World Summit 2025 Program Summary
- khwang562
- May 10
- 6 min read
Updated: May 13
Seoul, South Korea – World Summit 2025 was held in Seoul, Republic of Korea, from April 10 to 13 under the theme “Contemporary Challenges to World Order: Establishing a New Era of Peace and Prosperity.” In many ways, this Summit marked a departure for UPF. While previous summits have hosted international academic conferences, interreligious assemblies and the Sun Hak Peace Prize awards, this summit also featured the participation of intergovernmental bodies, such as FOPREL and CENSAD, as well as the inauguration of the Interparliamentary Speakers Conference.
April 10
UPF’s World Summit 2025 opened with a banquet on April 10. UPF International President Dr. Michael Jenkins guided the program. Dr. Yeon-Ah Moon, chair of the World Summit Organizing Committee, welcomed all on behalf of UPF founders Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon and her late husband Rev. Sun Myung Moon. Dr. Moon elaborated that the World Summit’s trans-national, trans-religious, and trans-racial nature is a direct result of its vision to manifest “one family of humankind.” UPF Chair Dr. Charles Yang added further welcoming remarks, followed by congratulatory remarks from dignitaries from around the world.
April 11
The first full day of the conference featured primarily the Sixth Sun Hak Peace Prize Award Ceremony and the World Summit Opening Ceremony. Two plenary sessions followed later in the day; meanwhile, concurrent programs were offered for FOPREL and the Interparliamentary Speakers Conference.
The Opening Ceremony, entitled "Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the United Nations," brought together distinguished individuals to address the goal of achieving peace guided by UPF’s core principles – mutual prosperity, interdependence, and universally shared values. Distinguished speakers included H.E. Philemon Yang, president of the UN General Assembly, who sent a video message; Madame Signe Zeikate, first lady of Cosa Rica; H.E. Goodluck Jonathan, former president of Nigeria; H.E. Andres Pastrana, former president of Colombia; H.E. Macky Sall, former president of Senegal; Hon. Newt Gingrich, former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, H.E. Boris Tadić, former president of Serbia, and H.E. Jimmy Morales, former president of Guatemala.
Plenary Session One featured prominent speakers including former presidents, vice presidents, and other high-level dignitaries. The session concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UPF and CENSAD, a regional organization representing 25 nations and governments across northern Africa. (UPF report: https://www.upf.org/post/global-leaders-address-the-opening-of-world-summit-2025)
Plenary Session Two focused on a “Vision for an Asia Pacific Union Forum.” Congratulatory remarks were offered by Hon. Agung Laksono, former speaker of the House of Representatives of Indonesia, and H.E. Chaiyong Satjipanon, former Thai ambassador to Washington D.C., UN Geneva, South Korea, Australia, Italy and Indonesia. A progress report on the Asia Pacific Union Forum was given by Hon. Ek Nath Dhakal, chairman of UPF Asia-Pacific.
Building on a series of conferences held over the past year, most notably the International Parliament for Tolerance and Peace conference hosted by the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia in November 2024, this session highlighted the recently launched Universal Peace Charter.
The Sixth Sunhak Peace Prize Award Ceremony
Dr. Thomas Walsh, co-chair of the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee, opened the Award Ceremony by warmly welcoming the guests, then introduced H.E. Ban Ki-moon, former secretary-general of the United Nations and recipient of the Sunhak Founder’s Award in 2020, who addressed the audience. H.E. Macky Sall, former president of Senegal and Sunhak Laureate 2020, expressed his gratitude to Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon for founding the prize and highlighted how it inspires continued efforts towards the ideal of peace and human fraternity.
This year’s awardees included:
– Ms. Wanjira Mathai, Africa director of the World Resources Institute and chair of the Green Belt Movement, which has planted over 51 million trees as of 2023. (Interview: The Earth & I)
– Mr. Hugh Evans, co-founder of Global Citizen, who has turned advocacy into action by mobilizing billions of dollars through concerts and campaigns, including during the HIV/AIDS crisis in South Africa, and later during the Covid-19 pandemic.
– Mr. Patrick Awuah, Jr., founder of Ashesi University in Ghana, whose vision is to educate ethical, entrepreneurial young leaders capable of driving innovation and prosperity across Africa.
Additionally, the 2025 Sunhak Founder’s Awards were presented to:
– H.E. Goodluck Jonathan, former president of Nigeria, honored for his lifelong commitment to strengthening democratic governance in West Africa.
– Prophet Samuel Radebe, founder of The Revelation Church of God in South Africa, recognized for promoting religious harmony and reducing interreligious conflict through mutual respect and dialogue.
(More at https://www.upf.org/post/award-ceremony-in-seoul-honors-sunhak-peace-prize-laureates and http:/sunhakpeaceprize.org/SunhakPeacePrize2025/index.html)
Special Meeting of FOPREL
The Forum of Presidents of Legislative Powers of Central America, the Caribbean and Mexico (FOPREL) held it’s 31st Extraordinary Meeting on April 11, to discuss strategies for the implementation and harmonization of legislation among its nine member countries. FOPREL, which signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with UPF in 2016, is now in the process of granting UPF Observer Organization status with FOPREL.
April 12
For the second full day, participants could choose between a range of different sessions, some of which were held elsewhere in Seoul, some outside the city. This included a session on the environment and climate change; a series of sessions on Women and Peace; an international interfaith prayer meeting; and the General Assembly of the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace. At the same time, presidents of parliament from some 40 countries were holding a series of sessions which eventually culminated in the formation of the Interparliamentary Speakers Conference (ISC).
Climate Change and the Environment
This program was organized by the Hyojeong International Foundation for Environmental Peace (HJIFEP). Under the overarching theme "Climate Change, Environmental Crises and the Future of the Earth," experts addressed critical topics including "Climate Change, Environmental Crises and the International Community's Response," as well as "Advances in Science and Technology and the Demand for a New Worldview." Dr. Sun Jin Moon delivered the Founder’s Message, stressing the urgent need for leadership in confronting environmental issues through global cooperation. (UPF report: https://www.upf.org/post/experts-suggest-ways-to-manage-climate-crises)
Women and Peace
This session, hosted by the International Association of First Ladies for Peace (IAFLP), opened with speakers addressing "The Role of Women toward a Hopeful Future of Peace and Prosperity," followed by a celebration of the 33d anniversary of the founding of the Women's Federation for World Peace International (WFWPI) under the banner of "Women Charting a Peaceful Future Through Cooperation, Reconciliation and Healing."
The program featured several outstanding musical renditions before the WFWPI signature event, the Bridge of Peace Ceremony. Mrs. Kaeleigh Moffitt, regional president of WFWP North America, explained the ceremony’s symbolism: when two individuals representing different groups, such as colonial powers and their conquered territories or historical enemy nations like Japan and Korea, physically walk to meet each other in the middle of the bridge, it demonstrates the power of reconciliation and healing through personal connection. (UPF report: https://www.upf.org/post/first-ladies-highlight-women-s-role-in-securing-peace-and-prosperity WFWP report: https://www.wfwp.org/news/introduction-to-the-wfwpi-33rd-anniversary-report)
The Global Role of Religion
This afternoon session was held outside Seoul at the Hyo Jeong Cultural Center in Gapyeong. The host, the Korea Religions Association (KRA), had gathered leaders of all faiths from across South Korea. These were joined by several hundred religious leaders from the World Clergy Leadership Conference (WCLC). In a spirit-filled atmosphere, clergy participated in an international interfaith prayer meeting and discussed “The Role of Religion for Global Coexistence and Prosperity.”
The clergy leadership team included Rev. John Jackson and Dr. Mark Abernathy. Notable speakers included Dr. Yeon Ah Moon, Pastor Paula-White Cain, Bishop Dr. Munib A. Younan, Imboni Samuel Radebe, and Ms. Katrina Lantos Swett. Many of these religious leaders had participated earlier that day in a separate event focused on the strengthening of the family. During the event, 5,000 couples from 90 countries participated in a Holy Marriage Blessing Vow, pledging to build ideal families rooted in love, fidelity and peace.
Events at the National Assembly Building
The other major events on the afternoon of April 12 were held at the National Assembly building. The International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP) was first launched in 2016 in this building. This time parliamentarians from around the world came together again to share their vision and their efforts, and to witness the launching of a new intergovernmental body comprised of parliamentary presidents.
Despite the ongoing political turmoil in South Korea, Rep. Chung Dong-young of the Democratic Peace Party and Rep. Na Kyung-won of the People Power Party extended a warm welcome to the IAPP and some 40 speakers from various legislatures around the globe, current and former heads of state, and other dignitaries who convened at the Republic of Korea National Assembly.
April 13
On April 13, attendees of World Summit 2025 were invited to the entrance ceremony for the Cheon Won Gung in Gapyeong County. The building includes a museum and serves as the administrative headquarters for activities and projects initiated by the founders, Rev. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon. The ceremony was officiated by Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, fondly known as “Holy Mother Han.”
Following the entrance ceremony, the nearby Cheong Shim Peace World Center stadium filled to capacity as viewers watched a musical drama, The Korean Epic, which traces the 5,000-year history of the Korean people from their mythic beginnings through generations of struggle and perseverance. The performance served to remind everyone that North and South Koreans have a shared heritage and enduring kinship.
