<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>The Universal Peace Federation or UPF is a United Nations-affiliated NGO established in 2005 by Mun Sŏn-myŏng (1920–2012), the founder of the South Korean Unification Movement. Mun deemed the UPF’s formation “the most revolutionary and wondrous event since God’s creation of human-kind,” assigning the organisation a pivotal role in his millenarian project. This article continues the discussion in Pokorny and Zoehrer 2022 (which addressed the context, birth, and millenarian anatomy of the UPF), outlining the history of the UPF with a focus on its changing self-conception, leadership shifts, and global activities. It examines how the UPF has articulated and put into practice its millenarian founding ideal over the course of three stages of its development. Finally, it highlights major external and internal challenges, which not only informed the UPF’s identity-building and public perception but render the organisation systemically vulnerable.</p>
</abstract>

The Universal Peace Federation or UPF is a United Nations-affiliated NGO established in 2005 by Mun Sŏn-myŏng (1920–2012), the founder of the South Korean Unification Movement. Mun deemed the UPF’s formation “the most revolutionary and wondrous event since God’s creation of human-kind,” assigning the organisation a pivotal role in his millenarian project. This article continues the discussion in Pokorny and Zoehrer 2022 (which addressed the context, birth, and millenarian anatomy of the UPF), outlining the history of the UPF with a focus on its changing self-conception, leadership shifts, and global activities. It examines how the UPF has articulated and put into practice its millenarian founding ideal over the course of three stages of its development. Finally, it highlights major external and internal challenges, which not only informed the UPF’s identity-building and public perception but render the organisation systemically vulnerable.

The Universal Peace Federation (UPF): Origins, Development, and Challenges of the Unificationist “Abel United Nations”

Vienna Journal of East Asian Studies

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

The Universal Peace Federation or UPF is a United Nations-affiliated NGO established in 2005 by Mun Sŏn-myŏng (1920–2012), the founder of the South Korean...

The Universal Peace Federation (UPF): Origins, Development, and Challenges of the Unificationist “Abel United Nations”

Published Online: Dec 27, 2022

Page range: 205 - 247

Received: Nov 10, 2022

Accepted: Dec 14, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/vjeas-2022-0008

Keywords
Unification Church, new religious movement, UPF, millenarianism, religion and politics

© 2022 Dominic S. Zoehrer et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

The Universal Peace Federation (UPF): Origins, Development, and Challenges of the Unificationist “Abel United Nations”

Published Online: Dec 27, 2022

Page range: 205 - 247

Received: Nov 10, 2022

Accepted: Dec 14, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/vjeas-2022-0008

KeywordsUnification Church, new religious movement, UPF, millenarianism, religion and politics

© 2022 Dominic S. Zoehrer et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
Unification Church, new religious movement, UPF, millenarianism, religion and politics