The Peace Foundation, an independent research institute founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, hosted a commemoration ceremony and forum to mark the 80th anniversary of National Liberation Day of Korea at the Jungto Social and Cultural Center in downtown Seoul on 14 August, under the theme “Light and Shadow of 80 Years of Liberation.”
National Liberation Day, a major national holiday in South Korea, is celebrated annually on 15 August, commemorating the end of Japan’s 1910–45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula and the founding of the Republic of Korea. It is known in Korean as Gwangbokjeol (광복절) or “Restoration of Light Day.”
The four-hour Peace Foundation forum brought together spiritual peace aspirations with secular policy expertise in a rare cross-ideological dialogue on Korean reunification. Socially engaged Buddhist leader Ven. Pomnyun Sunim reaffirmed his long-standing aspirations to benefit sentient beings as a peace-maker. He engaged with secular policy expertise in a rare cross-ideological dialogue, with progressive and conservative policy experts debating constitutional reform and North-South engagement strategies.
Established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in 2004, the Peace Foundation is an independent non-governmental organization aimed at working toward permanent peace, free from the threat of war, on the Korean Peninsula, contributing to ending the 60-year division of the two Koreas, and at participating in the path to collaborative prosperity and harmony in East Asia. The foundation engages with experts in various fields to analyze how best to bring about an end to conflict and to cultivate interfaith dialogue on the subject of world peace.
“Today marks the 80th anniversary of our liberation,” foundation chairman Ven. Pomnyun Sunim observed in his opening address. “Counting from the Eulsa Treaty [of 1905], we achieved liberation after 40 years of losing our country, and we’ve now reached a point where the years since liberation are twice as many as the years we were colonized.
“Looking back on the past 80 years, there have been many difficulties. Despite numerous trials and turmoil—including the Korean War [1950–53], the May 16 military coup [in 1961], and the Gwangju Democratization Movement [in May 1980]—today’s Republic of Korea has reached a level we can proudly call our homeland. On this 80th anniversary of Liberation Day, I feel deep pride in the Republic of Korea. . . .”
“Over the 80 years since liberation, we have experienced various lights and shadows. The first and most brilliant achievement is the establishment of the government of the Republic of Korea. . . . Although we faced great difficulties during the Korean War, we achieved direct presidential elections through the April 19 Revolution [in 1960] against the Syngman Rhee dictatorship, the democratization struggles of the 1970s and the Gwangju Democratization Movement against the May 16 military coup and the Yushin dictatorship, and the June Democratic Uprising [in 1987] that toppled the Chun Doo-hwan military dictatorship. After going through the [2016–17] Candlelight Revolution, we have arrived at today’s Republic of Korea. I believe that creating this independent and free democratic Republic of Korea is the first light after liberation.
“The second light is national economic development. We established Five-Year Economic Development Plans and led economic growth by prioritizing heavy industry despite difficult conditions. . . . It was the planning and design of our leaders, combined with the Saemaul Movement spirit in which all citizens tightened their belts and participated, that created today’s Republic of Korea. This is also an important light we have achieved since liberation.
“The third is the recent cultural development represented by the Korean Wave. Our popular culture, centered on dramas, music, and dance, has created a Korean Wave phenomenon around the world. I believe that the Korean Wave will continue to develop in the future. However, I hope that Korea will play a leading role in the world not only in popular culture but also in many other fields such as politics, economy, ideology, society, and healthcare. The Republic of Korea is not a country with a large territory, a large population, or one that has been prosperous since ancient times. Rather, it is a small nation that suffered from colonial rule. However, today it has achieved political, economic, and cultural development that leads the world. I believe this goes beyond Korea’s own development and shows new hope to all people around the world. . . .” (Jungto Society)
“However, there are also three shadows before us: the risk of war, division, and the suffering of North Korean People,” Ven. Pomnyun Sunim explained.
“First, we are a country where war could break out at any time. Among developed countries around the world, there are almost no countries at risk of war breaking out suddenly tomorrow. However, our country is in such a dangerous state that it would not be surprising if war broke out tomorrow morning. The reality that the happiness we enjoy now could be destroyed in an instant. I believe that this is the darkest shadow of our Republic of Korea. That’s why I think that at the very least, there should be no war, and creating a country of peace is the most important task.
“Second is the reality of being a divided nation. When we were under Japanese colonial rule, we were one country. However, immediately after liberation, we were divided into two countries against our will due to the interests of major powers. In the process of dealing with Japan as a defeated nation after the war, the United States managed mainland China and Taiwan, while the Soviet Union managed Manchuria. Regarding the Korean Peninsula in between, the Soviet Union and the US each claimed rights, and eventually divided it in half along the 38th parallel, with the north occupied by Soviet forces and the south by US forces, implementing military governments. . . .
“This problem remains unresolved even after 80 years and has solidified into the reality of two hostile states at war. I believe this reality is the most heartbreaking as we mark the 80th anniversary of liberation. How to peacefully overcome this division in the future remains a great challenge and heavy burden for us. No matter how difficult the process may be, we must overcome this to achieve true liberation.
“Third, 25 million of our compatriots in the North are living in extreme suffering. They live without political freedom and in severe economic poverty. Although 80 years have passed since liberation, the living standards of North Korean residents are not much different from those of poor African countries. How can we continue to turn a blind eye to this pain? How can we help them live more freely and prosperously? This cannot be resolved simply by criticizing North Korean politicians or attributing it to problems with their system. We must find fundamental solutions to this problem. . . .
“How can we have a positive influence on these matters? In the past, due to inter-Korean conflicts and confrontations, we have unknowingly played many roles in making the human rights and lives of North Korean residents more difficult. Therefore, we have a historical responsibility to improve the lives of North Korean residents. More important than whether there is one country or two is how to change the poor lives of our compatriots and neighbors. The suffering that North Korean compatriots are still experiencing 80 years after liberation—isn’t this the great shadow of our history since liberation? . . .” (Jungto Society)
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim then turned his focus to the Buddhist foundation of his work: “When Jungto Society was founded, two goals were established. One was to spread the Buddha’s correct teachings widely so that suffering people could become mentally free through the Buddha’s correct Dharma. The other was to become democratic citizens who, as citizens of the Republic of Korea, realize the peaceful unification of the homeland and the development of democracy as stated in the preamble of the Constitution. Therefore, these social issues are not unrelated to religion, but are social justice and religious practice that must be carried out by religious people who follow the Buddha’s fundamental teachings. This is not something that can be done or not done at will.
“Some people ask: ‘If Jungto Society is a community of Buddhist practitioners, why does it engage in various social activities?’ However, Master Yongseong [1864–1940; the 68th Patriarch in the lineage of Shakyamuni Buddha’s Dharma transmission and the Sixth Patriarch of the Korean Buddhist Revival] emphasized the intellectualization of Buddhism, which means practicing diligently according to the Buddha’s correct Dharma rather than praying for blessings. Master Yongseong also advocated for the popularization of Buddhism, making the Buddhist teachings easily understandable and accessible to everyone, and insisted on lowering the threshold of Buddhism.
“Furthermore, Master Yongseong used the expression ‘Buddhism in daily life’ during the Japanese colonial period. But this didn’t simply mean Buddhist practices in daily life such as placing palms together before meals; rather, it meant the socialization of Buddhism. During the Japanese colonial period, the independence movement was the socialization of Buddhism, and during the dictatorship era, the democratization movement was the socialization of Buddhism. If we inherit Master Yongseong’s will and spirit today, helping those in need and overcoming division to achieve peace can be called the socialization of Buddhism. This is the path we must follow.
“Many people both praise Jungto Society’s activities and point out its shortcomings. As we mark the 80th anniversary of liberation this year, we make a new commitment: Let us erase the shadow of division before the 100th anniversary of liberation. Starting with this year’s Liberation Day, we plan to continue holding Liberation Day events annually, counting down as 100 –20, 100 –19, and so on. While Jungto Society has consistently held March 1 Independence Movement Day events, this is our first year organizing Liberation Day events. From now on, every 15 August Liberation Day, we will assess how much we are erasing the dark shadows of liberation and increasing the brightness of its light.” (Jungto Society)
The Dharma talk and memorial ceremony concluded with cultural performances and memorial displays of the history of modern Korea, before the commemorative Peace Foundation forum began with the theme “Light and Shadow of 80 Years of Liberation.”
The forum, which was live-streamed on YouTube, and moderated by former deputy director of the Korea Institute for National Unification, and Peace Foundation advisory committee member, Cho Min, examined South Korea’s constitutional reform and unification policy on the 80th anniversary of Korean Liberation Day. The key discussion centered around whether to abolish Article 3 of the constitution (which assumes the entire Korean Peninsula as a single territory) to enable a more pragmatic approach to North-South relations.
Presenters included Prof. Choi Cheol-young of Daegu University Law School (80th Liberation Anniversary and Constitutional Amendment Tasks) and senior research fellow Jo Han-beom from the Korea Institute for National Unification (80th Liberation Anniversary and Security Tasks). Discussion panelists included: the director of Rien Economic Research Institute Kwak Su-jong; National Assembly member Yoon Gun-young, Democratic Party; research fellow at Asan Institute for Policy Studies Cha Du-hyeon; and Prof. Lim Ji-bong from Sogang University Law School.
The key discussion centered around whether to abolish Article 3 of South Korea’s constitution (which assumes the entire Korean Peninsula as a single territory) to enable a more pragmatic approach to North-South relations.
On the pro-reform side, presenters argued that the existing constitutional language prevented the recognition of North Korea as a legitimate political entity and should therefore be revised to allow for peaceful coexistence. The more conservative viewpoint defended the territorial clause a mandate for reunification that should not be abandoned.
The forum also sought to address broader strategic questions about how South Korea should position itself globally while managing its relationship with the North Korea. The panelists proposed various approaches, ranging from economic engagement to maintaining political pressure while seeking deeper and more productive North-South dialogue.
Although a clear consensus over such a complex issue amid deep institutional and ideological differences could not be expected within the confines of a four-hour forum, there was a clear meeting of minds on the issue of process: the need for “multi-layered governance” beyond presidential administration; a gradual approach to constitutional reform, beginning with with less controversial amendments; and a focus on reducing tensions before pursuing major policy changes.
However, the Buddhist framework of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim offered more concrete direction, with an emphasis on reducing hostilities. In his closing thoughts, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim remarked: “Peace and unification involve another party. We cannot achieve unification or maintain peace on our own. The country with which we face the risk of war is not Japan or China, but North Korea. At the same time, the country with which we must unify is not the United States nor Japan, but North Korea. North Korea presents a paradox: it is both our greatest adversary and our only partner for unification. Given this multifaceted relationship, it is not advisable to adopt a one-sided perspective. We must understand that this is a special relationship that encompasses both adversarial aspects and the role of a unification partner. Therefore, we should approach this from the perspective of how to reduce the risk of war while increasing mutual cooperation to ultimately move toward unification. . . .
“Some might wonder, ‘Why should we understand North Korea?’ Ultimately, how we understand and engage with North Korea determines whether we can preserve our peace in times of crisis. Currently, the US-China conflict is leading to risks of armed confrontation in the Taiwan Strait. Depending on which side gains advantage in such conflicts, there’s a possibility that it could spill over into disputes on the Korean Peninsula. Without close cooperation between the two Koreas, we could inadvertently become entangled in great power conflicts. Ending the hostile relationship between the two Koreas isn’t for the benefit of just one side. It’s a minimum condition for the survival and prosperity of our nation. This is why we engaged in various dialogues today under the fundamental principle that ‘war must never happen.’
“To ease tensions between the two Koreas, we must first restore emergency communication channels. Even if we don’t immediately establish mutual relations, we should restore communication channels and address other issues gradually. South Korea should be cautious about taking the driver’s seat and rushing to resolve inter-Korean relations at this point. Since North Korea isn’t in a position to readily engage in dialogue, making excessive demands could backfire. If North Korea responds negatively with harsh rhetoric, it would only put our government in a difficult position. Therefore, South Korea needs to play a role in reducing tensions while helping North-US relations progress. In the process, we should seize opportunities to advance inter-Korean issues to the next stage. While territorial clauses and other provisions need adjustment, there’s merit to the view that these aren’t the core obstacles to inter-Korean relations.
“So I hope you won’t be impatient. Since the situation has changed, we need to adjust according to the changed circumstances. But first and foremost, we must maintain a peace-first stance that ‘war must never happen.’ War causes great damage. Unification is a future benefit, while war destroys what we currently have. At the very least, we must protect what we have achieved so far and gradually pursue a better future. . . .” (Jungto Society)
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim is a widely revered Korean Dharma teacher, author, and social activist. He has founded numerous organizations, initiatives, and projects across the world, among them: JTS Korea, an international humanitarian relief organization working to eradicate poverty and hunger; Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddha’s teachings and dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering; Ecobuddha, an organization focused on environmental ethics and sustainable living based on the teachings of the Buddha; and Good Friends, which promotes reconciliation and cooperation between the North and South Korea, and provides humanitarian aid to North Koreans. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim also works closely with the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB).
In October 2020, the Niwano Peace Foundation in Japan presented the 37th Niwano Peace Prize to Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in recognition of his international humanitarian work, intensive environmental and social activism, and his tireless efforts to build trust and goodwill between communities of different faiths and cultures, toward the goal of world peace.*
* Buddhist Monk Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Awarded the 37th Niwano Peace Prize (BDG)
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Pomnyun
The Peace Foundation
Jungto Society
International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB)
Liberation Day 80th Anniversary: We Must First Restore the Inter-Korean Hotline (Jungto Society)
“적극적 평화주의와 열린 민족주의를 헌법에 담자” (주간불교)
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