The 2013 Asia Youth Conference was held on May 9 ~ 12 at Intercontinental Hotel in Dalian, China to enhance the unification awareness of the youth and consolidate unification ability.

The conference was organized under the theme of "National Unification! Future of the 21st-Century Republic of Korea." A total of 57 youth members of the municipal chapters of China, Japan, Southeast Asia, Southwest Asia, and Vietnam and their chairpersons attended the event. The conference proceeded with the presentation of keynote, panel discussion, group discussion, site survey near the border of China and North Korea, and visit to the historical prison in Yeosoon.

After the youth members had an orientation meeting, the programs started following the opening ceremony on May 10.

“It is meaningful for the youth members to discuss the unification of our fatherland in this historical place where our ancestors planted the spirit of patriotism," said Kim Seong-woong, Head of the Shenyang Municipal Chapter, in his opening speech.

According to Lee Sang-taek, Manager of the Dalian office, the Korean Peninsula Trust-Building Process will be successful if overseas Koreans communities and international societies support and empathize with it. Therefore, the positive activities of our youth members, who are trying to spread empathy for the policy to the local people, are absolutely important, he adds.

Lee Yong-jun, expert member of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee of the National Assembly, and Lee Soo-seok, Chief researcher of the Institute for National Security Strategy, gave keynote lectures to the participants after the opening ceremony.

Lee Yong-jun, expert member of the National Assembly, explained in his lecture on the "Appropriateness and Future of Unification of the Korean Peninsula and the Youth" the △ necessity of unification of the Korean Peninsula, △ stance of the surrounding countries regarding the unification of the Korean Peninsula, △ unification cost and benefits, and △ vision of the 21st-Century Unified Korea.

"We cannot expect North Korea to reform and open the country since the regime is reinforcing former leader Kim Jong-il's policy of ‘military first.’ North Korean leaders are now in a double bind -- their people will die unless the country opens the door, but the North Korean regime will die if the doors are opened," Lee said.

According to Lee, the unification of the country is inevitable considering our history, culture, and strong national awareness, but the people's will toward unification has been weakened; their interest in national unification has been decreasing, too, because they worry about the unification cost.

"We should establish the appropriateness of national unification under our initiative and suggest the benefits of unification in detail to convince the people especially the young generation. Only then can people's interest in national unification be restored, and public opinion, unified," he added. He also emphasized the importance of the role of overseas members of the Council, i.e., diversifying their communication channels with local scholars and expert groups in Asia to enhance their positive thinking regarding the unification of the Korean Peninsula.

Lee Soo-seok, chief researcher of the Institute for National Security Strategy, gave a lecture on "Park Geun-hye Administration’s Policy for North Korea and South-North Relations.”

"Neither the appeasement policy nor the Policy toward the North -- based on the principle maintained by former President Lee Myung-bak -- could change North Korea. Therefore, we need a new approach. The Park Geun-hye Administration's policy is to choose only the advantages of former governments but abandon the disadvantages to create new South-North relations and order in Northeast Asia," Dr. Lee said.

According to him, the issues that Park's administration intends to solve are as follows: △solve the nuclear problem through suppression and multilateral negotiation, and; △ normalize South-North relations through the Korean Peninsula Trust-Building Process. He added that South-North relations would be at a standstill for the time being, but not for long.

Dr. Lee emphasized that the Park Geun-hye Administration's agenda are to solve the nuclear issue of North Korea, induce fundamental change of North Korea, and establish the structure of peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia. He suggested that our government deal actively with the phenomenon and situation taking place in the North.

A panel discussion on the "Role of the youth for peace and unification of the Korean Peninsula” followed in the afternoon.

Hwang Seong-wook, member of the Shenyang Municipal Chapter, presided over the discussion. The youth members presented their opinions on the issues of the Korean Peninsula from the viewpoint of the country where they live, unification movement in local society, and examples of their unification movement.

Jeong Yang-jin from the Shanghai Municipal Chapter presented his opinion on the "Issue of the Korean Peninsula from the Viewpoint of China" based on his communication with the Chinese people for the past 15 years while living in China. He suggested the following: △ We should raise the dignity of China; △ We should keep making exchanges with the Chinese to shape public opinion; △ We should communicate and exchange with the ethnic Koreans who are influential in China; △ Korean companies in China should participate in the volunteer activities for Chinese societies, and; △ We should hold a unification forum regularly with the Chinese experts concerned.

Park Yu-sik from the East Part of Japan Municipal Chapter presented his opinion on the "Korean Communities in Japan and Unification of the Korean Peninsula" and explained the history of Korean communities in Japan and their activities, recognition and activities related to national unification, and conflicts among Koreans in Japan. "It's better to emphasize the same root, not the same people. Such may be more helpful in achieving unity and integration of overseas Koreans in Japan," he said.
According to Lee Sang-myeong from the Southeast Asia Municipal Chapter, we should establish the value philosophy of national unification first and promote common activities.

"The unification awareness of people in their 20s~30s is unstable, with the young generations thinking that national unification may be possible in the far future or downright impossible. Given the increasing number of Korean young men living abroad, we should expand opportunities for them to get information on national unification and promote systematic unification education for them," said Lee Ji-wan from the Southwest Asia Municipal Chapter.

Song Yeong-hee from the Vietnam Municipal Chapter explained the activities of the Vietnam Municipal Chapter: △ connection of lines of loyalty and filial piety among the multicultural families in Korea and Vietnam; △ Unification culture exhibit, and; △ scholarship for students.

Chae Ik-joo from the Qingdao Municipal Chapter introduced the latter’s activities such as Mock UN Forum suggested by the youth in 2011 and 2012, K-pop festival, and mountain climbing for unification.

They held group discussions to present their own views, which were consolidated for presentation.

Four group discussions on the following topics were held: △ recommending the policy for the North to the government; △ unification of the Korean Peninsula and cooperation of the surrounding countries; △ exchange of youth members of Asian municipal chapters, and; △ enhancement of unification awareness of the next generation.

The conference ended in a passionate mood, with the participants singing the unification song with their hands joined.
In addition, a meeting with some leaders of ethnic Koreans living in China was arranged.

A total of 7 ethnic Koreans in Dalian had a meeting with 6 heads of municipal chapters to discuss the unification policy of the Korean government, development of South-North relations, and action plan of the Council. After the meeting, the youth members surveyed historical sites on May 11 and 12.
Youth Committee Members visited Dandong to look around the Yalu River Bridge, Hosan Jang Sung and Weehaw Island which are on the border line of North Korea and hardened their will of national unification.

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  Yalu River bridge in Dandong

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  North Korea as viewed from the pleasure boat on Yalu River

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  Border between China and North Korea

They also visited Yeosoon Prison, where independence patriots were detained, and other historical places.