The MPPU in Korea: history and activities

Speech by Dr. Peter Kil, current president of Mppu in Korea, at the international conference of Mppu Centers of the world: on April 23, 2022

 

About 15 years ago, in the year 2007, Lucia Fronza Crepaz, then President of the Mppu International Center, visited Korea and we politicians, academics and some members of the Focolare Movement in Korea took the opportunity to officially launch the Politics for Unity Movement in the country. 

The following year, in 2008, some members of the Korean Parliament who share the goals and spirit of the Politics for Unity Movement wanted to register the Mppu group in the Korean Parliament with the name: “Political Forum for Unity” as one of the official research groups of parliamentarians, which have the character of a bipartisan forum.

One of the characteristics of the Korean Mppu is that most of the activities have been carried out by that Forum officially registered with the Parliament, which is affiliated with ten to fifteen MPs, with meetings once every two months (except the summer and winter recess period of the Parliament).

Another main activity of ours is carried out through the “Social Forum for Unity,” another type of forum composed of different groups of people: former parliamentarians, academics, lawyers, mayors, civil servants, active citizens, etc. This Social Forum for Unity -with bimonthly meetings- tries to involve various broad-based social groups, always sharing the same goal and spirit as the Politics for Unity Movement.

 

In addition, we ran a school of politics for unity for young people, college students, young professionals, etc. The goal of this school for unity is to train future politicians and global citizens who are aware of the need to actively participate in building a society based on fraternity.

The curriculum includes several subjects including Communion Economics, media and politics, international relations and climate change, etc. Most of the young participants particularly appreciate the opportunities to be able to meet and talk with politicians and public officials. Students also share their experiences of political engagement. We have been running this school since 2010 and the course consists of 10 to 12 classes, which are held once a week.

 

I would like to introduce another event that Mppu in Korea has continued to hold over the past decade: the award ceremony for distinguished parliamentarians who use peaceful words and harmonious expressions in their activities in Parliament. Considering the fierce clashes between political parties and factions in politics-serious challenges in creating a political culture of unity, reconciliation and harmony-we at Mppu in Korea initiated this annual event to celebrate and promote such a new political culture.

In April 2022 we celebrated the ninth annual event of this award with the Speaker of Parliament in attendance.

Other meetings

January 2019

  • Delegation of Korean members of the Politics for Unity Movement to Rome for the Co-governance 2019 international conference
  • Meeting with Pope Francis
  • Meeting with Emmaus (Maria Voce), former President of the Focolare Movement, together with Letizia De Torre, former President of the Mppu International Center.