2014 Policy Conference of National Youth Standing Committee
“Bonanza of National Unification by the Power of Youth!”
The National Unification Advisory Council, NUAC (Hyun Kyung-dae, Executive Vice- chairperson) held 2014 Policy Conference of National Youth Standing Committee at Daejeon Yousung Hotel last March 7 (Fri.) and 8 (Sat.).
220 senior members of the Youth Standing Committee gathered to share the national unification policy of the government and establish the directions of activities of the committee under the slogan “Bonanza of National Unification by the Power of Youth!”
Policy Conference of National Youth Standing Committee
Hyun Kyung-dae, executive vice-chairperson of NUAC, talked about “Why Unification is a Bonanza” during his special lecture and stressed that national unification should be achieved as early as possible to cope positively with unstable international circumstances. He also asked the Youth Committee members to try harder to spread public opinion on unification through SNS as well.
Special Lecture by Hyun, Executive Vice-chairperson of NUAC
Park Chan-bong, Secretary General of NUAC, explained at the conference that national unification will not be realized by simply waiting for it, but that it should be prepared by us through dialogue. Our role is to make unification as a bonanza based on the market economy of free democracy, he says.
Opening Speech and Unification Dialogue by Park, Secretary General
Park Seong-bae, Vice-chairperson of Daejeon Assembly, attended the conference to encourage the senior Youth Committee members. “National unification should be achieved by referring to the successful case of German unification, and Youth Committee members should be more actively involved in programs for supporting North Korean refugees such as One to Five Movement and Hand-in-Hand Movement,” he said.
Park Seong-bae, Vice-chairperson of Daejeon Assembly
Shin Eun-sook, director of the Unification Policy Advisory Bureau, asked the attendants during the 2014 Reports on Major Business to pour further efforts into the “Hand-in-Hand Movement,” the mentoring program for young North Korean refugees organized by the Youth Committee. She promised to give all-out support for the national unification activities of the Youth Committee members.
Shin Eun-sook, Director of Unification Policy Advisory Bureau
Lectures on national unification were given to enhance the unification capabilities of the senior members of the Youth Standing Committee.
According to Kim Young-hwan, head researcher at the Network for North Korean Democracy and Human Rights (NKnet), the gaps between South and North Korea are huge in the areas of economy, society, and culture, but massive national take-off never before experienced could be achieved if efficient and normal harmonization between the two sides could be realized.
Kim Young-hwan, Head researcher of Network for North Korean Democracy and Human Rights (NKnet)
Kwak Jong-moon, principal of Hangyeore High School, suggested guidelines for the mentoring program for young North Korean refugees during his lecture on “Efficient Adaptation to South Korean Society by Young North Korean Refugees.”
Kwak Jong-moon, Principal of Hangyeore High School
Prof. Kim Yong-soo of Sogang University explained the policy performance of the “Trust-building Process on the Korean Peninsula” for the past one year and emphasized the need to prepare for unification through correct understanding of the situation in North Korea. He also asked the Youth Committee members to be more faithful in their roles as opinion leader.
Prof. Kim Yong-soo of Sogang Univ.
Opinions on the unification activities by members were collected during group discussion, and they exchanged their views and methods to promote “Hand-in-Hand,” the mentoring program for young North Korean refugees.
Group Discussion
Various events were held during the conference, including “Writing Envoy Poetry of Unification Bonanza” and “Photogenic.”
Park Jae-kwang, chief of the Youth Committee of Incheon Gyeyang-gu, won first prize in the poetry contest for the following work: “All the youths of broad minds from all over the country gather here today. We strongly denounce the distortion of history by Japan. We will endeavor harder to make the dream of unification bonanza of the Republic of Korea come true.”
Gyeongnam Members
Ulsan Members
Seoul Members
Performance by Crescendo, Unification Circle in Daejeon
Kim Kee-young, Chief of the federation of unification circles in Daejeon
Go, Go, Youth!
The outcomes of the policy conference of the National Youth Standing Committee will be the foundation of the unification business of the youths of NUAC and a compass directing the way for the youths to become leaders of national unification.
