The inaugural session to launch the 16th South America Municipal Chapter (Western South America and Brazil) was held to share the action plan and vision of the National Unification Advisory Council.

The inaugural session was held on Aug. 2 at Intercontinental Hotel in Buenos Aires and attended by 120 persons including the members, compatriots living in the area, and officials of the Korean Embassy to Argentina.

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  Opening Ceremony

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  Opening speech by Bang Jong-seok, Head of the Western South America Municipal Chapter

  "Our Municipal Chapter consists of members living in several countries, but we can develop our duties in our own way by overcoming such geographical difficulties," said Bang Jong-seok, Head of Western South America Municipal Chapter, in his opening speech. In particular, he emphasized innovative change and practice to cultivate awareness of unity among generations regarding the unification of our fatherland. He reminded the participants about having pride in serving the country as a member of the National Unification Advisory Council directly under the President as one of the constitutional agencies of Korea and stressed that the members should fulfill their duties faithfully.

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  Congratulatory speech by Ambassador Han to Argentina

  "The Committee of the Western Region of South America has been playing key roles in establishing a firm view of the nation in the Korean communities in Argentina and providing them with a communication venue," said Han Byeong-gil, Korean ambassador to Argentina, in his congratulatory speech. He expressed appreciation for the efforts of Bang Jong-seok, Head of the Western South America Municipal Chapter, and members. He also expects the National Unification Advisory Council to make remarkable contributions to improving the relations between South and North Korea and national growth.

Meanwhile, Yoo Ha-eun’s winning drawing in the 8th Drawing Contest on Wishing for National Unification was presented to Shin Eun-sook, Director of Unification Policy Advisory Bureau. Winners of the essay writing contest also read their writings to the participants.

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  Presenting the winning work in the Drawing Contest on Wishing for National Unification and reading winning essays wishing for unification

Viqo and Flohr, winners of the K-Pop Contest in South America, graced the conference to sing Korean songs for the attendants.

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  Celebration Performance

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  Members of the Western South America Municipal Chapter

The inaugural session to launch the Brazil Municipal Chapter was held on Aug. 5 at Novotal Center Norte. A total of 90 persons including local compatriots and officials of the consulate attended the event. "Our ability for national unification should be strengthened, and empathy for national unification among the generations should be developed by various communication channels to achieve the action plans of unification more efficiently," said Park Dae-geun, Head of the Brazil Municipal Chapter, in his opening speech.

Park Sang-sik, consul general to Sao Paulo, presented the Letter of Designation to the executive members and the Council members and said in his congratulatory speech that the ability for next-generation unification of the Brazil Municipal Chapter was confirmed through the next-generation conference of Koreans in South America last May. He expects the Brazil Municipal Chapter to be developed further through diverse activities related to national unification and the potential ability of the young generations to be realized to contribute to the unification of our fatherland.

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  Reports by Shin Eun-sook, director

  Shin Eun-sook, Director of the Secretariat of the National Unification Advisory Council, reported the "Action Plans of the 16th National Unification Advisory Council" and asked the overseas Council members to make their best efforts in building the foundation of national unification to establish the Korean Peninsula Trust-Building Process in accordance with the basic policy of the government.

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  Lecture on national unification by Prof. Jo Yun-yeong of Joongang University

  Prof. Jo Yun-yeong of Joongang University gave a lecture on "Korean Peninsula Trust-Building Process: Happiness to 75 Million People" and explained the policy for the overseas Council members and compatriots’ better understanding. Prof. Jo emphasized that overseas members of the National Unification Advisory Council and overseas Koreans should play key roles in forming empathy for national unification in the countries where they live.