Kyung Hee University Hosts Peace Forum Marking 10th Anniversary of Choue-Ikeda Research Center
“Choue Young Seek and Daisaku Ikeda Peace Forum 2026”
The “Choue Young Seek and Daisaku Ikeda Peace Forum 2026” was held on May 16, 2026, at Kyung Hee University (KHU) in Seoul, South Korea, to mark the 10th anniversary of the university’s Choue-Ikeda Research Center. The forum, themed “Opening an Era of Oughtopia and Human Revolution: The Role of Education and Scholarship,” was cohosted by the center and the Academic Division of Korea Soka Gakkai International (KSGI).
Dr. Choue’s theory of “Oughtopia” and Daisaku Ikeda’s concept of human revolution share the conviction that lasting social change begins with the transformation of individuals. Both emphasize people’s capacity to transform their consciousness, deepen their ethical awareness and act for the good of the wider human community. Oughtopia seeks to build a peaceful, humane society through such individual agency, while human revolution describes how profound inner change in individuals can ultimately transform society itself.
Attendees
included former South Korean Prime Minister Lee Soo Sung, KHU President Kim Jinsang,
Soka University President Mika Suzuki, KSGI General Director Kim In Soo, and
scholars and experts from various fields.
KHU
Founder Dr. Choue Young Seek and Soka University Founder Daisaku Ikeda first
met in 1997. In 1998, KHU conferred an honorary doctorate of philosophy on Mr.
Ikeda. The Choue-Ikeda Research Center was established in 2016 and has since
held regular academic seminars.
Panelists at the peace forum
At the forum, Ha Young Ae, president of the Choue-Ikeda Research Center, delivered the opening address, followed by remarks from General Director Kim In Soo and Academic Division Director Kim Dae-hwan on behalf of KSGI. In his guest address, former South Korean Prime Minister Lee Soo Sung reflected on his connections with both Dr. Choue and Mr. Ikeda and expressed his appreciation for Mr. Ikeda’s recognition of the cultural debt owed by Japan to Korea.
In
his keynote address, KHU President Kim Jin Sang described Oughtopia and human
revolution as complementary philosophies aimed at educating people to become
active agents of peace. He called on Kyung Hee and Soka Universities to
translate their founders’ ideals into action through global citizenship
education, collaborative research, youth exchanges and the exploration of
humanistic values in the age of AI.
Soka
University President Mika Suzuki emphasized that humanistic education should provide
a foundation for lifelong growth. She said the two universities aimed to deepen
their cooperation through international symposia, online exchanges and other
initiatives to foster global citizens, and
expressed confidence that their collaboration would help address the challenges
facing humanity.
Professor Oh Young-Dahl of Chungnam National University examined Choue Young Seek’s Oughtopia theory as a framework for reconstructing human society, focusing on Choue’s views on contemporary scientific and technological development. Professor Suh Dong-Uhn of KHU explored the historical significance of Ikeda’s thought in relation to the overcoming of metaphysics.
Young
scholars also exchanged views on the future of research on Choue Young Seek and
Daisaku Ikeda over the next decade, discussing such areas as education for
younger generations and AI.
