Youth from 43 countries gathered in Seoul for an international exchange program that used Korea’s historical and cultural heritage as a classroom for peace.
Through visits to sites associated with the Korean War and the division of the Korean Peninsula, as well as places showcasing Korea’s rich cultural traditions, participants explored the values of peace, coexistence, and mutual understanding.
From the War Memorial of Korea, which preserves the memories of war and division, to Insadong, Gwanghwamun, and Gyeongbokgung Palace, familiar places in Korea became learning spaces where young people from around the world reflected on the meaning of peace and their role in building it.
Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), an organization in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), held the HWPL International Youth Peace Program over three days, from September 17 to 19.
Under the theme “We, the Living Legacy of Peace,” the program followed three stages: Discover, Learn, and Act. Its goal was to encourage participants to translate the values of peace they discovered and learned in Korea into practical initiatives within their own communities.
On September 17, the first day of the program, participants visited the War Memorial of Korea, including the Korean War Room, the UN Room, the UN Monument, and the Statue of Brothers. The visit offered an opportunity to reflect on the lasting wounds war inflicts on individuals, families, and younger generations.
Organizers invited participants to consider two questions: “What does peace mean to me?” and “What can I do to protect it?” The reflection encouraged them to recognize that while previous generations of young people endured the sacrifices of war, today’s youth can take an active role in building and sustaining peace.
Mrs. Laisani Sepo, Chairwoman of the National Youth Council of Fiji (NYCF), reflected on the visit, saying, “The young ones were trying to protect their areas and willing to give up their lives even though they saw the risk, the death in front of them. It takes strong willpower to keep moving forward despite the challenges and criticism we may face in building peace.”
At Insadong, participants experienced traditional Korean culture firsthand. The activity illustrated how understanding unfamiliar cultures can foster respect for differences and create opportunities for meaningful exchange among people from diverse backgrounds.
Mr. Alwand Talaat Jawhar Caluri, Program Director of the Public Aid Organization in Iraq, emphasized the importance of creating opportunities for dialogue among young people from different backgrounds.
“It is important to provide a safe and inclusive space where young people from around the world and from different religious backgrounds can share their thoughts and concerns about peace,” he said. “This kind of gathering can serve as a platform for exchanging best practices and learning from one another, allowing young people to benefit from each other’s experiences.”
At Gwanghwamun and Gyeongbokgung Palace, participants explored the meaning of peace through five key values: Inheritance, Respect, Responsibility, Change, and Harmony.
Drawing on the examples of King Sejong the Great, the Hall of Worthies (Jiphyeonjeon), and the creation of Hangeul, Korea’s writing system, participants examined how leadership, learning, and thoughtful decisions can bring about lasting change for society and future generations.
Each participant selected one of the five values they wished to put into practice and recorded specific actions they intended to take upon returning home.
Mr. Andrew Junior Mwima, Chief Executive Officer of the Mental Health and Anti-Drug Abuse Organisation, highlighted the importance of youth leadership in peacebuilding.
“Young people are the ones sent to war. It means the young people can be the ones leading peace initiatives on the front lines,” he said. “Youths are not the future leaders. We are the leaders of today.”
His remarks underscored the importance of empowering young people to take the lead in peace initiatives and community development.
The Discover phase on September 17 led into the Learn phase on September 18. The day's roundtable discussion, themed “The Role of Youth in Spreading a Culture of Peace,” explored how young people can help prevent religious beliefs and ethnic identities from being used to justify violence and conflict.
The discussion drew on Articles 8, 9, and 10 of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW), which address principles related to preventing war, resolving conflict, promoting peace among religious and ethnic groups, and fostering a culture of peace.
The roundtable was followed by the International Religious Peace Academy for Youth Leaders. Through an examination of the scriptures and teachings of Buddhism, Confucianism, Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism, participants broadened their understanding of different religious traditions and cultural perspectives.
These activities emphasized the importance of dialogue, mutual respect, and understanding as foundations for peaceful coexistence.
Act: Turning Lessons into Community Initiatives
The final phase, Act, took place on September 19, focusing on translating the values discovered and learned during the previous two days into practical action.
Participants shared case studies of regional activities carried out through the Youth Engagement & Peacebuilding Working Group (YEPW), a platform through which young people develop and implement their own peace initiatives.
Building on these experiences, participants discussed strategies for implementing regional YEPW projects, refined their action plans for 2027, and clarified their individual roles in advancing peacebuilding efforts within their communities.
The three-day program was designed as a journey from reflection to action: participants discovered the importance of peace through the memory of war, learned the value of understanding and respect through cultural and religious exchange, and connected lessons from history with their responsibilities in the present.
HWPL Secretary-General Kang Tae-ho emphasized that the experience should extend beyond Korea and inspire action around the world.
“Youth from around the world directly encountered the necessity of peace on this land of war and division,” he said.
He added, “Peace is not a legacy we inherit, but a legacy we must pass on to future generations forever. Youth peace leaders are the ones who must carry that forward. I hope participants will take the answers they found in Korea and turn them into action in their own countries.”
Ms. Sarah Vermaut, a law student at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) in Belgium, reflected on the importance of overcoming self-doubt and taking initiative.
“I am just a student. Why would they listen to me? But if we think like that, we cannot change anything,” she said.
Vermaut added that she hopes to share what she learned with her peers and organize activities in which other young people can participate.
Through the program, participants were encouraged to see peace not merely as an ideal to aspire to, but as a shared responsibility that requires sustained commitment and practical action. By connecting Korea’s history with cultural understanding and youth-led initiatives, HWPL sought to inspire a new generation of peacebuilders prepared to carry the values of peace into their communities and beyond.