The National Unification Advisory Council held the 1st function-specific policy meeting for 2016 at Daejeon Yousung Hotel for 2 days and 1 night from March 22nd (Tuesday) to 23rd (Wednesday). More than 150 council members nationwide representing politics, security, administration, and 2 legal functions attended the conference.

The meeting kicked off with an opening address by Yoon Hye-suk, council member of the Gyeonggi Gwangmyeong-si Municipal Chapter, followed by the pledge of allegiance, welcome remarks from Kang Yeong-ja, Vice-chairperson of the Daejeon Chapter, keynote speech from Yoo Ho-yeol, Executive Vice-chairperson, lecture from Kim Tae Woo, a visiting professor from Konyang University, and policy meetings from each specific department in order.

Kang Yeong-ja, Vice-chairperson of the Daejeon Chapter, delivered his welcome remarks, thanking the council members for coming to Daejeon for the first function-specific policy meeting. "Through this function-specific policy meeting, I hope that the National Unification Advisory Council members can strengthen their competencies for unification," he added.

While giving the keynote address on the "Role of the National Unification Advisory Council for Composing the Base for Unification," Executive Vice-Chairperson Yoo Ho-yeol emphasized the need for re-establishing awareness of the existing security situation after the Fourth North Korean nuclear test and said that the unified competence of NUAC is required more than ever.

"The Korean peninsula is at a stage of overcoming the nuclear crisis to prepare for unification. The situational awareness of the Advisory Committee regarding the crisis caused by the subsequent provocative actions of North Korea and the future direction is accurately recognized to be equal to that of an expert; thus, NUAC’s capacity to mobilize under three kinds of slogans ‒ national empathy, national togetherness, and unified national opinion ‒ should be used to prepare for unification," Executive Vice-chairperson Yoo added.

Professor Kim Tae Woo diagnosed the North Korean nuclear issue and future direction of the North and South, proceeding to lecture about the need for unification. "In a situation wherein, due to the nuclear issue, inter-Korean relations are adversely affected, further dialogue and engagement needed to be put off for a while, but it is time to urge a change of attitude from North Korea. As a Council Member of the National Unification Advisory Council, we need to be exactly aware of the situation and the security dilemma and spread, unify, and lead public opinion," Professor Kim Tae-woo explained.

The department-specific policy conference was divided into six thematic department meetings, and each department meeting was led by the expert in the relevant topic with the council members presenting their own opinions.

The politics and security functions discussed the "national consensus reconsideration method of unification and North Korean policy” in depth, whereas the administrative and legal functions talked about the “conflict resolution plan for South-South reunification preparation” in detail.

Following the discussion of departments with heated participation from the council members, a cultural performance was given by baritone Noh Hee-sub and the leader Kim Jung-won. The schedule for Day 1 ended with a harmonious banquet.

For Day 2 of the conference, March 23rd (Wednesday), the conference started with video screenings and cultural lecture themed "leader speech captivating the heart" by instructor Park Hyeon-ho, followed by the announcement of the department policy meeting results from the previous day and awarding of outstanding debater.

According to Shin Yong-un, chief of the Unification Policy Advisory Bureau, it was a good forum where the opinions of council members were considered with regard to mobilizing national opinion for unification. "The office and NUAC will strive together to reflect these suggestions from NUAC to the policy," he vowed.