Kyung Hee University System Chancellor Choue In-won speaks during the school foundation’s in-house event celebrating the International Day of Peace at Kyung Hee University Grand Peace Palace in Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of Kyung Hee University System
By Jhoo Dong-chan
Kyung Hee University System held its annual Peace BAR Festival on Friday to celebrate the U.N.-designated International Day of Peace, observed annually on Sept. 21.
BAR stands for Kyung Hee University’s three core values — spiritual beauty, material affluence and humanly rewarding.
During the annual event, participants discussed the world’s various daunting challenges, such as climate change, nuclear threats, famine and social inequality.
“Climate and nuclear issues are surpassing what humanity can handle,” Kyung Hee University System Chancellor Choue In-won said during his keynote speech at Kyung Hee University Grand Peace Palace in Seoul on Friday.
“More than 190 countries signed the Paris Agreement to counter climate challenges facing mankind, but we haven’t witnessed any progress yet. It is now time to pay attention to civic consciousness in resolving it.”
Kyung Hee University also awarded the winner of the inaugural Miwon Peace Prize, honoring the vision of Choue Young-seek, the university’s founder.
The Elders, a nonprofit organization founded by former South African President Nelson Mandela in 2007, won the prize for its “active engagement in addressing regional conflicts and global challenges,” “long careers of dedicated and tireless work” and “commitment to comprehensive and universal peace” as well as to “elevate their international recognition.”
The prize also comes with a 267 million won ($200,000) grant.
Following the prize announcement, the event hosted a colloquium on “The Future of Humanity, The Future of Planet Earth: In Search of a Path to Hope” to explore solutions to global challenges.
“Some terms associated with climate change, such as global warming or tropical night phenomenon, aren’t alarming enough,” Lee Jung-mo, former head of Gwacheon National Science Museum, said during the colloquium.
“We should use some scary words for them, like climate crisis instead of climate change. This will definitely raise awareness.”
