Seoul, South Korea – The Korean Peninsula Peace Institute at Hanshin University announced on April 23rd that it will hold the ‘2025 Moon Ik-hwan Peace Forum’ on April 25th at 9:30 AM in the small conference room on the basement floor of the National Assembly Library in Yeouido, Seoul. The theme for this year's forum is "South Korea at a Turning Point, the Path to Re-Leap: Democracy, Market Economy, and Peace on the Korean Peninsula."

The forum will be divided into political, economic, and diplomatic sessions. The first session, titled ‘The Korean Peninsula Peace at a Crossroads, the Path of Diplomacy,’ will be followed by the second session, ‘South Korean Democracy in Crisis, the Path to Revival,’ and the third session, ‘The Korean Economy at a Turning Point, the Path to a Third Leap.’ The final roundtable discussion will address the overarching theme, ‘South Korea at a Turning Point, the Tasks for a New Leap,’ bringing together prominent scholars from each field to provide in-depth and integrated perspectives on the challenges and current issues facing South Korean society.

Kang Sung-young, President of Hanshin University, stated, "This will be a meaningful time to jointly explore the direction of democracy and the market economy in South Korean society, as well as peace on the Korean Peninsula. Hanshin University will continue to provide a platform for responsible discussion and action in collaboration with civil society, academia, and the political sphere."

The Korean Peninsula Peace Institute, the host of the forum, was established to inherit Hanshin University's unique identity through scholarship and practice. The Moon Ik-hwan Peace Forum is organized to commemorate the peace spirit of the late Reverend Moon Ik-hwan and to seek directions for South Korean policy.

Reverend Moon Ik-hwan (1918-1994) was a prominent South Korean pastor, theologian, poet, and activist deeply involved in various social movements, including the pursuit of democracy and the reunification of the Korean Peninsula. His philosophy centered on the concepts of Minjung (the people or the masses), peace, and unification, advocating for social justice, reconciliation, and a peaceful resolution to the division of Korea. He believed in the power of the people to shape their own destiny and actively engaged in dialogue and exchanges with North Korea in the pursuit of reunification.

The forum is open to the public without prior registration. For further information, inquiries can be directed to the Hanshin University Korean Peninsula Peace Institute at 02-2125-0126 or [kpa@hs.ac.kr].