The Words of the Kim Family after 2009
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The Words of the Kim Family after 2009 |
Respected Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon and distinguished guests from around the world, I am deeply honored and grateful to stand here before you today to deliver the congratulatory message.
I cannot fathom the deep and noble meaning of this day, the first anniversary of the Foundation Day of Cheon Il Guk, but as the representative of Korea and the eldest of today's guests, I will offer up these precious words with an overflowing heart.
Distinguished guests from around the world, I was born under Japanese colonial rule. My generation saw both the independence and division of our homeland, and we developed Korea from a country ruined by war into the first-world nation that it is today. As one member of that generation, it is my sincere wish to see the day when peace and unification will come to our nation.
From the day that I took my first steps as a diplomat from the Embassy of Japan in Korea in 1967, I have been serving as a representative of Korea to Singapore, Denmark, Japan, and -many other countries. I have lived these past thirty-six years longing for the day when Korea would rise above the walls of division and the cold war and become a central, unified nation.
Dr.
Chang Shik Yang was master of ceremonies; Archbishop Stallings prayed
and Domitien Ndayizeye, president of Burundi (2003-2005) also gave
congratulatory remarks at the banquet.
Through its surprising economic growth, Korea has grown to become a confident country that can raise its voice on the world stage. However, the dark shadow of division still hangs heavily over the Korean peninsula. As long as the danger of war lurks ahead, the prosperity and development that we have cultivated over the past fifty years is certain to disappear like a mirage overnight. Therefore, if we want to become a country that can truly stand on the center stage of the world, our foremost priority must be peace and unification on the Korean peninsula.
However, regardless of how much our people wished and hoped for unification and peace on the Korean peninsula, no leader with a clear vision and philosophy to lead us to peace stepped forward. The leaders who represented our country spoke only of economic profits and political interests, and were more concerned with war than with national unity.
In that regard, when I saw Reverend Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon's clear vision for the future and international work for peace and unification on the Korean peninsula while working abroad as a diplomat, my heart was stirred to deep reverence and respect. I could not help but feel deep gratitude and respect for them as they risked their lives to overcome countless obstacles, not only for our nation but for world peace.
Although Reverend Sun Myung Moon has now passed away, I feel very hopeful when I see Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon working harder than anyone else to realize a peaceful world. I pray that all of you here today will work together, centering on Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, to bring about unification on the Korean peninsula and peace throughout the world.
I want to end my message today with the sincere wish that this precious ceremony today will become one of great victory and honor, bringing about the happy and peaceful ideal world sought by humankind for so long. Thank you very much