What is the situation of Korea today? Korea has a 5,000-year-old history, but has succeeded in developing the traditional culture of a pure people. Korea was invaded by powerful countries, but has not lost its characteristics and has developed as a homogeneous people.

Korea has developed through a history of suffering. As loyal subjects, Koreans have protected their country with their blood. When Korea was invaded, women and children together fought the enemy. Korea has the most loyal subjects and patriots in world history. Korea could inherit and develop a shining cultural tradition as a homogeneous people because the heavenly spirit of the loyal subjects and patriots has been successfully handed down.

The faithful subjects and patriots shed blood for their country, setting an example of a history of sacrifice. Today the Unification Church is spreading God's Providence based on the holy tradition of Korea. In particular, I have been concerned about spreading the new tradition of God's nation. Korea has not only the most patriots and loyal subjects, but also the most virtuous women and dutiful sons and daughters. This tradition of faithfulness, filial devotion and virtue will serve to absolutely tie the cultures of East and West together as one.

As this philosophy connects to God's providence by heavenly fortune and establishes the way, God will protect it. Throughout my entire life, I have done my best to connect the Korean tradition to God's providence and to establish it in the center of the world.

Korea has the tradition of loyalty and filial piety. I felt happy to see the dignified appearance of the Korean military when I was invited to see the military parade on Armed Forces Day, May 16. It was very impressive that the soldiers shouted OLoyalty and Filial DevotionO when passing before the reviewing stand. It is a slogan that a nation chosen by God would have. No military in the world has such a slogan. Korea is the first people to make the spirit of loyalty and filial devotion into the central thought of the country: Shim Chung's filial devotion for her poor father, Chun Hyang's fidelity toward her husband, Ryu Kwan-Soon's patriotism. The Korean spirit embodies an integrity of loyalty and filial piety unparalleled throughout the ages and nations of the world.

The spirit of loyalty, filial piety and integrity, which stands as straight as the pine or bamboo, will be the central thought and spirit of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth that is to be established. We must be loyal to heaven because heaven is God's country. We must offer eternal filial devotion to God because He is the Father of humankind. No matter what tests from God the many peoples of the world may have faced, none has borne greater fruits of loyalty, filial piety and integrity than Korea. That is why God has chosen Korea.

Koreans are a homogeneous people. It is a Korean tradition that the women never marry foreigners. Even when Japan invaded Korea, only a few of the Korean women married Japanese. Korean women believe their chastity is more important than their lives, so they have experienced many hardships throughout history.

To become the chosen people, first the women must experience many difficulties. The people must know greater struggles in life than others, and experience the tragic feelings of a people deprived of their country. Because Korea has been dominated and oppressed by other countries, she is yearning for the protection of Heaven.

When you travel in China at night and knock on a door, the owner of the house will open the door if you are Korean. In the days of the Russian Empire, the Russians opened the door if a Korean came knocking. The Chinese, Japanese and Russians always concealed weapons in their clothing. We know this from what was found on their dead bodies. But Koreans did not carry weapons, they carried only a stone to help them start a fire. The Korean people do not use weapons in this way.

Korea has been influenced by the cultures of Buddhism, Confucianism and Christianity. These religions have borne great fruit in Korea.