16th NUAC Overseas Council Conference (3rd Meeting)
"Unification Era of Bonanza, Joint Preparation for Unification"
“We Play a Pivotal Role in Consolidating the Will for National Unification”
The 16th NUAC Overseas Council Conference (3rd meeting) was held on Sept. 1~4 at Grand Hilton Hotel in Seoul and attended by 542 council members from Japan, China, Europe, and Africa.
16th NUAC Overseas Council Conference (3rd meeting)
The conference was held under the theme “Unification Era of Bonanza, Joint Preparation for Unification,“ kicking off with the senior members' meeting on Sept. 1 followed by members' orientation and dinner hosted by the Executive Vice-chairperson of NUAC.
The following day, a keynote address was delivered by Hyun Kyung-dae, Executive Vice-chairperson, and business reports were made by Park Chan-bong, Secretary General, followed by special lectures on national unification. All the members were invited to the Blue House, the presidential office of South Korea, by President Park for a unification dialogue.
On the third day of the conference, Jeong Jong-wook, deputy chairperson of the Council of Unification Preparation gave a special lecture on unification; Foreign Minister Yoon Byeong-sae made state affairs reports, with a cultural lecture delivered by Ko Hak-chan, president of the Seoul Arts Center. Members were divided into groups for a group discussion, and they came up with a future working plan. On the last day, Sept. 4, they visited the Dora Observation Tower, Unification Village, and Imjingak Pavilion where they can view the border.
Overseas Council Members, 542 members from 14 overseas municipal chapters attending the conference
Overseas municipal chapters attending the conference included 4 from Japan such as Eastern, Central, and Western Japan and Keunki Japan, 5 from China such as Beijing, Guangzhou, Xingdao, Shanghai, and Shenyang, 3 from Europe such as UK and Southern and Northern Europe, and Middle East and Africa.
First Day (Sept. 1)
A senior members’ meeting was held prior to the meeting program to discuss the program as well as how to manage the conference.
Senior Members’ Meeting on Sept. 1
A total of 33 senior members including Hyun Kyung-dae, Executive Vice-chairperson, Park Chan-bong, Secretary General, Lee Hoon-bok, Vice-chairperson of branch office, and secretaries attended the meeting.
Council members from 14 countries were invited to the welcome dinner hosted by Hyun Kyung-dae, Executive Vice-chairperson of NUAC.
Hyun Kyung-dae, Executive Vice-chairperson of NUAC, welcomes the overseas members
In his welcome remarks, Hyun thanked the members for their visit. “I expect the most active discussion and exchange to be made during this conference under the common goal of preparation for national unification,“ he added.
2nd Day (Sept. 2)
The opening ceremony was held on the second day, Sept. 9, at 9:00 in the morning to start the conference.
Overseas Members Honoring the National Flag
Oh Gong-tae, Vice-chairperson of the Japan council, Lee Hoon-bok from the China council, and Park Dirk from the Europe council delivered messages. “We will play leading roles in strengthening the will toward national unification among the communities of overseas Koreans and in leading local societies in supporting the peaceful unification of the Korean peninsula,“ they vowed.
Oh Gong-tae, Vice-chairperson of the Japan Council
Lee Hoon-bok, Vice-chairperson of the China Council
Park Deok, Vice-chairperson of the Europe Council
The keynote address was delivered by Hyun Kyung-dae, Executive Vice-chairperson of NUAC.
“The unification of Korea is not just a vague expectation but a reality that is well and truly upon us. NUAC members should play a pivotal role in consolidating the people’s will toward unification more aggressively,“ he said.
Hyun Kyung-dae, Executive Vice-chairperson of NUAC
Hyun noted that since the government of the Republic of Korea was established, successful development has been realized, overcoming lots of difficulties. "Therefore, we are confident of our capabilities to overcome any kind of difficulty that may arise while our divided country is being unified.
According to a survey among the North Korean residents in China, 95 out of 100 replied that national unification should be made, and most of them believe that Korea should be unified with a market economy system like South Korea. We should achieve unification to lead North Koreans to freedom and peace,“ he added.
Hyun stressed that strong will can be a strength in exercising great competence, but that competence without will is useless. Since national unification is a matter of will, the unification movement should be promoted with a firm and strong will toward unification, he said.
Park Chan-bong, Secretary General, reported the NUAC business and discussed the results and plans of NUAC for the year. According to him, NUAC would focus on △ Strengthening support for international societies and cooperation with them △ Cultivating next-generation leaders and strengthening the capabilities of the women to prepare for unification and △ Promoting communication and harmony of societies of overseas Koreans worldwide.
Park Chan-bong, Secretary General of NUAC
“2014 is the second year of the 16th NUAC, and we are now evaluating our activities for the past two years during the conference. I wish all council members will make more efforts to get better results for the rest of our term,” he said.
A special lecture was given by Prof. Kim Young-soo from the Department of Political Science and Diplomacy of Seogang University on the “Recent Trend of North Korea and Outlook of Inter-Korean Relations.”
“We should understand the characteristics of the Kim Jong-un regime and diagnose our national security environment first before discussing unification and North Korean issues. The Kim Jong-un regime is strengthening its “Military Forces First“ policy, and the propaganda of his leadership is making use of the image of Kim Il-sung, his grandfather. The Kim Jong-un regime is sensitive to public sentiment, and it is trying to visualize its results,” Prof. Kim explained.
Prof. Kim Young-soo of Seogang Univ.
He noted that the most important thing while pursuing national unification is to alleviate hostility against each other. "Livelihood infrastructures should be established first to build mutual trust, and national homogeneity should be restored through economic exchange.
In addition, we should develop the scenario for national unification. Approaching the unification issue only on a simple scale like military and economic power has limitations. We should explore how to connect with the next generation, considering the fact that North Korean residents wish for national unification,” he added.
Overseas council members proceeded to the Blue House, the official office of the president of South Korea, to attend the “Unification Dialogue with Overseas NUAC Members“ hosted by President Park. (detailed report to follow)
President Park Geun-hye with Overseas NUAC Members
President Park thanked the NUAC overseas members who continue to love their motherland while leading a life that is far from easy in foreign countries. According to her, they are the diplomats for national unification. She went on to explain the necessity of unifying the Korean peninsula and urged them to make efforts to gain the support and bond of sympathy of international societies for the unification of the Korean peninsula.
3rd Day, Sept. 3
The third-day meeting started with “Live Witness“ by Ji Seong-ho, representative of NAUH.
NAUH was established by North Korean refugees including Ji Seong-ho to improve the human rights situation in North Korea. “National unification is a relief work to lead 24 million North Koreans to freedom and peace,“ he said. His account of how he escaped from North Korea as well as his life in North Korea and in China after his escape drew sympathy from the overseas council members.
Ji Seong-ho, Representative of NAUH
Jeong Jong-wook, deputy chairperson of the Council of Unification Preparation, gave a lecture on the "Direction and Subject for the Era of a Unified Korean Peninsula."
"Unification is the only way to solve 7 decades of division of the country and the fundamental prescription to cure the pain of the people. It is the ultimate solution for the Republic of Korea to join the ranks of advanced countries," he said.
Jeong Jong-wook, Deputy Chairperson of the Council of Unification Preparation
He added that, in spite of numerous discussions on national unification, systematic preparation for such is insufficient. Different unification policies and inter-Korean policies raised by more than 300 organizations for the unification movement need to be consolidated, he added,
and went on to explain the roles and main business of the Council of Unification Preparation in detail for the members’ understanding.
“Unification bonanza means growth-friendly unification; the Council will play the role of smart navigator in the course of national unification since the unification of the Korean peninsula is a scary, risky journey that nobody has made before.
We need to design the vision of the future of the Korean peninsula beyond simply overcoming the division and realizing physical unification by establishing the blueprint of national unification. Accordingly, the Council will try to materialize the policy so that the people can realize the power of unification bonanza,“ he added.
Yoon Byeong-sae, Minister of Foreign Affairs, reported the diplomatic policy of the government to the council members.
“The political situation in Northeast Asia is like solving a high-dimensional equation. Factors of the changing political situation in the region are △ intensified conflict and confrontation in the area of politics and security △ collision while seeking new regional order and △ absence of multilateral cooperative mechanism.
Yoon Byeong-sae, Minister of Foreign Affairs
He stressed the need to view the unification issue from an active, leading stance. "National unification will provide the opportunity for raising diplomatic and economic power as well as military power along with strengthened hard and soft power. It will be a steppingstone for the Republic of Korea to make a great takeoff in the world.
The trust-building process of the Korean peninsula is a combination of strong national security and peaceful unification diplomacy. The Park Geun-hye administration has been broadening the diplomatic horizon based on clear recognition of the situation and firm historical recognition through the trust-building process of the Korean peninsula, peaceful cooperation plan in Northeast Asia, cooperation between the Asia and Pacific regions, Eurasia cooperation, and multilateral diplomacy,“ he added.
According to Foreign Minister Yoon, the trust-building process of the Korean peninsula involves separating national security from the humanitarian issue and adjusting exchange and cooperation between the two Koreas depending on the development of denuclearization in the peninsula. The ultimate goal is to tear down the walls of military confrontation, distrust, social, and culture to merge with each other through the path of livelihood and culture, he said.
Ko Hak-chan, president of the Seoul Arts Center, gave a special lecture on culture titled “Communication and Arts.“ According to him, national unification is a course of making the sounds of 80 million people into one song.
Ko Hak-chan, President of the Seoul Arts Center
He quoted President Park’s address delivered on National Liberation Day regarding the path of livelihood, environmental cooperation, and culture between South and North Korea. “We should open even a small path of meeting and communication with North Korea to lay the cornerstone of unification of the Korean peninsula,” he stressed.
Group discussion was held to discuss the working plan according to the environment and characteristics of each municipal chapter.
Overseas council members discussed their working plans for the following issues: △ how to promote nongovernmental public diplomacy △ implementing unification education for the next generation △ roles of overseas Koreans in improving the human rights situation in North Korea and △ supporting North Korean refugees living overseas.
After the group discussion, they announced the results at the Working Plan presentation session.
The following plans were presented: △working direction of the overseas councils to improve the human rights situation in North Korea △method of revitalizing public diplomacy for unification between South Korea and China △education on the history and unification for the next generation by making use of historic sites △ suggestion for improving the human rights situation of North Korean workers working outside North Korea △promotion of humanitarian aid for and exchanges with North Korea through NGOs.
4th Day, Sept. 4
On the fourth day of the conference, overseas council members visited Dora Observation Tower, Unification Village, and Imjingak Pavilion where they viewed North Korea in the front line, struck the Bell of National Unification, and hung ribbons wishing for unification as a fitting end to the conference.
Overseas Council Members Visiting the Sites of National Unification and Security
