Universal Peace Federation

The Universal Peace Federation (UPF) is an international and interreligious network of individuals and organizations, including representatives from religion, government, civil society and the private sector, dedicated to achieving world peace. It was founded in 2005 by Rev. Sun Myung Moon and his wife, Dr. Hak Ja Han, and is affiliated with the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (commonly known as the Unification Church). UPF describes itself as a global network of peacebuilders and holds general consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), a status granted on 24 July 2018. UPF's stated mission is to build a world of peace in which everyone can live in freedom, harmony, cooperation and prosperity. It envisions "a world of permanent peace, home to a harmonious global community, based on interdependence, mutual prosperity, and universally shared values." Its areas of work include interfaith peacebuilding, peace and security, United Nations relations, marriage and family, education and human development, and humanitarian and youth programs. The organization implements its programs through a global network of Ambassadors for Peace — more than 50,000 diplomats, clergy, civic leaders, and current and former heads of state have been appointed, according to UPF. UPF advocates renewal of the United Nations, including a proposal that the UN create an interreligious council within its structures. It encourages all religions to dialogue and cooperate for peace based upon the recognition that human dignity derives from a universal divine source. It also offers relief and humanitarian programs, service-learning projects, character education and sports programs with a special focus on personal leadership and peacemaking skills. UPF's predecessor, the Interreligious and International Federation for World Peace (IIFWP), was founded by Rev. Moon in South Korea on 6 February 1999. UPF itself was established on 12 September 2005, and its Japan branch, UPF-Japan, was founded the same year. The organization publishes a monthly newsletter, "Peace Ambassador" (平和大使), in Japan, and its US journal is "Dialogue and Alliance," published in Tarrytown, New York. UPF operates the Peace Road (formerly Peace Bike) cycling event, which began in 2013 and was renamed Peace Road in 2015; it is held in more than 120 countries. The event is linked to Rev. Moon's 1981 International Highway Project and the Japan-Korea Tunnel concept. UPF has partnerships with international governmental organizations including the African Union, CENSAD, and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), as well as various NGOs. UPF has been described by critics and media as a front or dummy organization for the Unification Church, a characterization the church denies. It has drawn controversy for its relationships with political figures, notably former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who sent video messages to UPF events in 2021 and 2022. In December 2025, South Korean police referred former UPF chairman Song Kwang-suk and others to prosecutors on suspicion of violating political funding laws.

The Universal Peace Federation (UPF) traces its origins to the Interreligious and International Federation for World Peace (IIFWP), founded by Rev. Sun Myung Moon in South Korea on 6 February 1999. The IIFWP was established with the aim of achieving peace through interreligious and inter-national reconciliation. On 12 September 2005, Rev. Moon founded the Universal Peace Federation as a "model institution for global governance" and an "Abel UN" to prepare for a UN below-house. UPF-Japan was established the same year. The organization publishes a monthly newsletter, "Peace Ambassador" (平和大使), in Japan, and its US journal is "Dialogue and Alliance," published in Tarrytown, New York. In 2013, an affiliated organization, the Peace Unification Federation, launched a cycling event called "Peace Bike." In 2015, it was renamed "Peace Road," and UPF took over its operation. In Japan, the event is held in each prefecture with the cooperation of local governments and politicians. UPF also founded and operates the International Association of Arts and Culture for Peace (IAACP). On 24 July 2018, UPF was granted general consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. UPF appoints "Ambassadors for Peace" from among leaders in various fields who contribute to society with expertise and virtue. The Ambassadors for Peace Council is an attached body of UPF. At the second Asia-Pacific Summit, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen was awarded UPF's Leadership and Good Governance Award. More than 60 people from 48 countries have received this award, including former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. During the COVID-19 pandemic, UPF organized several "Hope Forward" rallies online, connecting global leaders under a culture of interdependence, mutual prosperity, and universally shared values. On 1 July 2019, UPF Chairman Thomas G. Walsh had a private audience with Pope Francis in the Vatican. Prior to this, UPF had actively participated in Vatican-hosted programs, including consultations on the Syrian crisis in 2014 and celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of Pope Paul VI's encyclical Nostra aetate. The dialogue between the Pope and the Chairman focused on prayer and the importance of the family. At the end of the audience, they discussed the UPF 2020 Summit planned for Korea. UPF has had notable interactions with Japanese political figures. In 2005, a UPF founding commemorative rally was held in Hiroshima, and Shinzo Abe sent a congratulatory telegram. In 2006, UPF held the "Motherland Homecoming Japan Rally" in 12 locations across Japan, which included mass wedding ceremonies; Abe, then Chief Cabinet Secretary, sent a congratulatory telegram. In 2021, UPF-Japan President Kajikuri Masayoshi met with Abe and requested his participation in the UPF-hosted "Think Tank 2022 Hope Forward Rally" scheduled for September. Abe agreed after being told that former US President Donald Trump would appear. On 12 September 2021, Abe delivered a video message to the rally held in Cheongpyeong, South Korea, praising UPF's peace vision and its emphasis on family values. In February 2022, UPF held the "World Summit 2022 & Korea Peace Summit" in Seoul, where Trump gave a keynote video address and Abe sent a written message. After Abe's assassination on 8 July 2022, UPF held a special memorial tribute at its "Summit 2022 & Leadership Conference" in Seoul on 12 August 2022. UPF has been described as a front or dummy organization for the Unification Church. The church denies this, stating that UPF has its own distinct purposes and social activities and is not a dummy organization. In December 2025, South Korean police referred former UPF chairman Song Kwang-suk, Unification Church leader Hak Ja Han, and two others to prosecutors on suspicion of violating political funding laws. On 31 December 2025, Song was indicted on suspicion of illegally donating 13 million won to the support associations of 11 incumbent members of the National Assembly around 2019. On 2 January 2026, police searched Song's home and seized materials related to corruption allegations.

• Rev. Sun Myung Moon founds the Interreligious and International Federation for World Peace (IIFWP), predecessor of UPF, in South Korea.

• Universal Peace Federation founded by Rev. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han.

• UPF-Japan established.

• First 'Peace Bike' cycling event starts in Hokkaido, Japan.

• 'Peace Bike' renamed 'Peace Road'; UPF takes over its operation.

• UPF granted general consultative status with UN ECOSOC.

• UPF Chairman Thomas G. Walsh meets Pope Francis in the Vatican.

• Shinzo Abe delivers video message to UPF 'Think Tank 2022' rally in Cheongpyeong, South Korea.

• UPF holds 'World Summit 2022 & Korea Peace Summit' in Seoul; Donald Trump gives keynote video address.

• UPF holds 'Summit 2022 & Leadership Conference' in Seoul, with special memorial for Shinzo Abe.

• South Korean police refer former UPF chairman Song Kwang-suk and three others to prosecutors over political funding law violations.

An international, interreligious NGO and global network of peacebuilders affiliated with the Unification Church, advocating UN renewal and peace through interfaith dialogue, family values, and service.

• Peace Road

  A global cycling event held in over 120 countries, formerly known as Peace Bike, linked to the International Highway Project and Japan-Korea Tunnel concept.

• Ambassadors for Peace

  A global network of appointed leaders from religion, government, civil society, and the private sector.

• Dialogue and Alliance

  UPF's US journal, published in Tarrytown, New York.

• Peace Ambassador (monthly newsletter)

  UPF-Japan's monthly newsletter.

1. 1Home | UPF Internationalupf.org
2. 2ABOUT | UPF Internationalupf.org
3. 3Founders | UPF Internationalupf.org
4. 4Partners | UPF Internationalupf.org
5. 5Universal Peace Federation - Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6天宙平和連合 - Wikipedia (Japanese)ja.wikipedia.org