Hyun, Executive Deputy Chairperson of NUAC: "Meeting National Unification, One to Five Movement is the First Step of Unification Activities."

NUAC held a joint meeting with the branch heads and secretaries of the provincial assemblies of 18 provinces and cities, 5 provinces of North Korea, and 229 domestic municipal chapters last Apr. 17 and 18 at Daejon Yoosung Hotel.

A total of 270 persons attended the joint meeting, and special lectures were given by Hyun Kyung-dae, Executive Deputy Chairperson of NUAC, and other experts in national unification after the NUAC Secretariat's report.

Group discussions followed regarding the way to promote unification activities in their areas and detailed subjects thereof after President Park's Dresden Declaration. On the second day of the joint meeting, excellent cases of unification activities and outcome of group discussion were presented to share the factors of success with the participants.

In particular, the attendants prayed for the repose of the victims of the Sewol ferry disaster, and the joint meeting proceeded solemnly. The scheduled cultural performances were canceled, with the wish for thesafe return of the missing persons expressed instead.

Park Chan-bong, Secretary General of NUAC, expressed his sincere condolences for the victims in his opening speech. "Just as we prepare ourselves to avoid the recurrence of such tragedy, we should prepare ceaselessly for the unification era of giving happiness to 80 million Koreans. The Dresden Declaration of President Park is meaningful progress in that sense. NUAC will support the council members in exerting their capabilities to the fullest extent to prepare for national unification and welcome the happy era of unification," he vowed.

Hyun Kyung-dae, Executive Vice-chairperson of NUAC, gave a special lecture titled "Unification Depends on Our Will.” "President Park has made 'Building the Foundation of Peaceful Unification' as one of the four keynotes of government administration and is gearing up activities for unification. Fostering diplomatic cooperation with surrounding countries is important in drawing support and cooperation from international societies for the unification of the Korean peninsula.

The maternal package (1,000 days) contained in the 3 proposals of the Dresden Declaration is very important. The humanitarian issues of North Korea should be solved with priority. 'Meeting Unification, One to Five Movement' promoted by NUAC is the most fundamental and important project of the unification movement.

Supporting the North Korean refugees in settlingdown successfully in South Korean society and understanding them are the first step in the unification movement. Therefore, your positive participation in the movement is absolutely required because the key roles of the unification movement in each province, city, and county are performed by the branch chapter heads and secretaries," he explained.

Prof. Kim Young-soo of Sogang University delivered his lecture to the attendants on “Unification of Germany and Trust Building Process of Korean Peninsula.”According to him, in-depth understanding on the unification of East and West Germany is essential for preparing for the unification of two Koreas. We should make our own model of national unification by referring to the case of Germany, he says. “The imagination of national unification can be developed further by presenting the vision after the divided country becomes one," he added.

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  〈PROF. Kim Young-soo of Sogang University〉

Kim Jae-suk, deputy manager of the Department for Supporting the Independence of North Korean Refugees , said that North Korean refugees face difficulties in finding jobs in South Korean societies, but that such problem can be mitigated while they understand the social structures of South Korean society. “Council members of NUAC are required to pay interest and assistin their successful settlement in our society," he stated.

The lecture by Gwak Jong-mun , principal of Hangyore Middle & High School, focused on the "Efficient Mentoring Method for AdolescentNorth Korean Refugees." According to him, since the education system of North Korea is completely different from ours, we should be careful not to hurt their pride and respect while teaching them.

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  〈GWAK refugees Korean North young mentoring on Jong-mun〉

Gang Seok-ho, executive vice chairperson of the Gangnam-gu Municipal Chapter , presented an excellent case of mentoring North Korean refugees. "Continuous mentoring education for the council members is essential to be good mentors, and your efforts and patience are required while taking care of them," he stressed.

Park Jong-sil, secretary of the Songpa-gu Municipal Chapter , introduced another case of success. "We prepared banners matching the program concept, and they were put up at visible spots for the citizens to visit the place of event," he explained.