Call for creation of Holy Spirit movement for Korean reunification at 12th anniversary of Father Moon’s ascension
A speech given by Rev. Bo-guk Hwang, President of the Family Federation of South Korea, at a large event organized by the Family Federation on 23rd August 2024 in the big indoor arena Hyojeong Cultural Center
Protestant Christianity and Korean independence
World leaders and blessed members from all around the world, […] Let me read from the True Parents’ words:
“The people who were centered on Christianity took the lead in establishing this nation of Korea. In this way, this is one aspect of the great providential significance of Christianity. In the midst of 40 years of Japanese oppression, they voluntarily took a path facing death to establish a path of loyalty and patriotism toward their country.” (Father Moon, 1974)
“Before Korea came under Japanese rule, Protestant Christianity from the United States was introduced. Centered around Pyongyang, they sparked a spiritual movement. Christians across the country who embraced the new culture began the independence movement.” (Mother Moon, 30th June 2024)
Respected leaders and family members, 17th July by the oriental lunar calendar, this year 20th August by the solar calendar was the 12th anniversary of the ascension of Sun Myung Moon, the True Parent of Heaven, Earth and Humankind.
Before his ascension, Father Moon […] spent a long time deep in thought about his hometown. Perhaps he was dreaming of returning to his hometown one day with the country united.
However, Father Moon had to leave before his earnest dream of the unification of North and South Korea was achieved, and he ascended to Heaven.
Now we must awaken a new spirit on the Korean peninsula and finally make that dream of unifying our nation come true.
About 140 years ago, three missionaries representing American Protestantism came to Korea. First of all, there was missionary Horace N. Allen (1858-1932) from the Northern Presbyterian Church, arriving in 1884, and then in 1885, missionaries Horace G. Underwood (1859-1916), also from the Northern Presbyterian Church, and Henry G. Appenzeller (1858-1902) from the Methodist Episcopal Church.
At the time, Korea was in a very chaotic situation, facing pressures from foreign powers and also going through internal changes.
Under Japanese rule
In particular, Japan’s control over Korea strengthened when it won the Russo-Japanese War in 1904-1905.
Japan then deprived Korea of its diplomatic rights through the Eulsa treaty in 1905.
And in 1907, Japan dethroned Korea’s emperor Gojong under the pretext of sending a special envoy to the Hague. Through the Jeongmi Treaty in 1907, they took control of the internal affairs of Korea and disbanded the Korean army. And then through the annexation treaty in 1910, Japan completely took away Korea’s sovereignty.
However, God knew that this crisis would occur and let Christianity take root in advance. Japan tried to invade the sovereignty and rule Korea.
But God prepared Korea to become an independent nation of faith where it could serve God by creating a great revival centered on Christianity here in Korea.
Christian spirit key to independence
Through the Wonsan revival movement in 1903, the Pyongyang revival movement in 1907, and the One Million Souls movement in 1909, many people in Korea accepted the Christian faith. In particular, in the Pyongyang great revival movement which took place at the Jangdaehyeon church in 1907, there were earnest prayers from the people in the midst of their suffering. A powerful wave of the Holy Spirit swept through the church, bringing lots of repentance.
From that time, on the Korean peninsula, a great revival movement spread throughout the nation. Korean Christianity grew explosively. Pyongyang came to be known as the Jerusalem of the East.
That movement, along with Christian spirituality, raised the historic and national consciousness of the Korean people. That became an important foundation for the independence movement.
The desire for independence was strong in the spirit of Korea at that time, riding on the wave of the Holy Spirit. The March 1 movement was an important focal point in the independence movement.
Many Christians who were moved by the Holy Spirit participated in the March 1 Independence Movement. Among the 35 national representatives who wrote Korea’s Declaration of Independence, 16 of them were Christians. About 200,000 Christians, equivalent to 1% of the Korean population, participated in the independence movement.
18% of those imprisoned and 65% of the females who were imprisoned were Christians. Even as 7,509 people lost their lives, the desire for independence did not subside.
This was the result of the Christian spirit, the willingness to sacrifice one’s life to achieve national freedom, following the example of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and love.
In this way, the independence movement, which was led by Christians, who made up 1% of the population, spread throughout the Korean peninsula, achieving a surprising result of reaching 10% of the people participating in the independence movement.
One characteristic of the March 1 movement is that the central persons were religious people. Of the 33 national representatives, 16 were Christians, 15 were from the Cheondogyo [Editor’s note: indigenous Korean religion], and two were Buddhists.
They became pioneers who guided the national spirit and raised the torch of the March 1 movement. They pointed their faith towards patriotism and rose up with a life or death fighting spirit to take responsibility for their nation. In this way, the March 1 Independence Movement in 1919 awakened the national consciousness for independence, which remained alive until the liberation of the country was finally achieved in 1945.
Behind this were righteous Christian people who created the spirit of the times with their sense of history.
North-South Unification
This year marks the 71st anniversary of the armistice agreement at the end of the Korean War. It has been 71 years since that agreement was signed on 27th July 1953.
As these 70 years have passed since the division of the south and the north, the Jerusalem of the east, where the fire of the Holy Spirit had burned so fiercely, has suffered under communist rule for 70 years and has not been able to freely call out the name of God.
The North Korean regime threatens peace on the Korean peninsula and world peace with nuclear weapons.
Although South Korea has achieved economic revival with the introduction of liberal democracy, it faces a population crisis, with a falling birth rate and the spread of materialism and individualism, losing track of values, a rise in youth delinquency and family breakdown.
Now with one of the world’s lowest birth rates, the Korean peninsula faces a greater crisis than ever before. In order to overcome this crisis, all religious people, including Christians, must rise up and awaken a new spirit of this time centered on God‘s will. South and North Korea must meet again centered on God‘s will.
The North-South Unification Movement centered on God, the heavenly unified Korea movement, is a new independence movement and a new spirit of our times. It is a God’s fatherland restoration movement that seeks a nation and its righteousness.
Babylonian exile
In the past, Israel lost its faith in God and was divided into a northern and a southern part. The northern part of Israel was destroyed by Assyria. The southern part Judah was taken by the Babylonian empire and held captive for 70 years. But when the time of the providence was right, God liberated the Jewish people.
“This is what the Lord says: ‘When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfil my good promise to bring you back to this place.’” (Jeremiah 29:10)
This kind of history does not only happen to the Jewish people. The Korean people are another chosen people that Heaven has prepared.
Therefore, when the time comes, works will also happen on the Korean peninsula. It has already been 70 years since the division of the south and the north. Just as God liberated the Jewish people from Babylon after 70 years, Heaven is now bringing about the heavenly fortune of the unification of the north and south.
The issue is human responsibility. Are we ready for what Heaven desires?
The unification of North and South Korea can never be achieved through human effort alone. A movement to invite God, our Heavenly Parent to the Korean peninsula must begin. A Holy Spirit movement must begin allowing us to strongly experience the Heavenly Parent as the Parent of humanity, who loves humanity so much.
The people of South and North Korea must realize that they are brothers and sisters as children of God. A true desire to live together must arise from the depth of their hearts. We must create a history of unity through tears of true love.
A new Holy Spirit movement for Korean Unification
There was a powerful Holy Spirit movement centered around Wonsan and Pyongyang that arose over 100 years ago and awakened the spirit of the times for national independence.
In the same way now, the Family Federation and righteous Christians must unite in interfaith cooperation and ignite a new Holy Spirit movement for the unification of the south and the north.
We must respond to the spirit of our times – the vision for a heavenly unified Korea.
Tonight, there will be a unity ceremony for Christian pastors and Family Federation pastors during this night vigil.
This will be the time of a starting point for Christianity and the Family Federation to become one to move towards the unification of South and North, centered on God – a heavenly unified Korea.
2025 is the 80th anniversary of our liberation from Japan. The number eight is the number for a new start. A liberation with division of the north and the south is not the true liberation that Heaven wants for Korea.
Now, it is a time to achieve the true liberation that Heaven desires, a true liberation of God‘s fatherland. Through the unification of the South and the North, let us reconcile North and South Korea with God‘s true love and achieve the unification that Heaven desires.
As it says in Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
I will conclude my message today with this.
Thank you very much.