2015 Award Ceremony

Date : August 28, 2015 10a.m.
Venue : Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas
ⓒ 2015. Sunhak Peace Prize
Welcome Address – Dr. Il Sik Hong, Committee Chairman

Committee Chairman Dr. Il Sik Hong gives the Welcome Address during the Inaugural Sunhak Peace Prize Award Ceremony.
ⓒ 2015. Sunhak Peace Prize
I offer you a very passionate welcome to the inaugural Sunhak Peace Prize Ceremony, and sincerely thank all of you for this wonderful turnout. I especially extend my deep gratitude to those delegates and dignitaries who have come from all across the world to attend the ceremony today, and I would especially like to thank the Speaker of the National Assembly Mr. Ui Hwa Chung who is representing Korea.
In a time when the desire for humanity's peace is becoming more and more imperative, I feel it very significant that the inaugural Sunhak Peace Prize Ceremony is being held here in Seoul, Korea. Even from a historical standpoint, this year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, and the 70th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Korea, and thus makes this event all the more meaningful.
First and foremost, I would like to convey my deep respect and warm congratulations to the two individuals whose dedication and achievements for future peace have earned them the inaugural Sunhak Peace Prize, namely His Excellency Anote Tong, the President of Kiribati, and Dr. Modadugu Vijay Gupta, a fisheries scientist of India.
As you all know the Sunhak Peace Prize was established by Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, the wife of the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, to honor his teachings and accomplishments. From early on, Rev. Moon, based on his "One global family" peace vision of interdependence, mutual prosperity, and universally shared values, devoted his life to building a global community. This vision of peace is rooted from a very basic premise that the human race is one family continuing from generation to generation.
Until the past century the key issues of peace was overcoming war and violence. From the ashes of war, the League of Nations and the United Nations (UN) were established one after the other, and today, the UN is committed in its duty to prevent another world war from happening. However, entering the 21st century, other catastrophes more terrifying than war are threatening humanity. These are natural disasters and various diseases, and in particular global environmental disasters resulting from climate change and energy depletion.
As the present generation pursues growth and development in an endless competition, the Earth, our eternal home, is continuously being polluted and destroyed, and it has now reached such a serious condition that future generations will surely shoulder the weight of this damage. In the wake of this dire crisis, the Sunhak Peace Prize's grand vision, which endeavors to embrace all of humanity, proposes a new horizon of peace.
Peace is a new "civilization." In order to go beyond the limits of civilizations that humanity had constructed until the 20th century and live a truly happy lifestyle we need to create a new culture that meets the needs of the new era. The present generation has been given a historical calling to let go of its greed and selfishness and to transcend race, nation, ideals, and religion in order to create a peaceful civilization based on love for humanity.
In this new century, the Sunhak Peace Prize endeavors to sketch a new picture of peace. Under the banner "One Global Family, Making the World Better for Future Generations," we will strive to resolve humanity's conflicts and lead a new civilization of peace. We will continue to search globally for and encourage righteous and courageous people who practice the value of peace required in this new age characterized by moral legitimacy and logical rationality.
Responding to the call of history the Sunhak Peace Prize is sowing seeds of peace which will go beyond religion, race, country, and culture and continue to spread the new civilization of peace. I ask for your continued support and encouragement in this new path set before us.
Thank you
Congratulatory Address – Hon. Ui Hwa Chung, Korean National Assembly Speaker

Korean National Assembly Speaker Hon. Ui Hwa Chung gives the Congratulatory Address during the Inaugural Sunhak Peace Prize Award Ceremony.
ⓒ 2015. Sunhak Peace Prize
We are gathered here today to honor the heroes of our time who have acted on their compassion for humanity to build a world of harmonious co-existence. I would like to thank Chairman Dr. Hong Il-Sik and the officials of the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee for inviting me to this meaningful occasion.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the end of World War Ⅱ. While mankind has overcome the tragic crisis of potential global destruction, we have yet to write the history of hope as pledged after the end of the war.
Conflicts between nations, regions, races and religions have persisted, while new challenges, including extremist terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, have emerged. At the same time, we are facing other forms of global challenges, such as the economic crisis and climate change.
Now, it is time for mankind to accurately define the current crisis and develop a new solution that will help us build a more livable earth. And I believe that the answer to making a better world lies in the strength of civilization.
In the past, countries competed to accumulate wealth to develop weapons, so that they could become a hegemon at the expense of other nations. That old era is over. The 21st century should be “an era of civilization,” where every country thrives based on a flourishing culture, while working together with other nations.
Furthermore, a country’s competitive pursuit of economic development should be to enable its people to lead a decent life and to allow both the environment and humans to stay healthy and flourish. I believe that it is only then that the global village will be able to continue with a harmonious and continuous development.
President Anote Tong, with the people of Kiribati, has taken the initiative in protecting the marine ecosystem even though his country has been directly affected by rising sea levels induced by climate change. Practicing his remarkable love for mankind, President Anote Tong is truly a guardian of humanity defending our future generations against the climate crisis.
Dr. Modadugu Gupta has devoted his lifetime to developing and spreading aquaculture technology to help feed the poor in Southeast Asia and Africa. Dr. Gupta’s dream and endeavors to build a world without poverty and hunger have already produced miracles in many parts of the world.
We, as humans, have common values, such as the spirit of sharing, consideration and inclusion, that help us build a beautiful and just society. Through the lives of these two men, we find hope that we can restore these intrinsic values in ourselves. I have every confidence that in pursuit of that hope, all humankind will soon move forward toward a life of true co-existence and co-prosperity.
Once again, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the laureates of the Sunhak Peace Prize, and I wish all of you and your families good health and happiness.
Thank you.
Congratulatory Address – H.E. Muhammad Jusuf Kalla, Indonesian Vice President

Indonesian Vice President H.E. Muhammad Jusuf Kalla gives the Congratulatory Address during the Inaugural Sunhak Peace Prize Award Ceremony.
ⓒ 2015. Sunhak Peace Prize
We all need peace. Everybody needs peace. All religions start with expressing greetings of peace. Muslims say “Assalam Alaikum,” meaning “I pray you have peace.” Christians say “Syaloom,” which also means “may you have peace.”
But how can peace be achieved? For us, peace means harmony; harmony with people, harmony with the state, harmony with everybody, and as with the case today, harmony with nature and the earth. It is easy to talk about harmony, but how do we achieve harmony within relationships? Harmony with nature is an important theme because without harmony, we will cause terror to each other. Climate change is one theme that everybody can connect to, and we need a solution of harmony with nature.
Conflict and terrorism mean we need harmony with each other: harmony within the state and harmony between states. My country has had independence for nearly 70 years, almost the same as Korea. We’ve had 15 big conflicts within the country since then. They came about because of inequality; inequality in politics, economy, and society. There is no harmony among different people, resulting in conflicts because of inequality. Inequality between religions is causing conflict in the country.
Now in the world there are so many regions without peace, which means people are suffering every day. We see refugees in many regions of the world in the Middle East and Africa and so on.
Why did that happen? It is because of inequality, and lack of harmony among each other. Conflict can be made worse if it includes ideologies and religions.
This should be resolved between good ideologies and leaders. This happens everywhere and we still witness conflict and terrorism between countries because people need something that can give them a better life.
Today everybody is talking about IS, and before they used to talk about Al Qaeda. What is happening? Because the country is being destroyed from the outside, the government failed to protect the people in the country. Other people come to protect them but teach extreme and radical ideologies.
Why are countries destroying each other? I can name some reasons why. Economic problems, political problems, and natural resources. These things that we need to solve to improve the lives of people throughout the world, because without harmony one country can easily destroy another and spread radicalism, leads to terrorism and makes war.
War is the end of peace, as peace is the end of war. But peace is better than any war, so we should work together, everybody joining hand by hand. In any country that does not have stability, there are wars or people who are suffering, especially women and children. That is why we have come here, to put our minds together, stopping any effort that blocks harmony in our life, destroys each other, and makes our lives more difficult.
Today, we are here to congratulate the Sunhak Peace Prize laureates, Dr. Gupta and Dr. Tong, for their work to make things more productive and harmonious between people and nature, because without harmony, productivity declines and the poor will become poorer, creating disharmony, and disharmony creates conflict. That is why I again thank you so much for this occasion, and I hope that peace and harmony will be our target objective.
Thank you very much again.
Awarding of Medal and Plaque

A commemorative photo shoot following the awarding of the medal and plaque during the Inaugural Sunhak Peace Prize Award Ceremony (from left to right : Founder Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, laureate Kiribati President H.E. Anote Tong, laureate Indian fisheries scientist Dr. Modadugu V. Gupta, Committee Chairman Dr. Il Sik Hong)
ⓒ 2015. Sunhak Peace Prize
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The Little Angels Choir performing “Mong Geumpo Taryeong” and “We Are the World” during the Congratulatory Song of the Inaugural Award Ceremony.
ⓒ 2015. Sunhak Peace Prize -
Soprano Sumi Jo performing “Adagio” and “In the Flower-Shaped Clouds” during the Congratulatory Song of the Inaugural Sunhak Peace Prize Award Ceremony.
ⓒ 2015. Sunhak Peace Prize

Soprano Sumi Jo and the Little Angels Choir performing “Heal the World” together during the Congratulatory Song of the Inaugural Sunhak Peace Prize Award Ceremony.
ⓒ 2015. Sunhak Peace Prize
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기후위기의 최전선에서
평화를 만드는 글로벌 리더A Global Leader Creating Peace
at the Forefront of Climate Change -
미래 식량위기의 대안,
청색혁명의 선구자Proposed an Alternative Solution to the Future Food Crisis,
Pioneer of the Blue Revolution
- Award Ceremony held on August 28 (Friday) 10:00 AM at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas Hotel, Grand Ballroom 5F
- In attendance were Hon. Ui Hwa Chung, Speaker of the National Assembly, and Ms. Sumi Jo, vocalist, among others
- Laureate Plenary Lectures given on August 28 (Friday) 5:00 PM at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas Hotel, Grand Ballroom 5F
The inaugural Sunhak Peace Prize went to two laureates, His Excellency Anote Tong (age 63), President of Kiribati, and Dr. Modadugu Vijay Gupta (age 76), an Indian fisheries scientist. Each were awarded with a medal from founder Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, and a plaque from Committee Chairman Il Sik Hong.
At the Award Ceremony the Congratulatory Addresses were given by the Hon. Ui Hwa Chung, Speaker of the National Assembly of Korea, and H.E. Muhammad Jusuf Kalla, Vice President of Indonesia. Among the more than 1000 in attendance were many current and former heads of state, as well as parliamentarians, government ministers, religious leaders, academicians, media professionals and representatives of civil society.
Emcees for the Sunhak Peace Prize were KBS anchor, Young Il Shin, and Arirang TV international announcer, Saemi Jung. For the Congratulatory Performances, the world famous vocalist Sumi Jo and the Little Angels of Korea offered a series of songs that touched the hearts of all who were gathered.
The Sunhak Peace Prize Committee Chairman Il Sik Hong said, “The present generation must let go of their greed and selfishness, and transcend race, nation, ideals, and religion in order to create a peaceful civilization based on love for humanity.” He shared his aspirations for the Sunhak Peace Prize saying, “Under the motto ‘Making the World Better for Future Generations’ we will go beyond the limits of civilizations that humanity had constructed until the 20th century, and pursuing the peace of the human community, we will earn our spot as a prize that will open new horizons for peace.”
Hon. Ui Hwa Chung, Speaker of the National Assembly of Korea, stated in his Congratulatory Address that, “along with national, regional, ethnic, and religious conflict, there are new global threats, such as climate change, appearing concurrently and threatening the hope for peace. Meanwhile, I believe that the vision of the Sunhak Peace Prize, which aims for a world in which the love for humanity and nature, and the community based on solidarity and communication, has big implications for us all.”
Laureate President Anote Tong, the President of the Republic of Kiribati located in the South Pacific, one of the world’s most vulnerable countries threatened by climate change, is spreading awareness to the international community of the need to control climate change. Even in the wake of the despair that his own country is being submerged under water within the next 30 years, His Excellency has taken the lead in protecting marine ecosystems by designating the world’s largest marine park. In addition, he has taken steps to secure the rights of his own people, as climate refugees who must leave their homeland due to climate change.
Fellow laureate Dr. Modadugu V. Gupta is an Indian fisheries scientist who developed aquaculture technologies as an alternative to the future food crisis, and caused an explosive increase in fish production known to us now as the “Blue Revolution.” As a researcher, he not only developed these technologies, but also disseminated them to those in extreme poverty throughout Southeast Asia, Africa, and other regions, considerably improving their nutritional status and self-sufficiency. In recognition of these achievements, he was awarded with the World Food Prize in 2005, known as “the Nobel Prize for food and agriculture.”
Both laureates were on a rather busy schedule while in Korea, as President Tong gave a speech and participated in a discussion at the “2015 Climate Change Forum” at Seoul City Hall on the 27th (Thursday), and on the 28th (Friday) both laureates participated in the Sunhak Peace Prize Ceremony, followed by the World Summit 2015 international conference special lecture session where they presented their plenary addresses.
The Sunhak Peace Prize is awarded annually to an individual or organization that has made significant contributions to the peace and well-being of future generations.