Joon Ho Seuk
October 1986
Hyo Jin nim ascended at 9:43 on the morning of March 17, 2008
Last August, I was in Korea when Father called me to come to American to accompany Hyo Jin nim to Berlin for the fourth CARP Convention of World Students. That convention, in Berlin, was very dangerous. We faced a lot of opposition from communists. There were bombing threats and many negative newspaper articles. The beautiful facility that had been reserved for the main convention cancelled the event When CARP then reserved the International Congress Hall, they too cancel led. We sued them in court and won.
There was so much opposition that Father advised Hyo Jin nim not to attend the rally but to attend only the main convention and quickly return to America. CARP leaders urged him to do that, but he not only wanted to attend the rally, he insisted on leading the march.
I deeply feared for his safety, leading so many people in a march of almost two hours duration but he was so courageous. CARP is now more academic, but we used to have many in the United States. We were more demonstrative then and were frequently misunderstood. Sometimes, we got into fights. We had forty-nine different rallies in a month during the KAL 007 incident protests. We made a national and international impression. But in Berlin for the first time, I was very scared for Hyo Jin nim's life. There were many bomb threats.
On the day of the march, heavily armed German police and twenty vans escorted and protected CARP members on both sides. This was not just a CARP event; all the European church members were mobilized, led by Rev. Won Pil Kim. I questioned myself internally: In case something happened to Hyo Jin nim, if a bullet comes, am I ready to protect him at the cost of my life? I was determined to walk with him side by side. People were throwing eggs and paint at us. Hyo Jin nim said, "My life is in God's hands." He didn't care; he didn't worry; he just courageously marched forward. I was so inspired and I learned so much from him during this time about courage, strength and boldness. When we arrived at the Berlin Wall, he delivered a beautiful, inspiring speech.
East German territory is six or seven meters from the Wall and the West German police can do nothing in that area. So the communists tried to disrupt us with a counter-rally there. We had to confront them and push them away from blocking the Wall. The next day, the newspapers said that the Unification Church pushed the Leftists into East German territory. At the end, Hyo Jin nim went to the Berlin Wall and prayed so fervently that his face became thoroughly wet with tears. I did not pray; not because I did not want to, but because I wanted to watch. Therefore, I could see his face as he prayed and I could feel his deep commitment.
Father and Mother were so happy to hear of the experience at the Wall. It was a major victory because for the first time, international students came together to demand the destruction of the Berlin Wall. It made an impression globally. Father and Mother called us to go to Alaska directly from Germany and when we got there, Father came back early to hear our report.
In October 1986: Hyo Jin nim leads CARP to the Berlin Wall
Joon Ho Seuk
Last August, I was in Korea when Father called me to come to American to accompany Hyo Jin nim to Berlin for the fourth CARP Convention of World Students. That convention, in Berlin, was very dangerous. We faced a lot of opposition from communists. There were bombing threats and many negative newspaper articles. The beautiful facility that had been reserved for the main convention cancelled the event When CARP then reserved the International Congress Hall, they too cancel led. We sued them in court and won.
There was so much opposition that Father advised Hyo Jin nim not to attend the rally but to attend only the main convention and quickly return to America. CARP leaders urged him to do that, but he not only wanted to attend the rally, he insisted on leading the march.
I deeply feared for his safety, leading so many people in a march of almost two hours duration but he was so courageous. CARP is now more academic, but we used to have many in the United States. We were more demonstrative then and were frequently misunderstood. Sometimes, we got into fights. We had forty-nine different rallies in a month during the KAL 007 incident protests. We made a national and international impression. But in Berlin for the first time, I was very scared for Hyo Jin nim's life. There were many bomb threats.
On the day of the march, heavily armed German police and twenty vans escorted and protected CARP members on both sides. This was not just a CARP event; all the European church members were mobilized, led by Rev. Won Pil Kim. I questioned myself internally: In case something happened to Hyo Jin nim, if a bullet comes, am I ready to protect him at the cost of my life? I was determined to walk with him side by side. People were throwing eggs and paint at us. Hyo Jin nim said, "My life is in God's hands." He didn't care; he didn't worry; he just courageously marched forward. I was so inspired and I learned so much from him during this time about courage, strength and boldness. When we arrived at the Berlin Wall, he delivered a beautiful, inspiring speech.
East German territory is six or seven meters from the Wall and the West German police can do nothing in that area. So the communists tried to disrupt us with a counter-rally there. We had to confront them and push them away from blocking the Wall. The next day, the newspapers said that the Unification Church pushed the Leftists into East German territory. At the end, Hyo Jin nim went to the Berlin Wall and prayed so fervently that his face became thoroughly wet with tears. I did not pray; not because I did not want to, but because I wanted to watch. Therefore, I could see his face as he prayed and I could feel his deep commitment.
Father and Mother were so happy to hear of the experience at the Wall. It was a major victory because for the first time, international students came together to demand the destruction of the Berlin Wall. It made an impression globally. Father and Mother called us to go to Alaska directly from Germany and when we got there, Father came back early to hear our report.