The 88-year-old, who is the founder and spiritual leader of a movement working towards achieving a peaceful reunification of the two Koreas, has fascinated and inspired many who have met him.
Speaking to FMT, Lee shared his experiences and world view in the hope that it will change the minds of those who think change is impossible and peace will never come.
FMT: Tell us about your experience in the Korean War and how it has shaped your world view.
Lee: I fought as a frontline combatant. Words cannot describe the horrors of war. Bullets poured down like rain. Sounds of fighter jets and bombs shook your heart. Only youths could have put up with that. After the war, half of the population was gone. In some villages, just a few survived.
There were many students among the soldiers. Those young students died at the frontline. Some people blamed the government because young people went to war and those in authority did not.
So many young people perished during the Korean War without getting the opportunity to blossom. How fair was that?
We suffered much during the Japanese colonial period. Not long after we gained our independence, we declared war against each other. It could not be helped back then, no matter how much you cried.
FMT: Tell us what you think is behind today’s conflicts.
Lee: Most religions speak of peace, both within their community and with those of different faiths. However, around 80% of all wars occur due to religion. Religious people should guide the world to the right path, but if religion is causing wars, this is not for good but for evil.
I am saying we should end all wars. Easier said than done, but what will you pass down to the next generation? Power? Wealth? They’re meaningless. Nothing is greater than building a world of peace and leaving it as a legacy to future generations.
Some people might wonder why I am working for peace, but this is a logical extension of my faith and, indeed, that of all persons, whatever their religion. In the Bible, the word “peace” appears 68 times. God’s ultimate purpose is also realising peace. The Bible said: “When Jesus was born, angels said, ‘Glory in heaven, peace on earth.’”
FMT: The Arab-Israeli conflict frequently comes to mind when one discusses world peace. What is your take on this issue?
Lee: We work for the entire world. We strive to make the global family acknowledge and implement the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War which was unveiled during the 2017 Peace Conference in Seoul, South Korea.
Our aims for world peace go beyond the Korean peninsula and we hope to see peace in the Middle East through dialogue and mediation. This will ensure stability in all nations as the region is the homeland of some of the world’s greatest faiths.
I will not and cannot take sides, but I will say that without coming to terms with the reality there and without accepting the rights of all to statehood and self-determination, this conflict will not end and the continued tragedy of those of the Abrahamic faiths will not cease.
FMT: In your experience, what is the main challenge to achieving world peace?
Lee: It may come as no surprise to some, but others will be shocked to know that the greatest obstacle to peace is the lack of interest by the stakeholders who have the power to affect change.
The politicians are not interested in talking about peace as war can mean good business. They do not show even a modest interest in peace as they seem to believe war and atrocity get more views for their websites and programmes.
And finally, the general public are more concerned with their own lives and not the life-and-death struggle faced by their brothers and sisters in other countries.
It is a sad situation, but most people are not concerned as long as they are not affected. Only when they have to live in fear do they realise what peace means. Our challenge is to fight this mindset and to stop wars before they start. Remember that without public support, no government can start a war and governments always use the media to drum up support.
FMT: What can the media do to promote peace?
Lee: Maybe peace does not seem exciting to most people and that is because they have not experienced war themselves. Anyone who has survived conflict will not want to experience it again. They will do anything to avoid or prevent it.
The media has a very important responsibility to be at the forefront of spreading the message of peace as active peace messengers. It is their moral responsibility to ensure that issues and messages of peace get the attention that they deserve even if such messages have no commercial value.
My message to journalists, editors and media organisations is this: just think of it as doing your part. It is a thankless job, but those who come after you will be thankful for what you have done.