The National Unification Advisory Council (NUAC; Executive Vice-chairperson: Hyun Kyung-dae, Secretary General: Park Chan-bong) held the 2015 First Political Conference by Function for 2 days on April 1 at Yousung Hotel in Daejeon, Korea. The conference was divided into 6 functions: economy, environment, culture and arts, sports, school education, and youth. A total of 170 NUAC members attended the conference.

The conference was presided over by Moon Jin-sun, member of the Siheung Municipal Chapter, Gyeonggi-do. Park Seong-bae, Vice-chairperson of the Daejeon Assembly, welcomed the participants before Prof. Kim Young-soo of Sogang Univ. gave a special lecture. The keynote address was given by Hyun Kyung-dae, Executive Vice-chairperson of NUAC. The most important part of the event was a political conference by each group of said function.

• Park expressed gratitude to the NUAC members attending the first political conference by function held in Daejeon. “The conference seeks to discuss and collect diverse professional opinions on national unification from NUAC members who are the opinion leaders in the community; your valuable inputs will be forwarded to the president of the Republic of Korea as the chairperson of NUAC. I hope this conference can serve as a good opportunity to collect various opinions on the functions of our society," he added.

• Prof. Kim, who is also known for his album on national unification released last year for the first time in Korea, diagnosed the current national defense environment and inter-Korean relations in his special lecture on the "Recent Change of the Unification Environment on the Korean Peninsula and Inter-Korean Relations" and discussed the unification plan that should be implemented.
  
  ”The Unification environment is changing, due to the reasons including the South Korean government’s decision to participate in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) led by China. Now more than ever, our constant and firm will toward national unification is important to achieve it. Unification is for the mutual existence of the two Koreas, and it should be known to the North Korean regime,” he stressed.

• In his keynote address titled "NUAC Roles to Establish Unification Footing," Hyun talked about the roles of NUAC members in understanding the reality of division and achieving national unification.
  “Both South and North Korea have been talking about unification for the past 7 decades since the peninsula was divided into two, but visible and meaningful results have yet to be seen; this shows just how difficult national unification is, “ Hyun said, lamenting how most people see the division as permanent.
  
  He added that the unification of the Korean peninsula should be based on a democratic fundamental order as stipulated in the constitution of Korea and urged the members to try harder in the preparation for unification, bearing a sense of responsibility for it.

The group discussion on the policy, in which many members were excited to participate, was divided into 6 groups according to the sub-subjects given to them. Experts in inter-Korean issues helped each group discuss a feasible, practical policy on the unification.

The Economy and Environment Function dealt with the theme "Method of promoting the building of economic community infrastructure between South and North Korea," whereas the subject of "Method of establishing a unification culture to recover national homogeneity" was given to the Culture, Arts, and Sports Function. The "Method of fostering the future unification generation and preparation for unification" was assigned to the School Education and Youth Function.

Even though the time for group discussion was rather short for the participants to propose their views at the conference, they were satisfied with the active discussion and various opinions expressed. The first day of the conference ended with a sumptuous dinner.

The dinner commenced with the awarding for the short poem competition about the meaning of a unified Korea. Park Chan-bong, Secretary General of NUAC, greeted the members by proposing a toast; they also enjoyed a classical music performance by the Daejeon Citizens' Musical Group.

Five excellent short poems about the meaning of a unified Korea were awarded, with the authors reading their four-line poems on the stage and the attendants sympathizing with them.

“I am now 82 years old, but it is the age to do more work for unification. The unified strength of all NUAC members can shorten the time to unify the two Koreas," said Ko Yeon-gyu, the oldest member among the attendants, in his toast speech.

Park, the Secretary General of NUAC, hosted a dinner for the members who had intense discussions in appreciation of their efforts and asked them to pay keen interest in the national unification continuously.

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  Awarding

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  Award for Excellent Debaters

The second day of the conference, April 2, started with a culture lecture on health care by Park Hye-yeong; the results of the group discussion on 6 functions held the previous day were then presented, and excellent debaters were awarded.

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  Group 1, presented by Yoon Byeong-ju

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  Group 2, presented by Lee Jeom-bok, Hanam Municipal Chapter

Groups 1 and 2 (Economy and Environment Function) proposed the following with regard to the "Method of promoting the building of economic community infrastructure between South and North Korea": △ Promoting a strategic inter-Korean policy △ Expanding the political and economic initiative using the geopolitical environment of Northeast Asia △ Diversified approach to reducing the economic differential between South and North Korea and proliferating the market economy in North Korea △ Efforts to establish the necessity of national unification and justifiability of preparation for unification among the young generation △ Supporting North Korea in building social infrastructure including roads, harbors, railroads, and telecommunications.

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  Group 3, presented by Song Chang-jun, Gangseo Municipal Chapter of Seoul

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  Group 4 Presentation

For the "Method of establishing a unification culture to recover national homogeneity," groups 3 and 4 (culture, arts, and sports function) proposed the following: △ Secure national homogeneity by exchanging music between South and North Korea △ Develop and disseminate civilian exchange and cooperation programs △ Promote important projects at the state level to recover national homogeneity △ Establish solidarity between NUAC municipal chapters and civic groups △ Investigate and solve the difficulties of the North Korean refugees at the early stage of their settlement in South Korean societies.

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  Group 5, presented by Kim Seon-ok, Jinju Municipal Chapter

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  Group 6, presented by Hwang Gyeong-seon, Boeun Municipal Chapter

For the "Method of fostering the future unification generation and preparation for unification," Groups 5 and 6 (school education and youth function) proposed the following: △ Diversify the unification education programs and strengthen connection with daily life △ Implement unification education focused on active participation in daily life △ Seek expanding time and space for unification education △ Pursue organic solidarity between government departments and reinforce their cooperation to implement systematic unification education △ Develop various contents to draw students to the unification issue and hold events regularly △ Expand financial support.

• We can understand how desperately the members want unification during the meeting. NUAC will try harder to make their wish come true," vowed Secretary General Park Chan-bong in closing the political conference.
  
  He also asked the members to prepare for national unification while maintaining a balanced view on it.

The second political conference by function will be held on April 9 for 2 days.