The 16th Overseas Municipal Chapters of NUAC (US region) started last Apr. 29 at Seoul Walkerhill Hotel in South Korea to encourage members in their efforts to prepare for national unification and discuss future activities. A total of 735 members of the chapters in America attended the conference, joining in the atmosphere of national condolences for the victims of the Sewol Ferry disaster, including canceling their visit to the Blue House. Reports on the state affairs by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Unification and activities of the council members were made, followed by group discussion by each municipal chapter and visit to the place of national security.

Kim Gi-cheol, deputy chairperson of the US Assemblywho is in charge of operating and managing the conference,noted in his opening speech that the Sewol ferry disaster brought serious impact and sorrow to overseas Koreans as well as the people living in Korea. We need to proceed with this conference solemnly in the atmosphere of national condolences, he added. The members collected donations for the bereaved families of the disaster and paid a visit to the joint incense altar at the city hall, carrying yellow ribbonsin honor of the victims.

"I wish all overseas Koreans will share the sorrow, since all Koreans are now grieving due to the Sewol ferry disaster. This Conference is held in accordance with the legal requirements, but proceeding with the conference as scheduled means that all of us are trying to overcome the disaster, and at the same time, each person tries to normalize the country by performing his/her roles faithfully," Hyeon Kyeong-dae, Executive Vice-chairperson of NUAC, said at the meeting of the executive committee of the US assembly.

According to Hyeon, whenever the country faces difficulties, overseas Koreans shared the national sorrow and tried to overcome them. “I wish all the members will demonstrate their passion and affection for national unification with the wisdom of Koreans," he said.

For his part, Park Chan-bong, Secretary General,expressed appreciation for the attendance to the conference in spite of the national disastrous situation, including a warm heart to comfort the victims.

Park went on to add that, since the term of the 16th NUAC overseas members started last year, the organization has been stabilized, and that it is time to accelerate the activities of the members. The members are required to lead the formation of sympathy for national unification among the overseas Koreans in their area and spread it more widely than ever, he stressed. Senior members of the executive committee introduced their activities related to comforting the victims in their areas and agreed on expanding their roles further.

15 municipal chapters in the USA introduced and explained the outcomes of their unification business so far and their future activity plan.

"The Chicago City council passed the Act on the Human Rights of North Korea last Feb. 27. It also urges the federal congress in Washington D.C. and the White House to pour more efforts for the human rights in North Korea. In addition, we invited next-generation leaders from 13 states for national unification education for two days. Though our activity for unification is small-scale, it may grow to move America," said Jin An-sun, head of the Chicago Municipal Chapter.

According to Jang Kwon-il, head of the Philadelphia Municipal Chapter, attending the conference in their motherland is really an honor. “When I saw the SNS messages sent by the parents of children still in the boat facing death, I felt tremendous sorrow. We will join efforts to recover from the disaster with the determined mind that we are with the fatherland when the country is experiencing difficulties," he vowed.

Choi Jae-hyeon, head of the LA Municipal Chapter, said that the LA Chapter has been promoting unification education for the next generation and expanding awareness of the justifiability of national unification among Koreans in their area. “We also support the wedding ceremony of the North Korean refugees in our city and distribute booklets explaining the national flag, flower, and anthem to overseas Koreans in the LA region to inspire patriotism among them. I wish our people in our motherland know that our hearts are always there, even though our bodies are far away," he added.