Beopryun Sunim Awarded the Niwano Peace Prize, the 'Asian Religious Nobel Peace Prize'

"Miracles Happen When Hearts Unite" Full Donation of 20 Million Yen Prize Money

Beopryun Sunim

The Peace Foundation announced on the 27th that its chairman, Beopryun Sunim (67), received the Niwano Peace Prize, known as the Nobel Peace Prize of Asian religions. The prize is awarded annually by the Niwano Peace Foundation in Japan, based on recommendations and evaluations from over 1,000 intellectuals across 125 countries. Past recipients include Munib Younan, former president of the Lutheran World Federation, Zhao Puchu, president of the Buddhist Association of China, and Yamada Etai, the Tendai sect chief priest.

Beopryun Sunim is the second Korean to receive this honor, following the late Pastor Kang Won-ryong. The Niwano Peace Prize Committee, which conducted the evaluation, praised him for “extensive efforts over many years to promote peace within the framework of Buddhism while cooperating with people of different religions, especially Christians.” They also noted being “deeply impressed by his overseas activities on behalf of people of different faiths, including Muslims in Mindanao, Philippines, Hindus in India, and the Rohingya in Myanmar and Bangladesh.”

In his acceptance speech on the 26th, Beopryun Sunim said, “Freedom and happiness for all people is a dream humanity strives to achieve,” urging the overcoming of issues related to peace, the environment, and structural inequality. He stated, “Along with preventing the spread of infectious diseases, these are urgent challenges that all humanity must jointly address,” and added, “If peace activists, political leaders, and religious leaders from each country cooperate, even the most difficult problems can be solved.” He emphasized, “When hearts come together, miracles happen.”

Beopryun Sunim donated the entire prize money of 20 million yen (approximately 215 million KRW) to the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), requesting it be used to support impoverished women in Southeast Asia and COVID-19 prevention efforts.