- 17th NUAC Launching Ceremony Held -

The National Unification Advisory Council (NUAC), a constitutional organization giving advice to the President of South Korea regarding national unification, launched its 17th term on July 1 at the Olympic Park in Seoul, Korea in the presence of President Park Geun-hye. A total of 10,000 NUAC members from both in and out of Korea attended the ceremony together with the following VIPs: Jung Gap-yun, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea; Jung Jong-sup, Minister of Government Administration & Home Affairs; Jung Jong-wook, Deputy Chairperson of the Unification Preparation Committee; Shin Yong-han, Chairperson of the Youth Committee; Park Won-soon, Mayor of Seoul, and; many other local government heads.

“The Republic of Korea will soar high once again when the territory cut into two pieces for the past 7 decades is connected again and all the Korean people become one again. South Korea is ready to have dialogues openly and frankly, putting every current issue on the negotiation table, but the North Korean regime has not responded to our repeated requests, suggesting only preconditions. I wish North Korea will come to the table of dialogue courageously to find the best way for both North and South Korea. If the North Korean regime decides to abandon its nuclear policy, Pyeongyang can surely get “Economy and Peace” and “Stability of Its System and Economic Development.” The South Korean government has been seeking various economic cooperation projects that can be promoted by the two sides while North Korea abandons its nuclear weapons development. North Korea should forget the illusion that nuclear weapons can protect its system, and I urge Pyeongyang to make a bold decision and return to international society as one of the responsible members,” President Park Geun-hye stressed in her opening address.

According to her, when NUAC keeps on preparing for national unification patiently with clear vision and principle as a good model of social integrity embracing all generations and classes of Koreans both at home and abroad, the way to peaceful unification will certainly be opened.

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  Hyun Kyung-dae, Executive Vice-chairperson of NUAC, reporting the directions of activities of the 17th-term

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  Park Chan-bong, Secretary General of NUAC, reporting the current status of organizing the 17th-term NUAC

The 17th-term NUAC consists of 19,947 members, which is 10 more than its previous term (13,512 vocational representation, 3,157 local representation and members of local assemblies, 3,278 representatives of overseas Koreans). In particular, more youth (less than 30 years of age), women, and North Korean refugees joined NUAC as members to expand the base of unification preparation; the capability of providing advice to the President was enhanced by increasing the experts in the standing committees of NUAC. In addition to the above, the number of countries where NUAC members live increased from 115 to 117, with branch chapters overseas increasing by 7 from 24 to 31 worldwide to strengthen public diplomacy ability with regard to unification.

Hyun Kyung-dae, Executive Vice-chairperson of NUAC, reported to the President and council members 4 major activities of the 17th-term NUAC aiming at “peaceful unification wherein 80 million Koreans can be happy,” suggesting the milestone to reach for 2 years to come. NUAC will promote “grassroots movement for unification preparation” dynamically through local chapters and assemblies both at home and abroad along with fruitful advice for establishing the relevant policy and recommendations to the President through the 10 standing committees of NUAC.

※ 4 Major Activities of the 17th-term NUAC

1. Strengthening the substantiality of advice and recommendations

2. Regularizing the preparation for national unification

3. Fostering future talented young generations for unification

4. Realizing the image of NUAC for integrity and sharing

The 17th-term NUAC opening ceremony proceeded with reports on organizing the 17th-term NUAC and activities, resolution of unification preparation with one mind, delivery of letters of appointment of NUAC members by the President, presidential address, and unification performance, which were covered by live broadcasting over the Internet.

A total of 80 North Korean refugee couples participated in the joint wedding ceremony held on June 30. It was organized by the Songpa-gu Chapter of NUAC as one of the commemorative projects for the 70th anniversary of Independence, with President Park, who attended the opening ceremony of the 17th-term NUAC, paying special attention to them. “We were really lucky to come to South Korea, and we are very grateful to NUAC for arranging our wedding ceremony and President Park for her well-wishes. We will lead a happy life and serve as an example as good citizens of South Korea,” one of the couples said.