and intricate international initiatives begun by True Parents to serve the world.
We have collected excerpts and links to translations of these reports, originally published in Korean, here for your perusal.
In advance of February’s celebrations, both the Korean branch of Newsweek and the national weekly magazine the Weekly Chosun interviewed Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) Korea President, Kyeung-Seuk Ryu. In both interviews, Dr. Ryu offered insights into the current status and vision of the Unification movement in the wake of True Father’s ascension and under True Mother’s leadership. The following is an excerpt from his Newsweek interview.
“Dr. Hak Ja Han had proclaimed ‘Vision 2020’ in the sense for us to do our best and bring diverse change before the year of 2020, which will also be the 100th anniversary of the birthday of Reverend Moon. From the passing of Reverend Moon until the year of 2020, the first three years have been a period of stabilizing internal systems. The remaining four years shall become a period of externally leaping forward with the goal of ‘Four Years of Hope.’”
Dr. Ryu was also interviewed about True Parents’ Birthday after the February celebrations by the Weekly Dong-A, another national weekly magazine. As an introduction to the article the author of the interview wrote the following description,
“Just as in the West, the birthplace of Christianity, the birthday of Jesus Christ is celebrated on December 25, and one week later, the new year starts on January 1, the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification starts their new year with a celebration of the birthdays of Reverend Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han on January 6 of the lunar calendar.
“The birthdays of Reverend Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han, revered as the True Parents in the Family Federation, coincidentally, or maybe inevitably, fall on the same date of January 6 on the lunar calendar. When this date is changed to the solar calendar, this birthday will be celebrated on February 13 in 2016, with Foundation Day on February 20.”
FFWPU President of Japan, Mr. Eiji Tokuno, also reflected on True Parents’ birthday celebration and Korea-Japan relations in an interview featured in the Weekly Kyunghyang.
“First of all, the most magnificent event that the Family Federation hosts is the Birthday Celebration of Reverend Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han, which both fall on the same day. 150 active congressmen from Korea, Japan and all over the world participated in the International Leadership Conference event that took place after this celebratory event, and together seek solutions to issues relating to world peace, such as ‘climate change’ and ‘Peace and Stability in Northeast Asia and on the Korean Peninsula.’”
The Sisa Journal of Korea featured an interview with the Hon. Ek Nath Dhakal, the Minister of Peace and Reconstruction in Nepal, who attended True Parents’ birthday celebration in February. In the interview Mr. Dhakal discussed the value of building stronger relations between Nepal and South Korea. Mr. Dhakal was introduced to the Unification movement as a college student and served as the president of FFWPU-Nepal before being elected to the Nepali congress in 2008.
“It is said that Nepal is taking even more interest in Korea as time goes by. One of many reasons is that Korea was looked upon as a model of development before Nepal, a country with future development ahead. Minister Dhakal explained, ‘Korea is the only country that went from a nation receiving help to a nation giving help within half of a century. It is not a big country, but has become a great economic power, ranking 14th in the world. Also, just as Korea is located between China and Japan, Nepal is located between China and India. Nepal wishes to learn the paradigm change that Korea has pursued so far.’”
Picking up on the story not only of True Parents’ birthday but of their efforts to foster peace around the world, the monthly magazine Shindong-A featured an interview with President of Universal Peace Federation (UPF) International, Dr. Thomas Walsh. Dr. Walsh explained of True Parents,
“It is important to understand how much these two people are respected and loved by mankind, the world over. They are the source of change that inspires us to reevaluate our lives. They may be known as philanthropists and humanitarians, but they are also spiritual leaders of this time who proposed the vision that would change the history of many people and lead them into an everlasting world of peace. Those who understand this stand by them as their True Parents and True Teachers.”
Finally, the Weekly Newsis featured an interview with a veteran Unificationist missionary to several African nations and current president of UPF-Africa, Mrs. Katherine Rigney. Mrs. Rigney had come to Korea to attend True Parents’ birthday celebration.
“To the question of ‘Did you ever think of moving to another safer and more peaceful region?’ she said, ‘I have never thought that way.’
“‘In fact, I was grateful to Reverend Moon and Dr. Han for giving me a troubling and difficult path to walk on, and put even more effort into spreading their words. Where would I go without the bright smiles of the Africans, who were slowly opening up their hearts that had been closed so tightly, and who were accepting our messages with kind and pure hearts?’”