Turn on the news today and you will see countless stories of violence, conflict, and hatred. In 2021, the world has become something unrecognizable, where conflict and violence are more prevalent in the mainstream media and social conversation than anything else. What people desire now is peace.
The Peace Institute is a three story building built in Gapyeong, South Korea and has become a significant location and icon of peace, not only in South Korea, but in the entire world. Established in 2014, the Peace Institute is officially described as a training and educational location, and a meeting venue for peace messengers worldwide. It is built and operated by HWPL, which stands for Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light, and is an UN-affiliated peace NGO with special consultative status at the UN ECOSOC and registered as a UN DGC-associated NGO.
Since its very beginning, the Peace Institute (also called the Peace Palace) has been home to many meetings, conferences, and peace summits where leaders of peace work and humanitarian work, youth and women’s group leaders, community activities, peace messengers, members of the international media, and politicians have gathered together. They gathered together to celebrate the work of peace that has already taken place and to plan together the work of peace that is taking place now.
The institute is the home to a peace work gallery and exhibition that documents the work and awards of Lee, the Chairman of HWPL and the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, and the peace messengers that have worked directly with him to achieve real results in their communities. Lee, in over 31 world peace tours in 7 years and in his visits to over 100 countries, has discussed legitimate and tangible solutions to peace with various leaders. His work has led to fruition in signed MOUs (memos of understanding) and plans for peace education, conflict resolution, and a unity of religions. The institute documents his work as well as the response of those he has helped. There is also a collection of awards and gifts that were presented by peace advocates during Mr. Lee’s travels abroad.
Through this peace institute, Lee desires for all to recognize that peace can be achieved and that many are currently working towards peace, even if it is not very well represented in mainstream media. Although social media may take up all of the attention of people, those that are serious about peace will be able to find this work and regain a sense of renewed hope at the possibility of world peace. Other countries and organizations may focus on having memorials that commemorate peace work done in the past and the cessation of war in various areas, but the ultimate solution is something that still needs to be implemented. There is much work left to be done to bring peace to the world. The Peace Institute is the place created for that to become possible
countries have peace memorials and monuments that commemorate peace, but there is no place like the HWPL Peace Institute that not only displays the history of peace work but also serves as a center point for new peace works that are being done currently. In this day and age of severe conflict and hatred amongst our communities, the HWPL Peace Institute serves as a beacon of hope, inspiring many to dream about true peace to come for all humanity, regardless of their culture, ethnicity, gender, or age.
