One Korea Global Campaign Lectures: One Dream, One Korea

By Hema Chakraborty

GPF India hosted Dr. Kim Dong Su, Senior Advisor, National Institute for Security and Strategy, South Korea, from 25th to 29th March, for a series of Lectures on Korean Unification under the One Korea Global Campaign. He arrived on the 24th of March and was received by the Honourable Chairman of GPF India, Dr. Markandey Rai and Mr. Ram Rohan Panta, Regional Representative -South Asia at Global Peace Foundation, with a warm welcome and an open heart.

Chairman, GPF India, Dr Markandey Rai (Right) with Guest Speaker Dr Kim Dong Su (Left)

The first Lecture on “Korean Unification in Contemporary Times” was held at GPF India's office, at Paryavaran Complex, on the 25th of March 2025. All the staff and interns were present, along with students from various colleges in New Delhi. The session was inaugurated with the felicitation of the esteemed guest, Dr. Kim Dong Su, by Dr. Markandey Rai and Dr. Priyaranjan Trivedi, President, Confederation of Indian Universities. After an invigorating welcome address by Dr. Markandey Rai, and an enlightening keynote speech by Dr. Priyaranjan Trivedi, both of whom praised the efforts made by Dr. Kim Dong Su to travel to India and deliver the lectures and emphasised the importance of Korean Unification and the close connections between India and Korea, Dr. Kim Dong Su started his lecture. He read out his research paper on

Korean Unification, in which he highlighted the challenges faced by the North Korean population, the urgency of unification, the efforts that civil society organisations like GPF and GPF India are making to expedite the process, and the need for the youth to assume the role of the torchbearers of change towards a unified and prosperous Korea. This was followed by an enthusiastic round of questions and answers.

Dr Kim Dong Su delivers a powerful speech

On the 26th of March 2025, GPF India, in collaboration with the Indian Council of International Co-operation (ARSP), organised the Lecture on “Current Landscape in the Korean Peninsula.” Ambassador Sushil Kumar Singhal, Senior Vice-President, ARSP and Shri Narayan Kumar, Honorary Director, ARSP, graced the event along with fellow members of ARSP and other scholars. Ambassador Singhal praised the efforts of GPF India and Dr. Markandey Rai in the promotion of peace in the Korean Peninsula, and Shri Narayan Kumar emphasised the importance of cultural exchanges and cultural diplomacy. Dr. Markandey Rai welcomed everyone onboard the One Korea Global Campaign and the global movement to unify the two Koreas peacefully. After Dr. Kim Dong Su read out his speech on the current geopolitical, social and economic situation in the two Koreas, and the cruciality of international support and cooperation in unifying the two Koreas, he opened the floor for a question-and-answer session. The day concluded with a networking session over tea and snacks.

Ambassador Sushil Kumar Singhal, Senior Vice-President, Indian Council for International Co-operation (ARSP) (Left) and Dr Kim Dong Su (Right) at ARSP

GPF India collaborated with Amity University Haryana (Academic Staff College & Centre of Excellence for Innovation in Education) to organise a Lecture on the 27th of March 2025 on “Movement of Civil Society Organisations in the Unification of Korea.” About 50 to 60 students from the university joined the lecture in their conference hall. The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Dr. P.B. Sharma was felicitated at his office and later graced the event with his insightful contributions. Prof. U.N. Singh, Dean, Faculty of Arts & Humanities & Chair-Professor, Amity Centre for Linguistic Studies (ACLiS), also provided the students with a deep dive into the subject of Korean Unification. Dr. Markandey Rai appealed to the students to realise the importance of the commonalities between India and Korea, and to actualise this potential relationship and connection through India’s support in the One Korea Global Campaign. Dr. Kim Dong Su, in his speech, reiterated the relevance and significance of a unified Korea in today’s day and age, and this was followed by an active question-and-answer round. Dr. Sanjna Vij, Deputy Director, Academic Staff College & Head, Centre of Excellence for Innovation in Education, rounded up and closed the session with a poised and graceful vote of thanks. A Memorandum of Understanding was discussed between Amity University

Haryana and GPF India.

(From Left to Right) Chairman of GPF India, Dr Markandey Rai, Vice-Chancellor of Amity University Haryana, Prof. Dr. P.B. Sharma, Dr Sanjna Vij, Deputy Director, Academic Staff College & Head, Centre of Excellence for Innovation in Education, and Dr Kim Dong Su, at the felicitation ceremony at Amity University Haryana

On the 28th of March 2025, GPF India and the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, collaborated to organise the Lecture on “Korean Unification: Challenges and Prospects.” The overflowing gathering of students proved the eagerness and enthusiasm of the participants to engage with the subject and the campaign. The session was efficiently moderated by Professor Dr. Jitendra Uttam, Professor, Centre for East Asian Studies, School of International Studies, who brought his expertise and intensive research on Korea to the table. Dr. Markandey Rai reminded the audience of the shared roots of cultural and socio-political history that binds Korea and India with a bond of togetherness. Dr. Kim Dong Su’s speech on the Korean Unification movement was met with interesting, unique and effective questions from the students present, who seemed extremely moved and motivated by the former’s call for action. Dr. Satyanshu Srivastava, Assistant Professor, Centre for Korean Studies, School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies, immaculately wrapped up the Lecture with a heartfelt vote of thanks. Later, Dr. Markandey Rai, Dr. Kim Dong Su, and Mr. Ram Rohan Panta were welcomed by the Registrar, Professor Ravikesh, into his office, where it was collectively decided to have a Memorandum of Understanding between GPF India and JNU, which would lead to further collaborations in organising events, carrying out research and working together for the One Korea Global Campaign soon.

With a hall packed full of an enthusiastic audience, the lecture at JNU was a resounding success

The final lecture on the 29th of March 2025 was organised by GPF India at the prestigious India International Centre, on the theme, “Korean Dream and Human Rights Situation in Korea.” About 40 students engaged in an interactive session with Dr. Kim Dong Su and contributed novel perspectives to the discussion. Dr. Markandey Rai urged the youth to turn words into actionable outcomes and join the One Korea Global Campaign by signing up for the Korean Dream 10 Million Campaign. Dr. Kim Dong Su threw light on how the unification of Korea is the answer to the problems of militarisation and nuclearisation, and only through unification can peace be achieved in the Korean Peninsula.

The hard work of the GPF India team, the visionary guidance of the organisation's chairman, Dr Markandey Rai, the profound expertise of Dr Kim Dong Su, and the participation of young and bright leaders of tomorrow made this series of lectures impactful

This series of Lectures organised by GPF India, under the visionary leadership of Chairman Dr. Markandey Rai, and delivered by Dr. Kim Dong Su, was indeed a milestone initiative in establishing a sustainable support base for the peaceful Unification of Korea.