The 139th Executive Committee (Chief: Executive Vice-chairperson Yoo Ho-yeol) was convened on February 2 at the conference room the Secretariat of NUAC with the attendance of vice-chairpersons from 17 cities and provinces, vice-chairpersons for 5 northern provinces, female vice-chairpersons, Standing Committee chiefs, functional operating members, vice-chairperson of the Council of America, vice-chairperson of the Council of China, Secretary General, bureau chiefs, and section chiefs.

△Report on executive plans for major tasks in 2017, △Discussion on amendment of operating regulations, and △ Matters on NUAC operation followed the opening ceremony.

"International circumstances are fluctuating due to the launching of the Trump regime in the US, and there are many difficulties in Korea as well. Let's complete the 17th term of NUAC successfully to the end just as it had performed its tasks well as a constitutional institution," Executive Vice-chairperson Yoo Ho-yeol urged.

Regarding the executive plan for major tasks in 2017, Secretary General Kwon Tae-oh explained his plan for adjusting similar projects in a larger frame to improve economic feasibility and efficiency and described core projects such as “NUAC Academy (10-week course on unification lectures,” which is an in-depth improvement of the Citizen School for the Unification Era, “Production and broadcasting of one-act play on a unified Korea in the future,” and “Operation of Companion Week with North Korean Defectors.”

Notably, the “Operation of Companion Week with North Korean Defectors,” which gained much attention, aims to maximize support for North Korean defectors and raise people's awareness of them by focusing on projects for supporting the settlement of North Korean defectors, which had been implemented individually by domestic and overseas regional units of NUAC, during the week.

During the “Companion Week with North Korean Defectors,” various programs — such as Eoullim Festival with North Korean defectors, community service activities for North Korean defectors, and scholarship program for defecting students — will all be held at the same time on a national level. Afterward, public opinions will be gathered to select the “Companion Week with North Korean defectors.”

For the appointment of council members for the 18th term, detailed appointment guidelines will be prepared to appoint officers who can make practical contributions to unification activities. In order to do this, last January, the Secretariat sent letters indicating such purpose, under the name of the Secretary General, to institutions that recommend council members (members of the National Assembly, heads of local governments, etc.).

Lastly, regarding NUAC operation, a report on the progress of fundraising activities for building the “Wall of Remembrance” in the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. was made. The construction of the “Wall of Remembrance,” which is being carried out by the Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation (William E. Weber), requires a budget of 20 million dollars. So far, operating members and council members have raised funds on their own in order to solidify the alliance between Korea and the US and to express their gratitude and respect to the US veterans who participated in the Korean War. The funds will go through the relevant process in the future, to be delivered to the Memorial Foundation.