The inaugural session to launch the Central America and Caribbean Municipal Chapter and Africa Municipal Chapter was held to share the action plan and vision of the 16th Council.

The inaugural session was held on July 31 at Mexico City Sheraton Hotel, with 70 guests attending including the members, local Koreans, and officials of the Korean Embassy to Mexico.

• 

  Report on the action plan by Oh Byung-moon, Head of the Central America and Caribbean Municipal Chapter

  Oh Byung-moon, Head of the Central America and Caribbean Municipal Chapter expressed thanks to Kim Yeong-hwi, former head (14th and 15th), for what the Central America and Caribbean Municipal Chapter has achieved so far. "The goal of the 16th Council is to form an area of empathy for the peaceful unification of our fatherland among all generations with communication and integration," the new chairperson said. He added that frequent exchange and communication among the members are very important since they are scattered in 13 countries in the region.

• 

  Congratulatory Speech by Ambassador Hong Seong-hwa to Mexico

  "We would like to thank Kim Yeong-hwi, honorable head, and the members of the 15th Council for their efforts," Ambassador Hong said in his congratulatory speech. The ambassador to Mexico explained to the attendants the 4 major fundamentals of the Park Geun-hye Administration and Korean Peninsula Trust-Building Process and emphasized the importance of positive activities of the members of the Council both at home and abroad to have the trust process take root and implement it realistically. In particular, the ambassador urged the members to make all-out efforts to inspire Koreans living in the regions to have firm conscience of unification of our fatherland.

Before the inaugural session, the municipal chapters discussed ways of better communication among countries in Central America and Caribbean Region and cultivation of the next generation for national unification. One of the action plans that the municipal chapters decided to promote is to hold the Unification Golden Bell Program in each country in the region and organize a final competition in Mexico. After the inaugural session, the members from 10 countries in the region had the opportunity to improve communication in such vast areas.

• 

  Meeting of the executive members of the Central America and Caribbean Municipal Chapter

• 

  Meeting with the Korean Ambassador to Mexico

The inaugural session to launch the Africa Municipal Chapter was held on Aug. 7 at Helderfontein Estate in Johannesburg, South Africa and attended by 90 persons including the members and officials of the Korean Embassy to South Africa.

• 

  Opening speech by Hwang Jae-gil, Head of Africa Municipal Chapter

• 

  Report on selecting the executive members of the 16th African Committee and action plan

Hwang Jae-gil, Head of the Africa Municipal Chapter, expressed appreciation over the launch of the 16th Africa Municipal Chapter as well as his desire to develop the Africa Municipal Chapter continuously. He emphasized the need for efforts and sacrifice on the part of the members for the unification movement to be revitalized in South Africa and adjacent countries.

Ambassador Lee Yoon to South Africa presented the Letter of Designation to the head and secretary of the Africa Municipal Chapter. He also extended his congratulations on the launch of the Africa Municipal Chapter as an independent municipal chapter, noting that it was a significant day in the history of developing the National Unification Advisory Council. In addition, he expressed his wish for the activities of the Council to provide better understanding on establishing the foundation of unification of Korea and for the Africa Municipal Chapter to be a valuable communication channel among all Koreans living in Africa.

• 

  Ambassador Lee (right) and Hwang Jae-gil, Head of the Africa Municipal Chapter (left)

• 

  Members of the Africa Municipal Chapter

• 

  Report by Shin Eun-sook, Director of the Unification Policy Advisory Bureau

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

• 

  Prof. Jo Yun-yeong of Joongang University

  Prof. Jo Yun-yeong of Joongang University gave a lecture on the government unification policy under the theme of "Korean Peninsula Trust-Building Process - Happiness of 75 million people." He explained the background of the policy, subjects to be promoted, and importance of overseas members of the council.