The National Unification Advisory Council held the third function-specific policy meeting for 2016 at Daejeon Yousung Hotel for 2 days and 1 night from March 31st (Thursday) to April 1st (Friday). More than 150 council members nationwide representing politics, security, administration, and 2 legal functions attended the conference.

The meeting kicked off with an opening address by Choi Hyun-jung, adviser of the Ulsan Nam-gu Municipal Chapter, followed by the pledge of allegiance, greetings from Secretary General Bae Jung-ho, welcome remarks from Kim Bo-yeong, head of the Seo-gu Municipal Chapter, Unification talk concert, and policy meetings of each specific department.

Secretary General Bae Jung-ho thanked the council members who attended the third function-specific policy meeting despite their busy schedules. "Through this two-day meeting, members of the National Unification Advisory Council should become one to gather national opinion so as to lead the path toward overcoming the contingency crisis from the North Korea nuclear situation," he said.

In his welcome remarks, Kim Bo-yeong, head of the Daejeon Seo-gu Municipal Chapter, expressed hope that, through this function-specific policy meeting, the council members from the National Unification Advisory Council will strive to provide a discussion forum that can offer good policy recommendations to prepare thoroughly for the North Korean nuclear provocations based on strong security awareness and to solve the South-South conflicts.

Later, the “Unification Talk Concert” was held, with the address given by Secretary General Bae Jung-Ho; Kim Tae-Woo, a visiting professor of Konyang University, and Kwak In-su, a researcher from the Institute for National Security Strategy, served as panel.

"Dialogue and engagement are needed in situations that provoke the continued North Korean nuclear test; for the time being, however, focusing on sanctions against North Korea should stop the nuclear advancement. To induce North Korea to change its stance on mutual settlement and reunification, firm security awareness is needed," Professor Kim Tae-woo stated. On the other hand, Dr. Kwak In-su stressed that "not only the sanctions from the international community but also the more fundamental and strategic approach is needed to prepare the unification basis.” Then, the Q&A regarding the nuclear issue and North Korea's reality followed amid such heated atmosphere.

The department-specific policy conference was divided into six thematic department meetings, with each department meeting led by experts of the relevant topic with the council members presenting their own opinions.

The politics and security functions discussed the "national consensus reconsideration method of unification and North Korean policy” in depth, whereas the administrative and legal functions talked about the “conflict resolution plan for South-South reunification preparation” in detail.

Following the discussion of departments with the heated participation of the council members, a cultural performance was given by baritone Noh Hee-sub and leader Kim Jung-won. The schedule for Day 1 ended with a harmonious banquet.

For day 2 of the meeting, April 1st (Friday), video screenings were held, followed by the announcement of policy meeting results for each department and awarding of outstanding debaters.

Park Hak-min, chief of the Public Opinion Analysis Division, expressed his gratitude at the end of the policy meeting for the participants' active cooperation for the two-day session, vowing to strive to reflect their valuable suggestions to policy.