The 2025 Peace BAR Festival, Kyung Hee University (KHU)’s signature event celebrating the United Nations' International Day of Peace, will take place next week. Distinguished panels from global academic fields have been invited, promising a meaningful experience for participants. Beyond the main festival, various activities will be held throughout the week, encouraging the KHU community to engage with the event's significance.

2025 Peace BAR Festival logo

Photo: PBF homepage (pbf.khu.ac.kr)

To Celebrate the 44th International Day of Peace

The International Day of Peace, also known as World Peace Day, is a United Nations (UN) sanctioned holiday established in 1981. The UN General Assembly designated the day as a time for strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples. It was originally observed on the third Tuesday of September, then moved to September 21 at the 2001 UN General Assembly. Historically, the day has played a role in easing tensions and raising voices for peace throughout the world during periods such as the Cold War.

The International Day of Peace holds much significance for KHU. In fact, the establishment of this day was first proposed by KHU's founder, Choue Young-seek, at the International Association of University Presidents meeting held in San José, Costa Rica, in 1981. His proposal was later endorsed by the 36th UN General Assembly the same year, ultimately leading to the establishment of this international observance.

To celebrate the day, KHU has held the International Peace Conference since 1982. In 2004, KHU expanded its efforts by launching the Peace BAR Festival, which enriched the event beyond an independent conference by incorporating international discussions, art and cultural performances, student forums, and social volunteer activities. In the name, BAR stands for spiritually Beautiful, materially Affluent, and humanly Rewarding, representing KHU's commitment to world peace.

In the last Peace BAR Festival in 2024, Choue In-won was delivering the speech

Photo: Kyung Hee University (khu.ac.kr)

The First Day: Bringing Renowned Panels to Meaningful Dialogue

The 2025 Peace BAR Festival will feature a range of programs. On September 19, the International Day of Peace Commemoration Ceremony, the Havel Dialogue, and the Roundtable will take place at the Grand Peace Hall on Seoul Campus. On September 20, events will include the Civil Society and Student Commemoration, the Colloquium, and the Youth Peace Forum, held at Orbis Hall. The details are included on the official website: pbf.khu.ac.kr.

The first day’s programs will invite renowned panelists to engage in meaningful discussions on themes relevant to current global issues. The International Day of Peace Commemoration Ceremony, held from 9:30 to 12:05, will feature a special talk on the theme “The Moment of Chaos, The Quest for Planetary Politics.” Distinguished panelists include Professor Naomi Oreskes of Harvard University; Prof. John G. Ikenberry of Princeton University; and Choue In-won, Chancellor and Eminent Scholar at KHU.

Following the ceremony, the Havel Dialogue will take place from 13:00 to 14:40. Four panelists will join the special talk on the theme “Revisiting the Havel Spirit for Civic Values and Engagement.” The speakers are Tomáš Sedláček, Director of the Václav Havel Library; Martin Ritter, Deputy Director of the Institute of Philosophy and Czech Academy of Sciences; Park Yong-shin, former Kohwang Fellow Emeritus of KHU, and Shin Jin-sook, Vice Rector of the Global Academy for Future Civilization at KHU.

For the final program of the first day, a roundtable discussion will be held from 15:00 to 17:00 under the theme “Breakthrough or Breakdown: The Future of Planetary Consciousness and Politics.” Six panelists, including Paul Shrivastava, Co-President of the Club of Rome, Györgyi Szabó, former Executive Director of the Laszlo Institute of New Paradigm Research, will take part in the discussion.

The Second Day: Inclusive Programs for Civil Society and Students

On the second day, the program will feature diverse participants, including KHU students and members of civil society, ensuring content inclusiveness. Civil Society and Student Commemoration will be held from 8:30 to 11:30 at Orbis Hall, room 111. Under the theme of “Act Now for a Peaceful World: Redefining Peace and Reshaping Our Future in the Era of Global Warming,” students and members of civil society can freely participate in the programs. The commemoration primarily aims to enhance global citizenship awareness and to explore pathways toward sustainable development in South Korea.

Two more events have been scheduled at the same location. A Colloquium will follow from 12:30 to 14:10 under the theme "A Road Toward Planetary Citizenship." Participants will explore future consciousness and social values that humanity must collectively share and implement. Next, the Youth Peace Forum will be held from 14:20 to 17:40. Organized by KHU’s student clubs, including UNAI ASPIRE, the UN Student Association Kyung Hee Branch, and the Korea UNESCO Student Association, the forum will provide a platform for participants to discuss concrete measures for action under the theme “Climate Justice and Intergeneration Justice: States’ Legal Obligations in Responding to the Climate Crisis.”

Orbis Hall (above) and the Grand Peace Hall (below)

Photo: Kyung Hee University (khu.ac.kr)

Beyond the main programs, KHU has designated September 15 to 20 as the International Day of Peace Week, offering various participatory activities throughout this period. During this week, activities such as a short-form video contest, creative writing contest, documentary film screening, photography exhibition, awareness campaign, and cinema concert will be offered. These events will allow not only students but also members of civil society to participate.

To celebrate KHU’s contributions to world peace, the 44th Peace BAR Festival will be held alongside the International Day of Peace. In addition to conferences and discussions, a variety of activities will be offered to create a more engaging experience for participants. Thus, 2025’s event will foster a deeper understanding and stronger commitment to international peace among participants.