Message to the members of the National Unification Advisory Council in Commemoration of its 32nd Anniversary

• Dear members:
  Today is the 32nd anniversary of the National Unification Advisory Council.
  According to our proverb, one decade changes the rivers and mountains. So now, they have changed more than thrice during the past 32 years.
  
  Confucius said in his Analects, “I put my will in learning at the age of 15, and the basis of my learning was established at the age of 30.” The will we should establish is clear.
  
  Our Constitution clearly stipulates in its preamble that our mission is democratic reform and peaceful unification of our homeland. According to Article 4 of the Constitution, "The Republic of Korea seeks unification and formulates and implements a policy of peaceful unification based on the principles of freedom and democracy." The Constitution vests in the President the obligations of achieving the peaceful unification of our fatherland.
  
  In 1969, the Board of National Unification (former name of the Ministry of Unification) was established, but the unification movement at that time did nothing more than enlighten the people by conveying the government policy to them. The national unification issue was not made public until the "Advisory Committee for Peaceful Unification Policy" was established in June 1981 pursuant to the amended Constitution as of October 1980. Collection of people's opinion on national unification and recommendation to the President were made possible when the Council was established.
  
  Pursuant to the amendment of the Constitution in October 1987, the "Advisory Committee for Peaceful Unification Policy" was renamed "National Unification Advisory Council" to be a pan-national organization of national unification consolidating the people's capabilities for unification.
  
  We believe that the Council has been creating national consensus by gathering various opinions on national unification from various classes of people and incorporating the results into the government’s unification policy. Members of the Council have always been standing in the middle of such efforts for the past 32 years.
  
  The unification of the Korean Peninsula is our only task, and it is very important to dispel the worries of the surrounding countries and obtain their understanding and cooperation during the course of unification. The devotion of the members overseas has been enhancing correct understanding of overseas Koreans on the government’s unification policy. You have been making great contributions to formulating favorable public opinions in international societies and securing their support.
  
  The 16th National Unification Advisory Council expands overseas provincial assemblies from 2 to 5 and municipal chapters from 42 to 43 given the increasing number of members in order to expand the basis of international support for the unification of the Korean Peninsula. The roles and status of the overseas members of the Council will be enhanced further. May you lead the unification movement in the countries where you live with more interest and affection than ever!
  
  Dear members --
  I take my hat off to you for your efforts to achieve the unification of our fatherland. Nonetheless, we still have a long way to go.
  
  The border dividing our land into two is no longer geographical or national or historical. South and North are breathing the same air. Just as a border cannot be found in air, there should be no borders in the peaceful unification of our land, which has been the wish of each and every one of us for decades now.
  
  We will not be able to have the opportunity to be unified unless we make use of the time when the "Window of Opportunity" is open for unification. We should be mentally ready to achieve national unification when making use of the window of opportunity to the fullest extent. We should prepare ourselves quite thoroughly for unification, which may come at any time without prior notice.
  
  Let us lead the great march toward the unification of our fatherland to open a new era of unified Korea and One Korea.
  
  Nowadays, the government is promoting the energy-saving movement all over the country due to the unexpected shutdown of 3 nuclear power plants. On September 15, 2011, we came so close to a "Blackout," which means electric power consumption exceeds the power supplying capacity.
  
  It will be hot this summer, like last year. The worst electric power shortage is expected; as long as electric power supply cannot be increased from the short-term perspective, however, there is no other way except to save energy.
  
  We have been overcoming the national crisis by consolidating our will and strength whenever we face a national crisis. As Executive Vice-chairperson of the National Unification Advisory Council, I will devote myself to achieving the peaceful unification of our fatherland, which is the desire of the people in both South and North.
  
  I respect the valuable opinion of each and every of you, both at home and abroad. Your heartfelt support and cooperation would be very much appreciated.
  
  May health and peace be with you and your families!
  
  Thank you.
  
  

  June 5, 2013
  
  Hyun Kyung-dae/Executive Vice-chairperson
  National Unification Advisory Council