Hyun Jin Preston Moon, third from left, founder and chairman of the Global Peace Foundation (GPF), waves a flag with other participants during a ceremony held to raise public awareness about the "Korean Dream 10 Million" initiative launched by local civic organizations, at Yeouido Park in Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of Global Peace Foundation

On Tuesday afternoon, Yeouido Park in Seoul was filled with crowds rallying for the unification of the two Koreas, in a major event held to raise public awareness about the "Korean Dream 10 Million" initiative launched by eight civic organizations.

Around 20,000 people from different age groups participated in the ceremony hosted by eight local civic groups promoting Korean unification, including Korea Senior Citizens Association, the Korea Freedom Foundation, the Korea National Police Veterans Association, as well as Action for Korea United (AKU), according to event organizers.

Established in 2012, the AKU is a coalition of more than 800 civic, religious, humanitarian and non-profit organizations that focuses on North Korean issues and support the peaceful unification of the two Koreas.

The rally followed the "International Forum on One Korea" held the previous day, also in Yeouido, western Seoul.

Among the guests of the event were Kim Yong-in, head of the Korea National Police Veterans Association, Ahn Chan-il, co-chairman of AKU and Yoo Ja-hyo, head of the Society of Korean Poets.

"Through the Korean Dream, we will be able to achieve a glorious day not only for the Korean Peninsula but also for Northeast Asia and beyond, ultimately realizing world peace," Kim said in his opening speech.

"Many North Korean defectors are here at today's gathering, and our North Korean defectors are working towards the freedom of North Korean residents. I firmly believe that we will be able to put an end to the North Korean regime in two years and hold a unification ceremony in Pyongyang," Ahn said in his speech. Ahn, who also heads the World Institute for North Korea Studies, is a vocal proponent of North Korean human rights.

Yoo said that the division that has lasted for some eight decades cannot separate the Korean people.

"We were originally from the same roots, so the unification of the two Koreas is a natural course of events," he said.

In his keynote speech, Hyun Jin Preston Moon, the founder and chairman of the Global Peace Foundation (GPF), stressed the significance of the rally being held on National Foundation Day, which falls on Oct. 3.

"Foundation Day represents the opening of heaven, a timing in which humanity can realize the very principles and values. This day has tremendously special meaning for the Korean people," he said.

"The most important thing for unification is ownership over identity. National Foundation Day is a holiday also celebrated in North Korea. It is the identity that will bring the Korean people together."

Participants wave flags during a ceremony held to raise public awareness of the "Korean Dream 10 Million" initiative launched by eight civic groups, at Yeouido Park in Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of Global Peace Foundation

Moon underscored that the unification movement is a campaign led not only by government officials or politicians but by the general public. He added that the campaign will gather the voices of not only South Koreans but also those of the Korean diaspora overseas and also the people of North Korea.

He has been campaigning for Korean unification based on the founding ideal of Korea "Hongik Ingan," which is about living for the greater benefit of all humanity.

As a part of his activities, he introduced the "Korean Dream" framework which aims to achieve the unification of the two Koreas and create a common national identity. The initiative is based on the notion that feasible progress on unification will be made by grassroots movements of ordinary people, rather than top-down decisions by policymakers.

Against this backdrop, the Korean Dream 10 million campaign organizing committee was launched with the goal of gathering 10 million people in Korea and overseas promoting unification by 2025. That year will mark the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule that ended in 1945.

And the "10 million Korean Dream campaign organizing committee" was inaugurated through the "2022 Action for Korea United Festival" last year.

The civic groups now plan to hold various events promoting its vision not only in South Korea, but also in other countries in six continents to engage global support for a unified Korea.

A Taekwondo demonstration performance involving some 1,000 teenagers from across the nation is held at Yeouido Park, Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of Global Peace Foundation

Boosting the Korean Dream by empowering the young generation

To realize the Korean Dream project, securing support from the broader population ― especially the young generation ― is critical for campaign organizers. So they are seeking to garner support from young people through the medium of pop culture.

Tuesday's event featured performances by singers including trot singer Song Ga-in, who rose to stardom through the singing competition show "Miss Trot" in 2019. Also on the stage were singers Jo Myung-seop, An Sung-joon, Kim Da-hyun and Kim Soo-chan.

The Rainbow Choir, made up of children from multicultural backgrounds, also performed the song, "Beautiful Country."

Before the main event, a K-pop dance contest for teenagers took place, highlighting the foundation's efforts to encourage the unification movement by empowering young people. A Taekwondo demonstration performance involving some 1,000 teenagers from across the nation was also held during the event, while a photo exhibition raising awareness about human rights issues in North Korea was set up at the venue.