An exclusive op-ed by Dr. Demian Dunkley, President of Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (USA), on courage, faith, and the fight for religious freedom in Korea.

Story by 360WiSE

This morning in Seoul, as the Han River flows quietly through the heart of the city, Dr. Hak Ja Han—known worldwide as the Mother of Peace—sat inside the Special Prosecution facility.

She is over 80 years old. She is still recovering her health. Yet she has voluntarily come forward, with nothing to hide. She is innocent. And still, she faces the weight of an investigation that has crossed the line from prosecution to persecution.

Dr. Hak Ja Han’s life has always been defined by courage. At just six years old, she crossed 250 kilometers of broken roads and marshland to reach freedom in South Korea. She tiptoed across the 38th parallel under gunfire, singing songs of liberty even as rifle fire threatened her every step. Her faith was greater than her fear.

That same courage is on display today. Despite her doctors’ recommendations, she chose not to delay, not to retreat, but to walk through the doors of the prosecutor’s office and speak the truth. She does this not for herself, but for all Koreans—and for millions worldwide who believe in her vision of peace, reconciliation, and religious freedom.

What should have been an impartial inquiry has been twisted by politics. The testimony of a single disgraced, expelled former member has become the flimsy basis of a legal assault.

This is not justice.
This is persecution.

And the implications go far beyond one religious leader. When a justice system can be weaponized against a woman of faith in her twilight years, then no believer is safe. When religious freedom is undermined in Korea, it weakens democracy everywhere.

The world is watching. Right now, millions stand with her. They know the truth of her life: a legacy of peacebuilding, women’s empowerment, family renewal, interfaith dialogue, and courageous advocacy against communism and authoritarian control. She has lived with integrity, not ambition. She has served, not taken.

Today, she does not walk alone. We are walking with her. We are standing with her. And together, we are walking the road to victory.

On a personal note, I still remember my first trip to Korea. My family and I were stranded on a long overnight layover. A kind Christian man we’d never met walked us to a hotel, checked us in, and even showed us how to fix the beds. He wanted nothing in return.

Since then, I’ve had countless experiences like that. I’ve visited countries across every continent, but I’ve never met a people with the same depth of heart and sense of honor as the Korean people. That’s why I love Korea. That’s why I consider it my second home. And that’s why I still believe the people of Korea will stand for truth.

So if you are reading this, I ask one thing: remember her in your prayers, and stand for what is right.

Author Bio:
Dr. Demian Dunkley is President of Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (USA) and an international advocate for religious freedom and human rights.