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15th Forum of Inter-Korean Relations Experts
15th Forum of Inter-Korean Relations Experts
Public Opinion Analysis Division , 2015-05-28

Unification of the Korean Peninsula: Realistic Measures Driven by Germany and Cross-Strait Relations between China and Taiwan
：Seek a Compromise Point from the German Unification as the Highest Point and the Cross-Strait Relations between China and Taiwan as the Lowest Point
-NUAC holds the forum of inter-Korean relations experts jointly with the Korea Political Science Society-

NUAC and the Korea Political Science Society (chairman: Choi Jin-u) held the “2015 Forum of Inter-Korean Relations Experts” at the Press Center in Seoul, South Korea on May 27 under the theme “Model of Unification of the Korean Peninsula: Find the Way in Germany and China.”

The forum was held at a time when discussion and policy on national unification are focused on the preparation for unification to seek a compromise point applicable to the Korean Peninsula with the German unification model as the highest point and the cross-strait model between China and Taiwan as the lowest point.

The forum was organized by NUAC, which is undertaking a preceding role of discussing national unification in a bid to prepare for unification to discuss national unification with the German method, which has been studied individually as an ideal model of unifying the Korean Peninsula, and the cross-strait relationship between China and Taiwan. This is the first of its kind in approaching the issue.

“The unification of the Korean Peninsula where 80 million Korean people are happy can be realized only when it is firmly rooted in free democracy and market economy. We need to pay keen attention to realizing free democratic value, which is the constitutional spirit of the Republic of Korea,” Hyun said in his opening address.

Choi Jin-u, President of the Korea Political Science Society
Visiting Prof. Yeom Don-jae,

Sungkyunkwan Univ.

The first session was hosted by Choi, President of the Korea Political Science Society. Prof. Yeom Don-jae of Sungkyunkwan Univ. asserted that there are many differences in the national unification conditions between Germany and Korea, but that the unification of Germany could be the most suitable model for unifying the Korean Peninsula in the aspects of performance and convenience.

He said, “The conditions of unification of Korea are far more inadequate than those of Germany; therefore, it is not easy to apply the case of Germany to the Korean Peninsula. Nonetheless, the prevailing conditions in Korea may become similar to those of Germany in accordance with the change in North Korea such as expansion of small markets, mobile phones, Internet coverage in the North, and international political situation.”

“We need to improve the standard of living and quality of life of North Koreans and pursue the democratization of North Korea, removing the obstacles to national unification instead of sticking to short-term exchange and cooperation results,“ he stressed.

Prof. Moon Heung-ho of Hanyang Univ. believes that the model of the cross-strait relationship between China and Taiwan is not suitable for the Korean Peninsula because the process of forming the relationship, process, and method of integrating the system and future image between China and Taiwan are basically different from those of Korea.

Nevertheless, the cross-strait model may be a useful example of reconciliation, partnership, and coexistence of the two Koreas, he said. “We need to take note of the usefulness of the Chinese model to settle the age-old hostility between China and Taiwan and maximize coexistence and prosperity regardless of the normative characteristics of their interrelationship and the international positions of the two countries,” he added.

Park Chan-bong, Secretary General of NUAC, presided over the second session, which covered the following subjects: ▲ Can the reformation and opening policy of China and two different systems under one country be the minimum model for the change of North Korea and unification of the Korean Peninsula? ▲ How do we implement the South and North cooperation by applying two different systems under one country of China to Korea? ▲ Can we apply the German case to Korea as a model of unification from the viewpoint of preparing for unification? ▲ What should be supplemented if the German model of unification is applied to the Korean Peninsula?

For their part, panelists believe that the inter-Korean relations cannot be diagnosed with the German model and the cross-strait relationship between China and Taiwan because of the distinctive nature of the Korean Peninsula and difference in international environments surrounding the Korean Peninsula. They cited the need to establish the most appropriate unification model from the viewpoint of reality and share national consensus for unification.