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Grand Master Kimm presented a Kye Young Bae to Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu and as President Mahmoud Abbas was out of the country his Kye Young Bae was accepted by the foreign Minister of the Palestinian National Authority Dr Riyad Al Maliki. Grand Master Kimm also presented the Kye Young Bae to Australian Foreign Minister, Kevin Rudd.

From Israel he travelled to Korea for congress of the Korean Reunification Action Organization.

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The following is taken from the forum handbook.

Yong Sup Kimm was born on the 18th of February 1935 in Jeon-Ju Province, widely recognized as a cultural centre of excellence in Corea. For the youngest son of Cho Chun Ja, a compassionate and uncommonly well-educated woman and Kimm Chong Hoon, patriotic rural landlord, and social activist, life began in a time of political unrest. His family home exemplified the essence of Corean culture, discipline in all areas of endeavour and a staunch commitment to human rights. A life devoted to physical fitness and philosophical and intellectual enquiry had begun.

Fascinated by the idea that Biology as a basic science links all life forms, he graduated Seoul National University as a Bachelor of Science majoring in Microbiology and Botany. He later attained Post-graduate qualifications in Oriental Medical Science. In addition to a 15-year career teaching biology he led an award winning research team at the Jeon-Ju Environmental Research Institute and a number of Social Justice groups.

In 1977 life circumstances propelled Grand Master Kimm and his family towards a new life in Australia, the continent that had fascinated him since University days. On arrival in Melbourne, he was instrumental in establishing the Corean Catholic Community Church, the Corean Language School, the International Hap Ki Do & Sun Do Academy and the Universal Peace Charity Foundation, all based on the ancient Corean Sun-Do philosophical principle of “Hong Ik In Gan, Ee Hwa Se Gye”.

An internationally respected martial artist, Grand Master Kimm has continued to travel the world since I980, spreading the message of his Universal Peace Movement by teaching Martial Arts, working for the reunification of Corea and promoting environmental responsibility. A global network supports the Universal Peace Movement in places as far reaching as Moscow and Sweden to Washington DC and Brazil to name but a few.

The Universal Peace Foundation supports local and international causes. 30 years of Master Kimm’s silent support for the Lily Leprosy Foundation now continues through Universal Peace. Whether the project is training His Holiness the Dalai Llama’s body guards, Monks and exiled Tibetan students as he did in Dharamsala in 2002, or supporting Environmental Education for children through Scienceworks, an ongoing positive effect beyond the initial gift is the aim.

A lifetime of commitment to universal peace in action was acknowledged in 2003 by a commendation from the UN (NGO) World Peace Martial-Arts Ambassador Association and in 2004 by an honorary Doctorate of Philosophy, from the California Union University.

Master Kimm’s vision for Yuk Sa Baroalgi Moim (Ancient Corean history education) conceived more than 20 years ago was brought into being in 2008. At 76 Grand Master Kimm is still actively on the path established in his childhood.

I have been away from my Australian home quite often this year, doing important work for our Universal Peace Movement. I was part of an international delegation that visited Washington in October this year, to commemorate the historic summit meeting between North and South Korea (held October 4th 2007).

Whilst at this important gathering, I was in the privileged position of speaking at length with Frank Jannuzi, the Korean Peninsular Chief Policy Advisor for the then Senator Obama, now of course, President Elect Obama. It was a fantastic opportunity to be able to introduce Frank Jannuzi to the purpose and achievements of our Universal Peace movement and the exciting new plans we have for the future. In my heart I can say I’ve done a good job.

Each time I come back to home, I give thanks to the Creator that we are still alive and safe in all of this world’s turmoil. I think we are fortunate to be living in such a wonderful city as Melbourne, Australia.

Remembering and giving thanks for what we have is an important beginning in our quest for peace. Then we need to act every day from our Universal Peace principles. We need to make sure that we continue to work to keep balance in ourselves, our communities and in our great Universal environment. We are on this planet just ‘spark time’ and it is our duty as human beings to fully use this great opportunity.

As our world faces ecological and economic challenges, each of us is challenged to find new ways of doing things; we are pushed to think differently. As many of the things we regard as necessities are stripped away, we are given a wonderful chance to remember and respect the power of nature and to appreciate the more simple things. I believe that we are on the edge of some amazing developments that are born out of necessity.

Now more than ever it is important to keep up our training as part of our regular routine. Our training starts ‘on the mat’, yet extends beyond the mat in so many amazing ways. Watch out for your training opportunities, they are everywhere! In a similar way, whilst Universal Peace begins with ideas and words it must and does go beyond that to be expressed in action, by each of us in our own unique way. Our Universe supports us as we discover how we can make our contribution.

As I said last year, we can be thankful for each other in this journey, for the opportunity to work for the common good, for the opportunity to learn and to love. At the beginning and the end of each class we say thanks to each other.

So, in that same manner and from my deep heart, I now say Gomupseumnida (a new way of saying thankyou) to each of you for your unique contribution to Universal Peace this year and all the years before.

I and Wendy will continue to pray for health and peace for you and your families.

Grand Master Kimm Yong Sup

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Time and tide wait for no human being. This year, 2007 is disappearing very quickly and our New Year, 2008, is waiting to begin.

We can thank the creator that we are alive and safe in this turbulent 21^st century.

Especially in this time of change, we need to understand and remember about Universal Peace principles.

To keep the discipline of the Great Nature, we need to focus on understanding and appreciating the relationship between our micro and macro universes and the universal energy that flows through us all.

Restoring and maintaining the order and discipline in this delicate relationship is what is needed for a healthy planet.

This can begin with us caring for our own bodies and minds, as well as developing a sense of responsibility for beings that cannot fend for themselves- including the plants and animals who cohabit our planet. Our warming earth is a warning sign of universal imbalance and while we stand on the edge of a dangerous and challenging time, we also stand in a position of opportunity and hope.

Some people might wonder why we train in Martial Art and Sun Do. Actually, we train so that we can understand and develop our own sense of peace, strength and self-discipline.  These qualities can be used to support our planet instead of fighting.  We need philosophy and discipline in order to maintain peace; we need to have peace to save our planet.

We can be thankful for each other in this journey, for the opportunity to work together for the common good, for the opportunity to learn and love. Those of us who practice Martial Art and Sun Do, thank each other at the beginning and end of each class. Hopefully, keeping this discipline can remind us to have a thankful mind in all our daily activities.

In that same manner and from my deep heart, I say Gam Sa Hap Ni Da (thankyou) to each of you for your unique contribution to Universal Peace this year and all the years before.

I pray that our efforts this year will make rich compost for a fertile New Year and our big destiny coming.  I pray for health and peace for you and your families.

Grand Master Kimm Yong Sup
December 2007

A not for profit NGO based in Melbourne, the Universal Peace Charity Foundation was started 10 years ago by Hap Ki Do and Sun Do Grand Master Kimm Yong Sup, based on and sustained by the ancient Korean philosophy of “Hong Ik In Gan, Ee Hwa Se Gye”.

A distinguished audience included representatives from both sides of Australian Federal Politics. Federal Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, the Honourable John Cobb and the Honourable Michael Danby, Federal member for Melbourne Ports and Labour Party Whip joined with other politicians, prominent community figures and well known artists, to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Universal Peace Charity Foundation and the launch of the Inaugural Universal Peace Cultural Exchange Arts Festival; a cooperative venture backed by the UN News and the International Association of Educators for World Peace-UN-NGO.

Out of respect for the Korean diplomats, details of their presence at the celebration were kept under wraps from the media.

The spontaneous handshake between the two Ambassadors brought the packed Grand Hyatt (Melbourne) Ballroom to its feet.

Grand Master Kimm Yong Sup, who was presented that evening with a special peace award from the IAEWP UN NGO declared “According to Universal Peace principles, there is hope; we will be able to create a more harmonizing society and peaceful clean environment for our planet.”

For more information please contact Wendy June 0417 329 996. You can read more about the Universal Peace Charity Foundation and Grand Master Kimm here.

Photos from the evening

Please contact Wendy June for printing permissions and high resolution images on 0417 329 996.

Left to right: South Korean Ambassador Mr Cho Sang-Hoon, Grand Master Kimm Yong-Sup and North Korean Ambassador Mr Chun Jae-Hong.

Left to right: South Korean Ambassador Mr Cho Sang-Hoon, Grand Master Kimm Yong-Sup and North Korean Ambassador Mr Chun Jae-Hong.

Left to right: Grand Master Kimm Yong-Sup and Federal Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, the Honourable John Cobb.

Left to right: Prof Sohn Yil-Keun, Federal Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, the Honourable John Cobb, South Korean Ambassador Mr Cho Sang-Hoon, Grand Master Kimm Yong-Sup, North Korean Ambassador Mr Chun Jae-Hong and Mr Kim Byung-O.

He was then invited to the Israeli Military Academy where he demonstrated Hapkido techniques with selected veteran members of the Academy who wanted to learn new skills. The Principle General of the academy General Gal and many of the academy professors and trainee officers were present at this demonstration.

Grand Master Kimm was then invited to plant a tree at the Academy to commemorate the one week long visit.

Grand MAster Kimm with General Gal and a select group of veterans who participated in the training and demonstrations.

Grand Master Kimm planted a tree at the Academy to commemorate the visit.

In 2002, Grand Master Kimm and a small Universal Peace delegation travelled at their own expense to Dharamsala. There Grand Master Kimm donated his time and expertise to provide training and seminars for His Holiness The Dalai Llama’s bodyguards, monks and exiled students, for 4 sessions a day for 15 days, from 6am till 10pm daily.

Grand Master Kimm with His Holiness The Dalai Llama, 1998

Grand Master Kimm with His Holiness The Dalai Llama, 1998

Grand Master Kimm with His Holiness The Dalai Llama, Wendy June and Luke Fabish, 2002

Grand Master Kimm while training The Dalai Llama's bodyguards

Grand Master Kimm after a training session with The Dalai Llama's bodyguards

Grand Master Kimm, after training session with monks, 2002

Letter from Tenzin Kunchok/Ven (Namgyal Monastery), celebrating the 25th anniversary of Grand Master Kimm's work in Australia.

Letter from Tibetan Children's Village School, celebrating the 25th anniversary of Grand Master Kimm's work in Australia.