By Prof.Dr. Kang sunok
To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan, Shinhan University has organized the Peace Vision Journey to Tsushima, Japan.Korea and Japan have shared a long and intertwined history and culture. Over the years, their relationship has evolved through cycles of both conflict and cooperation.
Now, as a new generation rises, the two countries stand at a crucial crossroads — seeking to move beyond historical tensions and build a forward-looking relationship.
Marking a historic turning point in Korea-Japan relations, Shinhan University President Kang Sung Jong has introduced the ‘Tsushima Peace Vision Journey’ — an educational initiative aimed at transforming remembrance of the past into collaborative steps toward a shared future.
The historical conflicts between Korea and Japan, which span over a century, must not be passed down to the next generation. A meaningful turning point is needed to open the future for the young people of both nations, who will lead a new era.
Confident that the ‘Tsushima Peace Vision Journey’ can help untangle the complex historical issues between Korea and Japan, Shinhan University has launched this program as a step toward dialogue and reconciliation.
Tsushima, where the past and future, pain and cooperation coexist, is a symbolic middle ground that still bears the traces of the Joseon Tongsinsa — diplomatic envoys that connected the two nations 600 years ago. Shinhan University’s Peace Vision Journey aims to mark a new historical beginning by inheriting the spirit of goodwill and friendship that defined the Joseon Tongsinsa missions for over 400 years.
The journey brought together nearly 1,000 students and faculty members. More than just a visit or a tour, it is a meaningful educational experience. Planned, prepared, and carried out by the students themselves, the program offers deep reflection and hands-on engagement with history, culture, the environment, and peace. In Tsushima, Japan, students learn from the past, reflect on the present, and prepare for the future.
Notably, this program emphasizes mutual exchange rather than a one-sided visit. Locally, students from Tsushima High School in Nagasaki Prefecture and representatives from marine environmental organizations are participating, creating a space for direct communication and collaboration among students.
In this setting, young people from Korea and Japan come face to face, join hands, and nurture a spirit of solidarity and mutual understanding.
The journey began with Shinhan University students and Tsushima-based marine environmental organizations working together to clean up trash along the coast. Through these cleanup activities and environmental campaigns, participants put ecological citizenship into practice by promoting sustainability and carbon neutrality. These experiences also helped them share and embody a sense of collective responsibility that young people must uphold in the era of global climate crisis.
In addition, students engaged in various programs that allowed them to apply their knowledge and skills in their respective fields of study.
The cultural event began with a performance of Korea’s traditional Daebok and a recital of the Japanese Shamisen, symbolizing harmony and cooperation between the two countries.
Through cultural performances such as a musical, Taekwondo demonstration, K-pop stage, and traditional costume fashion show, students expressed their own cultural identities and learned to appreciate and respect the cultures of others.
At the end of the journey, students gave voice to their hopes by reading the ‘Peace Vision Declaration’ — a message they had written with their own hands.
More than a symbolic gesture, it marked an educational milestone in which the next generation pledged peace, coexistence, and solidarity in their own voices.
Shinhan University identifies challenge, participation, and empathy as the core values of education. This journey reflects the university’s philosophy that every student must grow to face history with humility and the world with confidence.
This journey represents connection rather than division, the future rather than the past, and empathy and action rather than criticism.
Through this initiative, Shinhan University seeks to reinterpret the significance of the 60th anniversary of Korea-Japan diplomatic normalization.
It is hoped that the journey will serve as a starting point for harmony and coexistence for a new generation — one that is ready to move beyond the past and shape the future.
The ‘Tsushima Peace Vision Journey’ stands as a testament to Shinhan University’s belief that education can pave the way to peace.
President Kang Sung Jong of Shinhan University expressed his vision that the Peace Vision Journey will spark a butterfly effect — serving as a starting point for resolving historical tensions between Korea and Japan. In the long term, he hopes it will lay the groundwork for building trust among East Asian youth and fostering a shared sense of responsibility and peaceful cooperation in the face of the global climate crisis.
Key Career Highlights of Shinhan University President who is Dr. Kang Sung-jong.
Former Member of the National Assembly (17th and 18th)
Member, National Assembly Strategy and Finance Committee
Member, National Assembly Political Affairs Committee
Member, Special Committee on Budget and Accounts
Vice President, Asia Para Taekwondo Union (currently)
President, Korea Sustainable Campus Association (currently)
Co-President, Korean Society for ESG Studies (currently)
