David Yoo with distinguished leaders of Malaysia during a three-day Global Peace Leadership Exchange program.
KUALA LUMPUR—A delegation of 35 Korean social activists, corporate leaders, government officials, and academicians visited Malaysia for a three-day Global Peace Leadership Exchange program aimed at sharing best practices in peacebuilding, developing networks that will facilitate success in peacebuilding efforts, and advancing plans for future collaborations.
According to David Yoo, President of Global Peace Festival Foundation (GPFF)-Korea, the delegation decided to visit Malaysia because of the uniqueness of Malaysia as a multi-cultural, multi-racial and multi-lingual nation. “There have been many collaborations between the government of Malaysia and Korea in the fields of economy and technology, but fewer collaborations between civil society and NGOs have been initiated,” Mr. Yoo said.
Global Peace Leadership Exchange
On the second day the Korean delegation was hosted by the Department of National Unity (JPNIN) under the Office of the Prime Minister. At a special gathering at Putrajaya Lake Club, Director General of the Department of Unity Dato’Azman Amin bin Hassan introduced the role and programs of his department in bringing about social integration and national unity.
Several partners working closely with Global Peace Festival-Malaysia, including Creative Juice Sil (an advertising agency), Les Copaque (Malaysia’s first 3D animation company) and Asia Football Confederation, were invited to speak about their projects and perspectives on peacebuilding.
At a special Peacemaker Exchange Sisterhood Ceremony at the end of the program, each Korean delegate was paired with a Malaysian, signed a sisterhood certificate and exchanged gifts signifying goodwill in the spirit of building One Family under God.
The participants were then invited for a Putrajaya Lake Cruise and tour of two communities, Kampung Malaysia Raya and Taman Kajang Mewah. Delegates were warmly welcomed by the local neighborhood associations, enjoyed local cuisine for dinner, and later served the “king of all fruit’”—durian.
“We were fascinated and inspired by the Malaysian hospitality,” said Jason Sue, a board member of GPFF-Korea. We’ve never expected such great experience and warm welcome here. We wish to invite a delegation to come to Korea in return.”
The Global Peace Leadership Exchange is a program jointly organised by GPFF-Korea and Global Peace Festival-Malaysia.
