‘The Tunnel Connecting Japan and Korea: Toward Northeast Asian Prosperity and a Connected World of Peace' - August 19th, 2021
In a mayoral election campaign in South Korea's second largest and southern city, Busan, a futuristic project for an undersea tunnel linking Korea and Japan was heatedly debated against the backdrop of the sour relations between the two most democratic and free economies in the Far East.
The project idea was proposed four decades ago, as a part of an international highway vision, by the co-founders of the Universal Peace Federation, Dr. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon. As world-renowned peace makers, their proposal is beyond worldly politics. It aims at harmonious bilateral relations across the strait, enhancing a possible reunification of the divided peninsula, and eventually contributing to a wider free economic zone throughout East Asia and beyond. As the election heat has now cooled, the project may now receive the calmer contemplation it deserves as it may offer one of the ingredients for the peace, stability and prosperity for the nations of East Asia.
In this webinar we would like to consider if a tunnel project can contribute to that end? In fact, the extent to which the prospects for peace, stability and prosperity can be enhanced by means of an undersea tunnel can be examined in two cases. The first is the Marmaray Tunnel (as well as the later Eurasian tunnel) across the Bosporus Strait dividing Asia and Europe in Istanbul (Turkey). It connects the two continents thanks to significant technical and economic support from Japan.
The second is the Strait of Dover where the Eurotunnel had to overcome formidable historical and political hurdles between Britain and France. Once completed, however, the tunnel transformed the area's geographic features. Even after Brexit, Britain is bound with continental Europe in every way other than the European Union’s systems.
The webinar, being prepared by the Universal Peace Federation, will listen to experiences and lessons from a wide range of experts as well as those from Korea and Japan on the tunnel project.
Mr. Masayoshi Kajikuri, Chairman, International Highway Construction Foundation; Chairman, UPF Japan
Mr. Masayoshi Kajikuri is a graduate of Sun Moon University in Korea and has served in many leadership positions of the Unification Movement, including: President of the Japanese Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles (CARP) in 2007; President of YFWP Japan in 2010; Board Member of the International Highway Foundation; and Secretary General of UPF Japan in 2015. Since 2017, he has served as President of UPF Japan, President of the International Federation for Victory over Communism (IFVOC) and President of the Federation for World Peace (FWP) Japan. He is currently the Chairman of the International Highway Construction Foundation.
Prof. Park Jin-Hee, Professor of Transportation and Logistics, Dept. of Logistics System Engineering, Korean Maritime and Oceanic University, Busan, South Korea
Prof. Park Jin-Hee has Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate Degrees from Konkuk University, and was a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Urban and Regional Development, University of Michigan, USA. She formerly worked at Seoul Traffic Management Office, as well as at the Municipal Development Research Institute, Research Institute for Human Settlements. Furthermore, She has authored numerous research articles, notably concerning the Korea-Japan Undersea Tunnel Project, such as: 'An Impact Analysis of the Korea-Japan Undersea Tunnel Project (2008)'.
Dr Lee, Jung-sang (James) Former Senior Director, World Bank.
Dr James Lee is currently the Chairman of the World Banking Funds Associates in Seoul and Union Access Investment PTE Ltd. in Singapore. Previously, he was a Senior Director with the World Bank Group and Division Head for Asian Development Bank. He has served as Financial Adviser to the Presidents of Indonesia and Sri Lanka.
Dr. David Hanna, President, UPF North Europe, United Kingdom
Dr. Hanna currently serves as the Regional Director of Northern Europe for UPF and the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification. He has a background in architecture, has been involved in church ministry for many years and holds a doctorate in theology from the University of Wales. He currently lives in London, United Kingdom.
Moderator: Mr. Robin Marsh, Secretary General, UPF United Kingdom
Robin Marsh has been Secretary General of Universal Peace Federation UK for the last ten years. He has been involved in interfaith activities, the promotion of sustainable development goals and the empowerment of women and young adults. He lived in Seoul for three years in the early 1990’s and visited Japan a few times, once by ferry from Busan. He also escorted British Korean War Veterans to South Korea and travelled by KTX bullet train with them from Seoul to Busan to view the United Nations Memorial Cemetery.