“North America Women’s Conference: Training Uunification Leaders in North America” by strengthening ability of female council members of North America.
The North America Women Conference was held in Houston, Texas, for three days and two nights from November 19th to 21st in order to strengthen the capacity of the female council members and establish future plans.
Held by the Houston Chapter, 80 female members of 20 chapters in North America participated with the topic of “80 million people’s hope for unification by women.”
The first day (Nov. 19th) started the orientation and a dinner hosted by the head of the Houston Chapter. On the second day (Nov. 20th), an opening ceremony was held, followed by Secretary General Park Chan-bong’s keynote speech and lecture of Professor Lee Sung-yoon of Tufts University. On day third day (Nov. 21st), a presentation of group discussion results and award ceremony were held.
The opening ceremony on the second day started with an opening declaration by Bae Chang-joon, the Head of the Houston Chapter, followed by a welcome speech by Baek Ju-hyun, the Consul General of Houston, and a congratulatory message from Kim Ki-chul, Vice-chairperson of the North American branch.
In the keynote speech, Secretary General Park emphasized that “The ‘Unification Bonanza Theory’ needs to be talked more systematically.” and continued, “Unification under the market economy and democracy should be premised.”
Keynote Speech by Secretary General Park Chan-bong.
“It is very important to gain cooperation and support from the neighboring countries who have close relation of gain and loss with the Korean Peninsula during the process of unification. We must make them understand that a unified Korea will not be hostile or a threat to them in order to gain their support.” In this context, he said, “The government has continuously carried out unification diplomacy, explaining its vision for unification and policies to international audiences and asked for their support and participation. It is the role of the council members to support the government’s efforts outside the nation.”
He went on to predict that a “Unified Korea will have a momentum of economic growth and secure competitiveness in the world with a market of around 80 million consumers.”
Bae Chang-joon, the Head of the Houston Chapter, requested in his speech that “Korean women were always there during Korea’s success and female council members should concentrate their abilities in nongovernmental diplomacy in accordance with the Trust-building Process on the Korean Peninsula.”
Opening Speech
Baek Ju-hyun, the Consul General of Houston, commented in his welcome speech that “All Koreans in North America should think of themselves as diplomats and have pride in a unified Korea, which is never a small nation.”
Welcome Speech from the Consul General of Houston
In his congratulatory message, Kim Ki-chul, the Vice-chairperson of the North American branch, said, “I hope the female members of North America will help the unification of Korea with their wisdom and abilities as well as help others with what they are missing.”
Congratulatory Message from the Vice-chairperson of North America Branch
The following lecture was presented by Professor Lee Sung-yoon of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.
His lecture was on "North Korean Exceptionalism: Misunderstanding of Provocation-Negotiation-Compensation-Sanction." He explained that “North Korea, with its unique system, has accomplished industrialization and succeeded in lowering the illiteracy rate, but is experiencing famine. It is a country with the highest proportion of military expense to the population and GNP.”
He added that, “Small and large provocations from North Korea are planned elaborately and as a stage of long-term strategy. Therefore, South Korea and the United States should come up with a long-term counterstrategy to resolutely cut the vicious cycle of North Korean provocation.”
He predicted that, “South Korea, United States and Japan should work on to improve their abilities to exchange information. Also, if China judges that the financial sanctions on North Korea from United States will give them significant damages and economical disadvantages, they will press North Korea as well.”
At last, he emphasized that, “Now, it is time to really improve the South-North and North-U.S. relationship. It is an improvement from the perspective of South Korea and the United States, not from that of North Korea. Unification means the emancipation of North Koreans and it is the utmost mission for us.”
Special Lecture from Professor Lee Sung-yoon of Tufts University
After the luncheon followed presentations with detailed examples and plans of the women’s activities of chapters such as communication with North Korea through music, support for North Korean defectors, marriage of North Korean defectors, education on North Korean customs and scholarship funds for North Korean defectors.
Presenting Examples of Women’s Activities of Chapters
In this conference, group discussions were held with the topics of "Awareness of unification of Korean women in North America and plans to encourage participation in unification activities"; "plans for unification and public diplomacy promoted by women"; "formation of sympathy for unification between generations connected by women"; and "plans for supporting North Korean defector families settling in South Korea."
Group Discussion in the Women's Conference
The council members at the conference agreed that, “We will be participants, not bystanders, in preparing for national unification. We will continue to raise sympathy for unification in the Korean society and leading society here.”
Group Photo of the North American Women's Conference
