First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to Mr. Kim Hyeon-wook, former Executive Vice-chairperson of the National Unification Advisory Council, for the efforts and devotion he has shown for the past two years.
I would also like to thank Mr. Nam Sung-wook, former Secretary General, and all the staff members of the secretariat office for supporting the members of the Council.
I served the Council as Secretary General in March 1990 for around two years but left in January 1992 due to the general election held that same year. Twenty years have passed since I left this office, and our society has changed a lot for the last two decades.
Today, the 16th National Unification Advisory Council is about to be launched. I am now working on the path to be pursued by the 16th Council as well as how to operate it. I would like to go about it through in-depth discussion with you, so that the Council will be able to play its role properly as set forth in the Constitution and applicable law.
One thing is clear, though. The Secretariat office staff should understand the constitutional value of unification correctly to support the members and their activities and fulfill their obligations in disseminating the activities.
The National Unification Advisory Council was established in 1981 for the first time pursuant to the constitution. The Council consisted of the presidential electoral college and others representing each region and vocation; they were the opinion leaders of Korea at the time.
Since the members or consultants were those respected by the local communities, what they said to the residents in their area or in their workplaces regarding national unification was convincing.
Today, our society has become more complicated, and we are facing some restrictions in our activities. Nonetheless, the National Unification Advisory Council should be one that is respected by the people, and it should play the most important role in national unification. Accordingly, our most important responsibility is to support the members so that they will be respected by the people and the latter will give their support for unification.
Our constitution specifies national unification as value-oriented. Article 4 of the Constitution stipulates that the Republic of Korea seeks unification and formulates and carries out a policy of peaceful unification based on the principles of freedom and democracy.
Peaceful unification is a means of unification; the supreme value of national unification is to accomplish it in accordance with the principles of freedom and democracy. Furthermore, it is right to interpret said article, in defining the goal of national unification, by applying it to the territory of the Republic of Korea where freedom and democracy are not applied.
Accordingly, if we believe that our first mission is to form national empathy for unification, the most important agenda of the Council is the South-South conflict as to the issue of the value to be pursued. Only then can we consolidate national capabilities for unification and enhance our national unification abilities.
That is why you should recognize your historical mission as warriors guarding the market economy system of liberal democracy and accomplish peaceful unification of our country for the people in North Korea to enjoy the freedom and prosperity like us.
The status of the secretariat office of the Council was changed, and the number of staff members was reduced slightly during the course of changing the governments. Fortunately, the Council is under direct control of the President, and it enjoys independent status. From now on, the secretariat office of the National Unification Advisory Council should nurture the dream and vision of national unification.
The success of the 16th National Unification Advisory Council depends on your efforts and support to achieve national unification.
So far, you have been performing your duties diligently and faithfully, but I wish you pour more of your energies and sincerity into the work of national unification. I will try my best to help you work in a better environment so that better achievements can be made.
Now, let us go together.
May 3, 2013
Hyun Kyung-dae, Executive Vice-chairperson
National Unification Advisory Council