The 「2015 Korea-EU Peaceful Unification Forum」 was held on Oct. 27 at EU Nordrhein-Westfalen State (NRW) in Brussels, Belgium, which symbolizes the unification of Europe.

Experts in the area of national unification in South Korea and Europe gathered to discuss the subject of 『Unification of the Korean Peninsula and Roles of EU』 including the human rights issue in North Korea.

At least 150 experts and EU persons concerned attended the forum, including Ambassador Torbjorn Froysnes, Special Envoy of the Secretary General of the EU Council in Brussels, Park Jong-beom, Vice-chairperson of the NUAC Europe Assembly, Korean Consul General to Belgium, Dr. Bernhard Seliger, Director of the Korean Office of the Hans Zeidel Foundation, Katharina Patzelt, Director of the Belgium Office of the Foundation, Shin Eun-sook, Director of the Council Member Activities Supporting Bureau of NUAC, NUAC Northern Europe Members, and leaders of Korean Communities.

The opening ceremony was hosted by Yoo Hyun-chae, Chief of the Benelux Assembly of NUAC; welcome speeches were given by Choi Wol-a, Chairperson of the NUAC EU Assembly, Dr. Bernhard Seliger, and Ambassador Torbjorn Froysnes.

Choi said in her opening speech that holding the Forum on the Peaceful Unification of the Korean Peninsula in Brussels, where the EU headquarters are located, is very meaningful and thanked the panelists and those attending the event. “The unification of the Korean Peninsula will not only make great contributions to Korea but also help develop the European economy,” she added. She also urged the attendees to pay keener attention to the human rights issue in North Korea. Ji Sung-ho, a North Korean refugee and a representative of NAUH, experienced the current situation on the infringement of personal rights in North Korea.

Ambassador Thorborn Froysnes, Special Envoy of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, gave a brief introduction of the Council and noted that South Korea and the Council have maintained close relations, and that the North Korean regime shows a favorable attitude toward Europe. According to him, the Council of Europe was organized initially by 10 countries in the region in 1949 to realize the purpose of upholding human rights, democracy, and constitutionalism. At present, it has 47 countries, with the Europe Human Rights Court and Europe Human Rights Committee operating under the Council.

Kim Yong-ho, Korean Consul General to Belgium, gave a congratulatory address on behalf of Ambassador Ahn Chong-kee and explained the relations between South Korea and EU. He believed the Korea-EU Forum could provide the young people of the two regions with useful insight and wisdom to achieve the peaceful unification of the Korean Peninsula and perform an important role for it.

“President Park Geun-hye said in her keynote address at the 70th UN General Assembly that ending the history of 70 years of a divided Korean Peninsula, which is the only vestige of cold war today, would make contributions to world peace. Holding a forum to study how to cooperate with the EU to develop inter-Korean relations and improve the human rights issue in North Korea is a very meaningful and timely event,“ said Park Jong-beom, Vice-chairperson of the NUAC Europe Assembly.

Shin Eun-sook, Director of the Council Member Activities Supporting Bureau of NUAC, gave a keynote address on behalf of NUAC Secretary General Park Chan-bong, who said that EU started a dialogue with North Korea regarding its human rights for the first time in 2001, playing a leading role in the resolution of the issue at the UN Human Rights Committee and General Assembly since 2003. Such efforts by EU drew the attention of international societies to the issue. “Thus, we hope the EU will continuously pay attention to the human rights of North Korea for the basic freedom and rights of North Koreans to be protected and their human dignity to be guaranteed,” he added.

The first session of the forum was hosted by Kim Mee-ryung, Director of Free Korea and EU Policy Center in Brussels. Panelists of the session were Lee Suk, researcher of the Korea Development Institute, Kim Jin-ha, Director of Planning and Coordination of the Unification Research Institute of Korea, Fraser Cameron, Director of the Brussels EU-Asia Center, and Bernhard Seliger, Director of the Korean Office of the Hans Zeidel Foundation. They discussed the △ Current status and prospects of inter-Korean relations and △Change of North Korea and subjects for unification of the Korean Peninsula and roles of the EU for it.

Important points discussed in the first session were as follows: △Korea needs to keep EU informed that the stability of Northeast Asia is related directly to the stability of Europe for the EU to be more positive in achieving the unification of the Korean Peninsula; △ The EU may not participate in the process of building trust and peace in the peninsula very positively, but it could be one of the most important partners in such process. EU should give assistance to Korea, if required, and share its past experiences to make contributions to the peaceful development of Northeast Asia.

The second session of the forum was hosted by Prof. Kang Won-taek of Seoul National University; the panelists in the session were Glyn Ford, former member of the Europe Parliament, Cha Doo-hyun, Special Adviser for Diplomatic Policy of Gyeonggi–do Province of Korea, and Ji Sung-ho, Representative of the Youth Group for Human Rights in North Korea (currently known as Action & Unity for Human Rights, NAUH), discussing the following under the subject of “Cooperation of International Societies to Improve Human Rights in North Korea”: △ review of the situation of human rights in North Korea △ international society’s activities including South Korea and EU to improve human rights in North Korea △ cooperation of the international society thereon.

Cha stressed that South Korea and EU should cooperate to improve human rights in North Korea and induce North Korea to change and suggested the following: △ continuously and ceaselessly raising the issue and paying attention △ taking joint action to highlight the human rights in North Korea as a serious problem △ expanding international networks with America, EU, etc., to protect human rights in North Korea based on such bond of sympathy △ Both EU as a union of member countries and its individual member countries should implement a consistent, unified policy regarding the issue in order to achieve such effects.

Glyn Ford, a former member of the Europe Parliament, said that establishing a favorable international environment is required to achieve the unification of the Korean Peninsula, and that the EU should be more positive in participating in the process of unification of the Peninsula including arranging the South-North Korea dialogue. More efficient restrictions should be imposed against North Korea apart from the humanitarian support to improve the human rights in the country, he added.

Ji, who defected from North Korea, disclosed the subhuman treatment he suffered while he was in North Korea, recounting how he underwent surgical operation to have his injured arms and legs amputated without anesthesia. When he arrived at an airport in South Korea, however, he was deeply impressed when he was treated like a human being, with wheelchair and prosthetic legs and arms provided to him. Most North Koreans are aware that South Korea is more prosperous than the North, but they cannot say anything for fear of execution or imprisonment. He is certain that such dictatorship can never last long considering the past world history.

During dinnertime, many attendees were interested in talking to Ji, who lost one leg and one arm while leading a hard life as a young beggar in North Korea until he finally succeeded in escaping North Korea. The forum held in Brussels, the capital city of the European Union, provided a good opportunity to attract EU’s attention to unifying the Korean Peninsula, improving human rights in North Korea, and changing North Korea while spreading the bond of sympathy with regard to the issue and getting support from each EU member country.