Dr. Young Seek Choue: A Genuine Nominee for Nobel Peace Prize

NOBEL LAUREATES, 19 Feb 2018

Surya Nath Prasad, Ph.D. – TRANSCEND Media Service

According to Nobel’s will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who in the preceding year “shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses”. The members of the Nobel Committee are supposed to strictly follow the Nobel’s Will and adhere to the criteria of his Will. But the Nobel Peace Committee has been failed to understand to select many deserving nominees for Nobel Peace Prize in the past, and the members of the Committee did not keep in their minds the Nobel’s will while they were choosing the nominees for the award. The grandson of one of Nobel’s two brothers, Michael Nobel also criticized, and said that the Nobel Committee has not always acted in accordance with Nobel’s will. (Nobel, Michael (9 December 2011). “I strid med Nobels vilje”. Aftenposten (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norway. Retrieved 12 December 2011).

Hence among several notable persons, Mahatma Gandhi–the symbol of Nonviolence, Johan Galtung–the Pioneer of Peace Studies and Young Seek Choue-the Apostle of Peace were not honored with the Nobel peace prize, though they genuinely deserved to be awarded.

he author of these Dr. Surya Nath Prasad felt honored by nominating Dr. Young Seek Choue for Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Dr. Choue’s peace works meet all the three criteria laid down in the Will of Alfred Nobel, even though he was not awarded Nobel peace Prize. On the eve of 8^th Death Anniversary of Dr. Young Seek Choue on 18 February 2018, the author of these lines Dr. Prasad would like to pay him his sincere and deep tribute by sharing his peace ideas, peace studies and peace activities, and his adherence to meet the criteria laid down in the Nobel’s Will with the readers of Transcend Media Service, and those, who have concern with him in any way.

Dr. Young Seek Choue had done his peace activities to meet the most and the best for fraternity between nations, for helping in the abolition and reduction of standing armies and for holding and promoting peace conferences.

His Efforts for Fraternity between Nations

The following are the efforts of Dr. Choue which helped to bring fraternity between nations:

Dr. Choue’s advice that peace under Pax Americana cannot provide real peace for all world people was the President George Bush’s Pax UN Policy which coincided with Dr. Choue’s advice to President George Bush on the victory of all allied forces over Iraq’s invasion to Kuwait. Dr. Choue’s advice given in 1984 to the Vice-President Mondale of USA to pursue “Great America” rather than “Strong America”, and his stress to the necessity of the United States to head for Pax UN AND THE Global Common Society to be Great America. Dr. Choue’s advice through his letter in 1984 to President Reagan of USA with his Alaskan Speech text delivered on the theme: Great America in the Coming Pan Pacific Rim Age urged the United States to Abandon “Strong America Policy” to lead as great power in the world to make the world peaceful, democratic and prosperous which influenced President Regan’s subsequent Foreign Policy that helped the Cold War era to be collapsed  in 1985, and the Geneva Summit Meeting between two superpowers was held to share their thoughts on the critical world atmosphere and to explore any possible way for achieving world peace. Dr. Choue gave theoretical and practical suggestions to check State sponsored terrorism by imposing collective sanctions arranged by the UN, and proposed “Revolution on Anti-Terrorism” at the 7^th Triennial Conference of International Association of University President (IAUP) in Bangkok, and the Commemoration Ceremony of the 3^rd Anniversary of UN International Day of Peace in Seoul which was unanimously adopted and distributed to the UN, Governments and mass media of the world for joint action. The result that the State sponsored Terrorism of Libya which was involved in 1984 in Western Europe for political retaliation has been considerably diminished and has not reoccurred in recent years.

His Work for Helping in Abolition or Reduction of Standing Armies

Toward the work for the abolition or reduction of armies, Dr. Choue made efforts for prevention and humanization of wars to create a human society without war, and he started a campaign with the cooperation of President Enrique de la Mata of the International Red Cross Society and Red Crescent Society for prohibition of the use of mass killing weapons.

A resolution for “Temporary Ceasefire” in the ongoing wars around the world in order to promote peace-loving and peace-keeping spirit proposed Dr. Choue at the Commemoration Ceremony and International Peace Conference for UN International Year of Peace in May 1986 adopted unanimously was sent to the UN, Governments, Pope John Paul II, and Mass-media of the world. Ceasefires were realized in Nicaragua and El Salvador in Central America for two months, and there were no gunshots heard in other regions.

His Work for Holding and Promotion of Peace Congresses   

Concerning for holding and promotion of Peace Congresses, Dr. Choue organized International Peace Conferences on the different themes of peace since 1982 without any break, and since 1986 also in Commemoration of the UN International Day of Peace being initiator of UN International Year of Peace in1986 and thereafter UN Day of Peace every year.

The following are the themes and the years of International Peace Conferences organized by Dr. Young Seek Choue in Commemoration of the UN International Day of Peace since 1982 under the auspices of Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea of which he was Founder and Chancellor:

• 1982 Crisis and Peace in Contemporary World
• 1983 World Peace: Is It Possible?
• 1984 World Peace Through the UN
• 1985 UN: Past, Present and Future
• 1986 Global Human Family Looking at the 21^st Century
• 1987 The Changing International Environment and Korean Peninsula in the late 1980s
• 1988 The North –East Asian-Era and the Roles of Korea, China and Japan in 21^st Century
• 1989 Peace Beyond the East-West Conflict
• 1990 The Search for a New World Peace Order
• 1991 The New World Order: The Post Ideological World in the 21^st Century
• 1992 Democracy and New International Order in 2^1st Century
• 1993 The New World Order and the Role of the UN
• 1994 Restoration of Morality and Humanity
• 1995 Tolerance Restoration of Morality, and Humanity
• 1996 Peace Strategies for Global Community and the Role of the UN in the 21^st Century
• 1997 Visions and Realities in the 21^st Century-The Role of East-Asia
• 1998 Global Visions Toward the Nest Millennium: Modern Civilization and Beyond
• 1999 Will World Peace Achievable in the 21^st Century?
• 2000 Global Governance in 21^st Century
• 2001 Toward A Global Common Society Through Dialogue Among civilizations

The contributions of the recipients of Nobel Peace Prize were in one field:  either in knowledge (ideas) or in researches (studies) or in movements (activities) related to peace. But Dr. Choue’s contributions are in all the three areas of peace, viz. peace ideas, peace studies and peace activities.

Peace Ideas Developed by Dr. Choue

To make people familiar and conversant with various peace concepts and concientize them towards peace, Dr. Choue developed several peace ideas like Democratic Freedom and Universal Democracy in 1948, Democratization of School, Ideas and Living in 1949, Civilizational View of History and Creation of Civilized World in 1951, Restoration of Land in 1955, Man and Creation in 1960, The Way to Korea’s Prosperity in 1963, Better Living in 1964, World Peace in 1968, Peace Education and World Peace through Education in 1971, Toward the Brighter Future and Human Society in 1974, Co-existence, Co-prosperity and Reconstruction of Human Society in 1975, Building a Brighter Human Society in 1976, Global Cooperation Society in 1978, Oughtopia: Spiritually Beautiful, Materially Affluent and Humanly Rewarding Society, and Revival of Moral Education in 1979, International Year and Day of Peace; Regional Cooperation Society; Global Common Society; and World Peace Through UN in 1991, Toward Oughtopia in 1983, Oughtopian Peace Model; World Peace through Pax UN Theory in 1984; Anti-Terrorism for Peace; and Humanization of War in 1985, Temporary Ceasefire for Immediate Peace; Proposal for Peace; and World Encyclopedia of Peace in 1986, World Peace in Global Village in 1987, National Reconciliation for Peace in 1988, Chouean Irnology; Global Human Society without War; A Grand Design for World Peace; and Global Common Society in 1989, A World Community in 1990, Task and Option of Human Society; Global Common Society based on Universal Democracy under UN Pax in 1991; Permanent World Peace Settlement through UN Pax in 1992, Reunion of Ten Million Separated Families and Unification of Korea for Peace, Reason and Method of Reconstruction of Human Society in 1993; Restoration Morality and Humanity in 1994; World Citizenship, Establishment of Ethics and Morality, and Ethical  Renaissance in 1995; Restructuring Human Society in 1996; Social Peace and Revitalization of Humanity and Better Environment in 1997; Social Peace and Oughtopia; and Magna Carta of Global Common Society  in 1998New Millennium Peace Plan; World Encyclopedia of Peace; and National Reconciliation and Peaceful Unification in 1999, Global Governance through the UN; A Grand Vision for Human Society;  A Grand Design for  Global Common Society; and A

Grand Design of NGO FOR THE New Millennium in 2000; and Toward Global Common Society through Dialogue among Civilizations in 2001; and many more others peace concepts.

Dr. Choue’s Works in the Field of Peace Studies

Dr. Choue’s contributions in the areas of Peace Studies are also much great. Dr. Choue established Kyung Hee University in 1955, Institute of Brighter Society in 1975, Centre for the Reconstruction of Humanity in 1976, Institute of International Peace Studies in 1979, Kyung Hee University The Graduate Institute of Peace Studies in 1983, Oughtopian Peace Foundation in 1989, Graduate School of NGOs in 1999, Kyung Hee Cyber University in 2000, New Millennium Peace Tower in 2001, and several other academic institutions to enable future generation to learn about and for peace, to be trained in peace and to build peace.

Here it is most pertinent to mention that The Graduate Institute of Peace Studies, founded by Dr. Choue in September 1984 with the purpose to educate and foster able and peace-oriented international leaders for the better future of mankind, which was one of the two laureates of 1993 UNESCO Prize for Peace Education, provides full scholarship covering full scholarship covering tuition fees, living expenses and necessary books for two and a half year academic years to all the admitted domestic and international students. The Graduate Institute of Peace Studies is the unique one in the world.

Dr. Choue edited and published World Encyclopedia of Peace in 4 Volumes in 1986 and in 8 Volumes in 1999.

Dr. Choue’s Contributions in the Areas of Peace Activities

To make peaceful to the needy aggrieved and victims of war, and natural calamities, Dr. Choue had been doing relief works for them for the last many years, and to improve in their better living of all, he initiated variety of peace activities, peace campaigns and peace movements. Since 1971, had been providing medical treatment for atomic bomb victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which was continued. He initiated in 1971 a Campaign for supporting Filipino flood victims by donating relief goods through Santo Tomas University. He sent the 1^st  dispatch of Kyung Hee University‘s Free Medical Team to Bangkok, Thailand in 1982. The 2^nd dispatch of Kyung Hee University’s Free Medical Service Team was sent by him to Medan, Indonesia in 1983. He initiated in 1986 a Campaign for Supporting United Nations’ peace activities (Fund raised UN Peace Fund US $ 44,978 and donated to the UN Trust Fund) ), Seoul, Korea. He initiated a Campaign in the same year of 1986 for supporting needy children and International Peace Activities by sponsoring the International Creative Arts Exhibition, Seoul, Korea (US $ 12,144 and 5 millions Won in Korean Currency, the profit from the Exhibition, were donated to the UNICEF and the 1^st Earth Run, Seoul, Korea respectively). He initiated in 1991, a Campaign for Supporting Chernobyl nuclear victim children and the starving Somalian children in Africa by holding two Charity Concerts, Grand Concert Peace Cantata and Grand Artistic Festival in Seoul, Korea with Joint efforts of the UNICEF, donated 55,214,823 Won in Korean Currency (US $ 73,154.66: Somalia US $ 36,577), the profit from the Concerts, to the UNICEF Seoul, Korea. He sent the 3^rd dispatch of Kyung Hee University’s Free Medical Service Team to Sudan, Africa in the same year of 1991. He initiated in 1992 Chernobyl nuclear plant victims in Seoul, Korea, and donated the profit US $ 77,826.46 from the Exhibition to those needed children in Kiev, Ukraine through the UN Seoul, Korea. He sent in 1996 the relief goods (over 20,000,000 Won worth of powder milk) to help the flood victim children of North Korea through Korea Red Cross Society. He donated in 1997 the prize money of the ManHae Peace Award (10 million Won in Korean currency) for the relief work for the poor Koreans residing in Northeast China through Dong-A Daily Newspaper. He dispatched in 1997 the 6^th time Kyung Hee University’s Free Medical Service Team to Sakhalin, Russia. He supported in 1997 the flood victims of North Korea by sending relief goods (over 140 million Won worth of food) through the Korea Red Cross Society. He dispatched in 1999 Kyung Hee University’s Free Medical Service Team to Alma-ata, Republic of Kazakhstan, C.I.S. (the 7^th  time, it usually cost about US $ 200,000 to dispatch this free medical team each time). He sent in 2000 relief goods (2,317 boxes of clothes and shoes) for the cyclone victims of India through the GCS Indian National Chapter.

Besides his relief works for the victims of different types, Dr. Choue initiated 17 national and international peace campaigns and peace movements between 1955 and 1999 for betterment of the oppressed and downtrodden, and for better living for village people, reconciliation between bitter enemies, reunion of ten million Korean separated families, for the protection of the unification of Korea, for restoring of morality and humanity and for strengthening UN by developing Pax UN Theory, and other Campaigns for Peace. Below cited information are a few examples of peace movements and campaigns of Dr. Choue:

Dr. Choue initiated better living Movement in 1964 for Korean Government New Village Movement, the Asian Association of Model Village – Better Living Movement (Osaka, Japan) in 1973, Better Society Movement also in 1973, the Global Cooperation Society Movement in 1978 (and under the spirit of this movement, Healthy Society Movement, Life Improvement Movement, Environment Protection Improvement, Restoration of Humanity Movement and World Peace Movement were conducted by Dr. Choue), World Peace through the UN IN 1981, Movement for Reunion of Separated Families in Korea in 1982, A Movement for the strengthening of UN by Developing a Pax UN Theory in 1984, Second Red Cross Movement through Humanization War in 1985, National Reconciliation Movement in 1988, Social Peace Movement for Restoring Morality and Humanity in 1994, Global Campaign for Restoring Morality and Humanity, and for Commemorating 50^th Anniversary of the UNIN 1995, Neo-Renaissance Movement for Restructuring Human Society in 1996; and thus 156 national and international peace activities from 1960 to 2001 were performed by Dr. Choue (for details, one may refer to the article on the theme: An Apostle of Peace: Dr. Young Seek Choue by Dr Surya Nath Prasad, this is  opening article in the book: Global Leader With Great Vision: Who Is Dr. Young Seek Choue, Seoul: Kyung Hee University, Vol. I, pp. 56-99, 44 pages, and also to Curriculum Vitae of Dr. Young Seek Choue,   Global Leader With Great Vision Who Is Dr. Young Seek Choue, Seoul: Kyung Hee University, Vol. II, pp. 383-443, 61 pages).

In addition to these, Dr. Choue organized 20 International Peace Conferences since 1982 on the different themes of peace on the eve of the UN International Day of Peace. It is pertinent to mention here that Dr. Choue was the original and sole initiator and advocate of the UN International Day and Year of Peace (1986). Dr. Choue’s dream for world peace through education has become true in reality when his basic concepts of International Day and Year of Peace, which he presented in his Keynote Speech entitled “The Great Imperative: Peace is More Precious than Triumph” at the International Association University Presidents ‘s Triennial Conference in San José, Costa Rica in July, 1981. The draft resolution of the International Day and Year of Peace was unanimously adopted by 157 member countries of the United Nations on November 30, 1981. UN International Year of Peace was celebrated throughout the world in 1986, and UN International Day of Peace is celebrated everywhere in the third week of September every year.

The United Nations Honored Dr. Choue

Dr. Choue was honored with the Award of the UN Medal in 1984 from the Secretary-General of the United Nations for his contribution of proposing the UN International Day and Year of Peace. Dr. Choue was honored with the United Nations Special Award of Meritorious Services on peace at the 51^st the Commemorative Ceremony for the United Nations Day on October 24, 1996 at the UN Headquarters, New York, USA in recognition of International Day and Year of Peace for the first time in the history of the UN.

His Services to the Fellow-Beings Not for Any Returns

Dr. Choue served to the mankind for their welfare and peace not for any returns, award and reward. Here this author would like to cite his action in this regard. Dr. Choue made his Graduate Institute of Peace Studies the recipient of the 1993 UNESCO Award for Peace Education and the Prize money US Dollar 60,000. But Dr. Choue immediately returned the prize amount to the UNESCO for its further cause to the promotion of peace education. Another example of this type of his that when Dr. Choue was honored with Jamnalal Bajaj Award in1997 for his work for Gandhian Values and Philosophy of Nonviolence and Peace in different parts of the world, the prize money Rupees 200 thousand  was immediately donated by Dr. Choue  to the Global Common Society International Indian Chapter to support its activities. In the same year 1997, Dr. Choue donated the Prize money of the ManHae Peace Award 10 million won in Korean currency for the Relief Work for the poor Koreans residing in North-East China.

Dr. Young Seek Choue: A Genuine Nominee for Nobel Peace Prize

Dr. Choue served for co-existence, co-prosperity and co-peace for all through his perpetual works of peace-keeping and peace-building activities for the last 50 years which this author judged the great and tremendous. Thus evaluating the works of Dr. Choue in all the three areas of peace as cited above, the author of these lines Dr. Surya Nath Prasad came at the conclusion that Dr. Choue did more for positive and sustainable peace for all than the peace objectives and peace criteria set to be achieved by the prospective recipients for Nobel Peace Prize. Hence his contributions towards peace for all must be recognized by the Nobel Peace prize Committee, and it should confer upon Dr. Choue this prestigious award to be honored itself. Therefore the author of these lines Dr. Prasad nominated Dr. Young Seek Choue for the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, and strongly recommended his name for this Peace Prize. But the Nobel Peace Committee missed A Genuine Nominee Dr. Young Seek Choue for Nobel Peace Prize 2002.

A Wise Advice to the Trustees of Nobel Peace

The trustees of Nobel Peace Prize must be cautious and aware that in future none of the genuine and deserving nominee to be missed for Nobel Peace Prize. For this, members in the Selection Committee for Nobel Peace Prize must be well-recognized and distinguished personalities from the field of peace ideas, peace studies and peace activities for fair and just selection for this prize. The members of the Nobel Peace Committee must be enlightened and practice perpetually throughout their lives the universal peace education based on universally inherent five elements, viz. body, vitality, mind, intellect and spirit in every man and woman everywhere without any discrimination to be unfolded integrally to be just and peaceful.

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Dr. Surya Nath Prasad, former president & currently executive vice president of International Association of Educators for World Peace (IAEWP), associate professor of education emeritus, former visiting professor, the graduate institute of peace studies, Kyung Hee University, Republic of Korea, founder & editor-in-chief, Peace Education: An International Journal. dr_suryanathprasad@yahoo.co.in

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