4.12.12

Call for Applications to New Unificationist Academy in Korea


The Unification Church in Korea is calling for candidates to apply to the newly created Universal Peace (UPA) by December 27, 2012.
Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, known by Unificationists as “True Mother,” explained in a Hoon Dok Hwe given November 5, 2012 that the purpose of UPA in Korea would be to train young leaders for the church. According to True Mother, the students will study theology for two years and then dedicate themselves as church leaders for three years. After UPA students gain experience and become as good as the current church leaders in Korea, they will then continue their mission or be given another mission.
UPA will be selective and will have a disciplined atmosphere similar to that of the U.S. Army Military Academy at West Point in New York. “Its [Universal Peace Academy’s] atmosphere is like West Point in the United States, where it will give a strict education and training so that students can have all the refinement as future leaders. We will choose students from those who have bachelor's degrees and the Academy will start next year [in 2013],” True Mother said.
Jae Hyun Kim, the Director of UPA, explained the eligibility for UPA will be based on age, completion of an undergraduate degree, and the results of the application requirements.
The application process consists of three required components, a written test, a physical-fitness test and in-depth interviews, Kim wrote in an email to unificationnews.com
For the first component, applicants have to complete two written tests. The first is a Divine Principle test composed of three sections, including a multiple-choice test, a short-answer test and an essay question. The second test is an English comprehension test to gauge the applicants’ English communication skills.
Push-ups Sit-ups Long distance running
Male 30 in 2 min 60 in 2 min 1.5km in 8 min
Female 20 in 2 min 30 in 2 min 1.2km in 8 min
Females can kneel down
Second, a physical-fitness test including sit-ups, push-ups and long-distance running, must be passed. International applicants do not need to complete the physical-fitness test, however if during the program a student is not able to follow the curriculum, he or she could be disqualified from continuing.
Third, applicants will be interviewed by the professors of the Cheong Shim Graduate School of Theology and the UPA director. There will be a final interview by the director of the Cheong Shim Foundation.
Admitted students who enroll at UPA and agree to study towards a two-year post-graduate degree and to complete a three-year training in public witnessing will receive a full scholarship to pay for the tuition, dorm fees, uniform and training program. UPA will not provide compensation for air fare. Once students enroll in the academy, they are expected to remain until the time of graduation.
Applicants who speak Korean are preferred, but those who have exemplary grades (from a four-year institution) may qualify for additional study in a language school in Korea. UPA will provide for one year of Korean language classes.
According to Mr. Kim, the initial capacity is for 30 Koreans and 20 international applicants.
A video interview will be conducted for international students who live outside Korea on January 11-12, 2012. Additionally, international applicants will need to take a Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK level 3 test).
The application period will open December 17, 2012 and will close December 27, 2012.
The application fee is 70,000 won (about 70 dollars), which should be transferred to the Woori bank 1005-301-213155.
The required documents needed for the application are:
  • A self-introduction
  • Academic plan
  • Record of diploma (or certificate of expected graduation)
  • Academic transcript
  • Recommendation from the candidate’s Continental Director
  • Full-body photo and headshot ID (JPG file)
  • Self-health checklist (dishonest completion of form can lead to discharge from program)
  • Korean language certification
  • Required D2 visa
Names of students accepted to UPA will be announced January 17, 2013 on the Cheon Il Guk UPA homepage (yet to be released), and UPA administrators will notify the admitted applicants.
Please send applications or requests for further information on the application process to Mr. Jae Hyun Kim, director of Universal Peace Academy: upa1@daum.net or 82-31-589-1580.
Contributed by Lymhwa Kim and Krista Karjalainen.

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