SEOUL, South Korea | An ambitious new international body created to tackle global problems, the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference, was launched Saturday with a ceremony at the South Korean National Assembly in Seoul.
Forty speakers of their respective national legislatures signed the ISC’s founding charter, led by the body’s inaugural chairman, Yusuf Raza Gilani of Pakistan, a former prime minister and current chairman of his nation’s Senate.
Thirty-four former leaders from around the world joined the event.
Other VIPs included South Korean National Assemblywoman Na Kyung-won, who attended after having declared on Friday that she would run in her country’s June 3 presidential election. Representing the U.S. were Pastor Paula White-Cain, who heads the White House Faith Office; former House speaker Newt Gingrinch; and former Rep. Dan Burton, chair of the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace.
The establishment ceremony of the ISC was followed, in the same location, by the general assembly of the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace, or IAPP.
In addition to a succession of speeches, films were played and attendees were serenaded by performers including Ms. White-Cain’s husband: Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Jonathan Cain of the band Journey performed a specially written song, “Imagine Peace.”
The ISC operates under the banner of “Building Global Unity: Strengthening Peace and Shared Prosperity through Inter-Parliamentary Dialog.” As put forth by Mr. Gilani, the conference is aiming high.
Its goals include strengthening cooperation among parliamentary leaders and institutions; promoting peace; realizing shared prosperity; advancing inclusive development; addressing the world’s population, climate change, health and digital-divide crises; and establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula.
The new organization is “committed to joint action,” according to a promotional film. “Through partnerships with key organizations, the ISC will … address common challenges around the world.”
One potential role lies in upgrading the efficiencies of overseas development aid. Another is to expedite knowledge/skills transfers — such as applying Brazilian agricultural innovations to Kenya.
“This new initiative comes at a time of urgent need for dialog, trust and cooperation among nations,” Martin Chungung, secretary general of the International Parliamentary Union, said in a video message to the ISC. ”I commend the UPF for convening this valuable conference and look forward to working together.”
Mr. Chungong was not the only speaker to praise the goal of building unity via inter-parliamentary diplomacy.
“The ISC’s noble mission is to promote peace and prosperity to unite the world as a global family and advance multilateral cooperation,” said former U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, speaking one day earlier. “In this regard, ISC efforts to strengthen inter-parliamentary diplomacy through this important conference are highly timely and appropriate.”
“Humanity has long strived to realize a world of lasting peace, yet persistent challenges and conflicts … impede global development,” said Mr. Gilani. “Addressing these challenges requires international cooperation, underscoring the critical role of international organizations.”
“A dream we dream alone stays a dream, but a dream we dream together is so special,” said National Assemblyman Chung Dong-young, a former Korean unification minister who diplomatically engaged with North Korea’s leadership.
Mr. Gingrinch reckoned that the membership of the new organization — speakers of legislatures – boded well for its future, given their proven abilities to achieve consensuses.
“It’s very impressive to have this many leaders from this many different countries all arranging their schedules to be here,” he said. “Among legislators, some are good, some are adequate, some are bad, but as a general rule, by the time you are a speaker … it’s a very different level of knowledge.”
Politics demands both practicality and idealism, he advised.
“We have many ideals that are not doable, and we have many who get things done, but are not idealists,” Mr. Gingrinch said. “The collective practical idealism of a group like this could grow in ways that are fascinating.”
Multiple speakers referenced the tragedies and risks of the divided peninsula.
“We have to speak about the unification of Korea … to bring about economic development for all, and stop the craziness of nuclear development,” said Mr. Burton. “We should not have to worry about someone pressing the wrong button.”
Michael Jenkins, president of the Universal Peace Federation, said the roots of the Korean divide can be traced to the U.S. decision to cede the northern half of the peninsula to the Soviet Union at the end of World War II.
“Americans have some responsibility to erase that barrier and bring together North and South Korea,” he said.
Some offered optimism.
“The same spirit — the family bonds — between North and South Korea remain, and no isolation can erase those human bonds … ties between family members are spiritual,” said Ms. White-Cain. “Peaceful reunification is not only possible, but may happen more quickly than we believe. It is a divine calling.”
Both the ISC and the IAPP operate under the umbrella of the Universal Peace Federation. Saturday’s events were part of the UPF’s 2025 Summit, branded, “Contemporary Challenges to World Order: Establishing a NewEra of Peace and Prosperity.”
The UPF is the vision of Ms. Hak Ja Han Moon, wife of the late Reverend Sun Myung Moon. The Rev. Moon founded the Unification Church in 1954. It grew from a tiny, embattled church in South Korea to a global spiritual movement and an affiliated commercial empire comprising real estate, manufacturing and agricultural operations, as well as media including The Washington Times.
With the ISC having been officially established, leaders urged members to capitalize on the early momentum.
“Now the child is born, it’s about how we feed and grow the child,” said Atrim Gashi, speaker of North Macedonia’s Legislature. “A foundation is always good, now it’s about activities and participation.”
