“United Will for Unification, Upcoming Peaceful Unification”
The 17th Overseas Provincial Assembly was held for 4 days from October 11 to October 14 at Sheraton Grand Walkerhill Hotel (located in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul) and attended by 499 council members of 14 ASEAN and European chapters from 92 countries.
ASEAN and European council members participating in the 17th provincial assembly
Held under the slogan “United Will for Unification, Upcoming Peaceful Unification,” the first day of the assembly, October 11, kicked off with orientation, followed by a meeting of executive council members and a welcome banquet hosted by the Executive Vice-chairperson. Held on the second day, October 12, were the opening ceremony, keynote presentation by the Executive Vice-chairperson, NUAC main briefing, Ministry of Foreign Affairs policy briefing, cultural special lecture, Ministry of Unification policy briefing, sectional discussion by municipal chapters, and presentation of results.
On the third day, October 13, a Ministry of National Defense policy briefing and a unification talk show was held, with the “unification talks with overseas council members” held in the afternoon at the Blue House.
On the last day of the assembly, October 14, sites of unification security were inspected at the 5th and 6th Infantry Divisions of the Army.
A total of 14 municipal chapters in 2 provincial assemblies participated in this assembly: 9 chapters of the ASEAN region (Southwest Asia, Southern Southeast Asia, Northern Southeast Asia, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, Vladivostok, Moscow, Central Asia) and 5 chapters of Europe (United Kingdom, Southern Europe, Northern Europe, Middle East, Africa).
[Day 1 (Tuesday, October 11)]
Prior to the main assembly program, a meeting for executive council members was held to exchange ideas about the program and its operational direction. At the meeting for executive council members, 52 members participated, including Executive Vice-chairperson Yoo Ho-yeol, Secretary General Kwon Tae-oh, ASEAN Assembly Vice-chairperson Song Chang-geun, and Vice-chairperson Park Jong-beom, along with members of the Executive Committee and heads of the 14 chapters, secretaries, and chiefs.
Executive council members posing for a group picture after the executive council member meeting
Afterward, council members received instructions on the main schedule of the assembly, greeted each other, and introduced the status and main activities of each provincial assembly and chapter.
The participating members attended the welcome banquet hosted by Executive Vice-chairperson Yoo Ho-yeol after being briefed on the assembly schedule.
In his welcome remarks, Executive Vice-chairperson Yoo Ho-yeol expressed thanks and encouragement to council members from ASEAN and Europe. "I hope that this assembly serves as an opportunity for expressing ideas to unify the will for unification of the compatriot society, as well as for council members to engage actively with each other," he added.
[Day 2 (Wednesday, October 12)]
On Day 2, October 12, at 9:00 a.m., the main event began after the opening ceremony.
Participants pledging allegiance to the flag
In a keynote presentation titled “NUAC, Opening Doors to North Korean Denuclearization and Unification of the Korean Peninsula,” Executive Vice-chairperson Yoo Ho-yeol stressed that, "more than anything, in order to end North Korea's ambition for nuclear provocation, the citizens have to unite and council members have to show combined determination so that the North Korean regime discards its delusion and the international community lends us more power."
Executive Vice-chairperson Yoo Ho-yeol giving a keynote presentation
Earlier, opening addresses were given by European Assembly Vice-chairperson Park Jong-beom and Vice-chairperson Song Chang-geun.
European Assembly Vice-chairperson Park Jong-beom urged the attendees to present ideas to advance the peaceful unification of the Korean Peninsula and deter armed provocations by North Korea through this assembly. He also expressed certainty that the long experience abroad and efforts toward peaceful unification by the council members will be a valuable asset to our home country.
European Assembly Vice-chairperson Park Jong-beom giving an opening address
“Just as every drop of sweat shed by our people living abroad became the foundation for our economy, as ASEAN Assembly members, let us go together in the path to turn the council members' power of 'small unification' into the 'big unification' dreamed of by our 80 million people," ASEAN Assembly Vice-chairperson Song Chang-geun stressed.
ASEAN Assembly Vice-chairperson Song Chang-geun giving an opening address
The opening ceremony and the keynote presentation were followed by the “Main Briefing of 2016.” Secretary General Kwon Tae-oh introduced the executive members and explained in detail the recent unification circumstances, main achievements, and future tasks during the briefing.
Secretary General Kwon Tae-oh giving a briefing
This was followed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs diplomatic policy briefing by Kim Hong-kyun, Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs and South Korea's Representative to the Six-party Talks. In a policy briefing titled “Our Diplomatic Response to North Korea and its Nuclear Program,” Special Representative Kim Hong-kyun urged members to provide support to the government's efforts to overcome the security crisis and achieve peaceful unification.
Briefing on diplomatic policy by Kim Hong-kyun, Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Strategy
Next was Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo's unification policy briefing.
In a policy briefing titled “A New Korean Peninsula that We Make Together,” Minister Hong Yong-pyo urged members to nurture an era of a new, trusted Korean Peninsula and of overcoming the North Korean nuclear crisis, creating a country where everyone is free and happy, creating a stable and rich Asia, and contributing to the progress of humankind.
Briefing on unification policy by Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo
Afterward, a sectional discussion by each chapter and a presentation of results were held for around 3 hours. The 14 chapters made vivid presentations about unification activities considering the characteristics of each region.
Through the sectional discussion, council members discussed activities pursued by the chapters, such as the following: △Direction of sanctions against North Korea and unification/public diplomacy; △Formation of consensus on unification among Koreans living abroad; △Harmony and united activity for compatriot societies; △Support for overseas North Korean defectors; △Unification history education for youths living abroad; and △Improvement of human rights in North Korea.
View of sectional discussion
[Day 3 (Thursday, October 13)]
On Day 3, October 13, △Cultural lecture, △Unification talk concert, and △Unification talks with overseas council members were held.
In his culture lecture titled “Silk Road and Hallyu Road,” Choi Gwang-sik, Professor of Korean History at Korea University, noted that Hallyu is the result of desperation, as the Hallyu craze could continue without stopping for 20 years due to globalization efforts by civilian corporations and government support for overseas expansion.
”Silk Road and Hallyu Road,” by Korea University Professor Choi Gwang-sik
A national defense policy briefing by Ryu Je-seung, Chief of the Office of Planning and Coordination of the Ministry of National Defense, followed.
In a policy briefing titled “North Korea's Nuclear Threat and the Response of Our Military,” Chief Ryu Je-seung explained that, while North Korea has been threatening our security by conducting 2 nuclear experiments and launching more than 20 ballistic missiles this year, our military is doing its best to establish a rigid defense system and preparation posture based on the steadfast ROK-US alliance and urged citizens to "trust our military and work together to establish a total civilian-military security system."
Briefing on national defense policy by Ryu Je-seung, Chief of the Office of Planning and Coordination
A “unification talk show” followed, themed “Knowing North Korea Right.” The talk show received questions beforehand from council members. Professor Kim Young-soo of Sogang University hosted the unification talk show, and the panel included Kwak In-soo, senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Strategy, and Ahn Myeong-chul, CEO of NK Watch.
Sogang University Professor Kim Young-soo, NK Watch CEO Ahn Myeong-chul, and Institute for National Security Strategy senior researcher Kwak In-soo at the unification talk show
Later, the council members moved to the Blue House to participate in the unification talks with overseas council members.
Emphasizing that we must overcome the difficult situation of today and open an era of unification when citizens of both South and North Korea enjoy liberty and human rights on a peaceful Korean Peninsula, President Park Geun-hye asked the NUAC overseas council members to stand at the forefront of bringing together national opinion and uniting the citizens.
President Park Geun-hye giving words of encouragement at the unification talks with overseas council members
Farewell after a group photo with overseas council members
After returning to the assembly hall, talent donations by overseas council members and talent show featuring participating council members were held.
View of overseas council members' talent donation
[Day 4 (Friday, October 14)]
Council members spent Day 4, October 14, the last day of the 4-day event, at the 5th Infantry Division riding tanks/shooting guns and viewing the keepsakes from the remains excavation and at the 6th Infantry Division inspecting the former Cheorwon Korean Workers' Party Headquarters, Woljeong-ri Station, and Peace Observatory.
المجلس الإستشاري الوطني للوحدة
المجلس الإستشاري الوطني للوحدة
