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- The Holding of the Inaugural Yeoju Eco-Forum on the Theme: Interfaith Dialogue for Ecological Civilization
The 2019 Yeoju Eco-Forum, held from October 3-5 at SunValley Hotel in Yeoju City, was regarded as a great success. The event was hosted by the Yejou Eco-Forum Organizational Committee and supported by Yeoju City, Daesoon Jinrihoe Yeoju Headquarters, Daejin University, and IPDC (Institute for Postmodern Development of China). The Yejou Eco-Forum Organizational Committee was led by Co-chairs, Yun Eun-Do, President of Daesoon Jinrihoe Yeoju Headquarters, and Dr. John Cobb, Professor Emeritus of Claremont School of Theology, President of the IPDC, and an environmental movement activist. Supporting them, were the Vice Co-Chairs, Lee Myeon-Jae, President of Daejin University, and Dr. Wang Zhihe, Director of IPDC. During the forum, there were about 500 participants and attendees including major speakers such as Audrey Kitagawa, the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Parliament of the World Religions (PWR), Lee Hang-Jin, Mayor of Yeoju City, and Lee Hyeon-Yeong, Chair of the Korea Religions Association. There were also individuals affiliated with the Korea Environment Corporation, scholars of ecology and environmental studies, religious leaders, professionals in fields related to the environment, and regular Yeoju citizens. All participants from both at home and abroad showed their great interest in During his opening address, Dr. John Cobb remarked, “This forum aims to build an integrative interfaith movement to deal with global environment crisis. The most important question that we have to ask ourselves is: ‘What if we stop competing against one another and begin to work together for the common good?’” His address was followed by a welcoming address from President Yun Eun-Do who said “In this forum, I hope that we can make a foundation for a civilization where people and nature live in Sangsaeng.” He further expressed his appreciation by saying, “It is our honor to hold the Yeoju Eco-Forum in Yeoju city where Daesoon Jinrihoe headquarters is located, and to have renowned scholars and religious leaders from all over the world and Yeoju citizens share their valuable thoughts on ecological civilization.” On the first day, Dr. John Cobb presented a keynote speech wherein he claimed that “... religions can grow together while they learn from each other.” 27 additional presentations took place in the afternoon in parallel sessions. Among those, Dr. Wang Zhihe presented a paper on the theme “Chinese Tong Thinking and its Relevance to Interfaith Dialogue and Ecological Civilization,” and Park In-Gyu of Daesoon Jinrihoe Yeoju Headquarters presented paper on “Ecological Thought of Daesoon Jinrihoe.” Later during the banquet, Dr. Philip Clayton of Claremont School of Theology spoke about “The Religions of Nonviolence and Ecological Civilization.” Then, several members of the Caodai Youth Orchestra performed both liturgical and traditional music and then a Miao (Hmong) musician from China also played some music on a traditional instrument. One particular highlight occurred when the Caodai musicians played ‘Arirang,’ a representative traditional Korean song, to celebrate the grand opening of the Yeoju Eco-Forum. On the second day, religious leaders from Buddhism, Caodai, American African Church, Orthodox Church, Hindu American Foundation, and Weixin Shengjiao delivered congratulatory messages. It was followed by 28 presentations during the afternoon’s parallel sessions. One special event that day was the tea ceremony performed by a Chinese Miao leader. On the last day, Co-Chairs, President Yun Eun-Do and Dr. John Cobb announced the closure of Yeoju Eco-Forum and promised further harmony and cultural exchanges among western and eastern religions as they read the Yeoju Eco-Forum Declaration.
2019-11-03
- The Chair of PoWR visited Daesoon Jinrihoe Yeoju Headquarters Temple Complex
On October 2, 2019, Audrey Kitagawa, the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the PoWR, visited Daesoon Jinrihoe Yeoju Headquarters Temple Complex prior to the opening of the 2019 Yeoju Eco-Forum. Previously, she served as an Advisor to the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict at the United Nations. Currently, she is the Chair of the UN Task Force and the Programmatic Areas Standing Committee of the PoWR. During her meeting with President Yun Eun-Do, Audrey Kitagawa said that it was the first time for her to engage in an exchange with religious groups in Asia although she hasactively interacted with many while in Europe, Australia, and the USA. She said “Through this forum, I hope that many resources owned by various religions of the east and the west can be used for the harmony and peace of the world.” She also said “I wish each of the religions go beyond their own ideologies and form a discourse on the solution for ecological crisis and the realization of world peace.” In his response, President Yun Eun-Do said “We are already trying to practice the idea of Sangsaeng, and I will positively consider expanding interfaith dialogue on harmony and Sangsaeng.” Meanwhile, the PoWR acts as a trans-religious organization that connects religions to social groups and provides ethical and universal principles to facilitate cooperation among many different groups of people. Also, the PoWR carries out various activities in close collaboration with institutions related to UN’s projects on Environmentalism or World Hunger.
2019-11-03
- Bundang Jesaeng Hospital Establishes a Sistership with Vietnam’s Hanoi Tumor Hospital
On September 18, 2019, Bundang Jesaeng Hospital entered into sistership with Vietnam’s Hanoi Tumor Hospital. The agreement began last July when Seongnam City and a hospital in Seongnam sent representatives to visit a hospital in Hanoi City to establish an MOU in a move to build up a system of international medical cooperation. The agreement included articles aimed at fostering the expansion and development of beneficial collaboration between the two parties based on mutual equality, mutual reciprocity, cooperative communication on common interests and key projects, detailed actualization of businesses, planning and management of a training program, the provision of advanced medical technologies and services, and the development of global medical projects. Che Byeong-Gug, the Director of the Bundang Jesaeng Hospital, remarked during the agreement ceremony, “Vietnam and Korea maintain fraternal bonds as they not only actively exchange in fields of industry but also in fields of human resources and manufacturing. This fraternity has become an example of successful relationship between nations. I am sure that this sistership agreement will further contribute to the development of both countries.”
2019-11-03
- Bundang Jesaeng Hospital and Hanoi Oncology Hospital in Vietnam Enter into an MOU
On July 17th, Bundang Jesaeng Hospital signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Hanoi Oncology Hospital and Seongnam City. This agreement was formally organized by Seongnam City in order for Seongnam City regional hospitals to transfer advanced medical technologies to Vietnamese medical practitioners and establish a system of international medical cooperation. The contents of the agreement are as follows: Seongnam City will provide administrative and financial support for medical staff training and the exchange of technology and information to establish a system of international medical cooperation. Bundang Jesaeng Hospital constitutes and operates a training program suitable for Vietnamese medical care, and Hanoi Oncology Hospital will be part of this mutual cooperation for the selection and dispatching of excellent medical staff who will participate in the training program and other business entities that will further develop international medical businesses. Chae Byeong-Guk, the director of the hospital, said, "We are pleased to have reached an agreement with Vietnam, a country similar to our own in terms of national sentiment and a booming economy; although their country is younger than ours in terms of seizing their economic potential." , and added “ In the past, when we were in difficult times, Korea's medical care grew thanks to help offered by developed countries. I will do my best to be a strong chief engineer so that I can attain various forms of help."
2019-07-29
- Rural Home Improvement Volunteer Activities of Human Architecture Engineering Students from Daejin University
From June 24th to July 5th, Professor Ryu Dong-Wu and 34 students of Daejin University's Human Architecture Engineering Department were engaged in a volunteer project that performed repairs for vulnerable groups in rural areas. Ever since 2014, each summer vacation has seen the professors and students of Daejin University's Human Architecture Engineering Department carrying out volunteer activities for vulnerable rural groups. This year, they carried out volunteer activities aimed at environmental improvement such as building cement block walls, flooring, exterior wall finishes, and window frames for five households located around Daegwang 1-ri, Shinseo-myeon, Yeoncheon-gun, Gyeonggi-do. Park Hyeon-Ung, a student who participated in the volunteer activities, said, "Helping the local residents through volunteer activities like repairing old houses while on vacation has been a really meaningful experience." He added, "I would like to provide them with a better residential environment." Professor Ryu Dong-Wu remakrded, "I am delighted that students who have opted to continue studying over vacation have lent us a hand by participating in these repair services. I would like to deliver my thanks to the students who were so generous with their time."
2019-07-29
