The 17th Conference of the NUAC Overseas Provincial Assembly (United States) was held at Sheraton Grande Walkerhill (Gwangjin-gu, Seoul) on May 16-19 and attended by 700 council members from the United States.
Under the slogan Unified will for reunification, upcoming peaceful unification,the event kicked off with the meeting of executive members of the United States on May 16, followed by the introduction of schedule and municipal chapters and reception dinner hosted by the Executive Vice-chairperson.
The second day on May 17 began with the opening ceremony, followed by the keynote speech by Executive Vice-chairperson Yoo Ho-yeol, NUAC major activity report by Secretary General Bae Jung-ho, and state affairs report by Vice Foreign Minister Lim Sung-nam. The event included a "Unification talk with overseas council members."
Held on the third day, May 18, were the cultural lecture of SM Entertainment CEO Kim Young-min, state affairs report from Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo, Unification Talk Concert with Secretary General Bae Jung-ho, group discussion, and presentations.
On the last day, the participants visited and toured the sites for unification and national security, including Seungjeon Observatory (Yeoncheon-gun, Gyeonggi-do) and 1.21 "Kim Shin-jo" Route to experience the current status of the divided country.
The 15 US Municipal Chapters that participated in this conference included Washington, New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Los Angeles, Orange San Diego, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Miami, Hawaii, San Francisco, Denver, Seattle, and Chicago.
First day (May 16)
The meeting of executive members of the United States, participated in by 40 executive members, discussed the direction and management of this conference of overseas provincial assembly. The municipal chapter heads and provincial assembly chiefs across the regions held a discussion to make the conference meaningful and to discuss the major schedules. In the reception dinner that followed, Executive Vice-chairperson Yoo Ho-yeol expressed his thanks to the participants from across the regions and his hope that the conference would be substantial with active discussions.
Meeting of executive members of the United States
Second day (May 17)
On May 17, the second day, the conference kicked off with an opening ceremony.
Overseas members pledging allegiance to the nation
In his opening speech, Kim Ki-chul, vice-chairperson of the North American Assembly, encouraged the council members. "Let's do our best so that we can say proudly, on the day the country is united, that I have fulfilled my duty for peaceful unification as a council member across the United States," he said.
Kim Ki-chul, Vice-chairperson of the North American Assembly, giving the opening speech
This was followed by a keynote speech from Executive Vice-chairperson Yoo Ho-yeol. "The timing of unification is not important, but what have we done, and what are we doing for unification if the country is to be unified tomorrow?" Yoo asked.
Yoo also elaborated on the domestic and foreign changes after the fourth nuclear test of the North and noted that we have shown our will with the shutdown of the Gaeseong Industrial Complex, with neighboring countries such as China joining in the sanctions against the North.
He also explained the necessity of unification. "The major difference between South and North lies in the form of system. We are obligated to share our achievements with the people of the North," he stressed.
Executive Vice-chairperson Yoo Ho-yeol giving the keynote speech
In his administrative report, Secretary General Bae Jung-ho said that the aim of the assembly is "to drive and lead the preparation for unification with citizens" and suggested the direction "to win the sympathy of citizens, to build the environment to prepare for unification, to accompany citizens, to communicate interactively, to reinforce the consolidation of public opinions on unification, to gather the people, and to execute preparations for unification."
He also acknowledged the devotion of council members in the United States in terms of internationalizing the preparation for unification, emphasized their role as unification diplomatic delegations, and encouraged them to lead the sanctions of the international society against the North and to play a key role in initiating fundamental changes of the North and peaceful unification.
Secretary General Bae Jung-ho giving an administrative report
The state affairs report of Vice Foreign Minister Lim Sung-nam followed, titled "Response to the North Korean nuclear problem and diplomacy for peaceful unification." According to him, the United Nations Security Council imposed strong sanctions against the North, which were unparalleled in history, and the North has been isolated further.
"Our most important diplomatic aim is to change the North's strategies for nuclear weapons and missile programs. Until the North gives up nuclear weapons and acts as a responsible member of international society, we will take strong and effective measures against the North in close cooperation with the international society," Lim added.
Vice Foreign Minister Lim Sung-nam giving a state affairs report
After the morning schedules, the council members of the United States participated in the "Unification talk with overseas council members" held by President Park Geun-hye.
During the "Unification talk with overseas council members," President Park lauded the US council members' efforts for the development and peaceful unification of our motherland and asked NUAC to lead the concentration of domestic/foreign public opinions and unity of the Korean people.
Unification talk with overseas council members
Third day (May 18)
The conference on the third day started with a speech from SM Entertainment CEO Kim Young-min, titled "Korean culture together with the world."According to Kim, the word K-POP has been formed by various companies including SM TOWN, and when people meet through culture, they tend to sympathize or connect with each other more easily. We should make the best use of this, he said.
"Culture helps bridge the gap between generations, and a good cultural platform can be formed when our country is unified," he added.
It was followed by a state affairs report from Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo who elaborated on the current status with North Korea, President Park's policy for North Korea, and development of sympathy and vision for unification.
He noted that the Korean Peninsula Trust Building Process is not appeasement but starts with firm actions to prevent the North from causing harm. "We will establish and execute policies for the North in the direction of securing citizens' understanding and support," said Hong.
The Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo cited the need to concentrate on sanctions and pressure for now. "We will also continue to strengthen our national ability for unification by relevant projects. Especially, preparation for unification is where the council members of NUAC should play important roles," he added.
Lastly, he mentioned the example of Germany as a successful case of unification and suggested the vision of unification. "The Korean peninsula should achieve unification as soon as possible to lead Asia and to act as a hub of the World," he concluded.
Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo giving a state affairs report
The last part of the morning session was "Unification Talk Concert." It was chaired by Secretary General Bae Jung-ho, with North Korea Strategy Center Representative Kang Chol-hwan and Institute for National Security Strategy researcher Kwak In-su serving as panel speakers.
The talk concert discussed various topics including the insecurity of the political system in the North due to hereditary succession, widening gap between rich and poor, and foreign maneuvering of the North.
According to the representative Kang Chol-hwan, Kim Jong-un is deceiving his people, and the North has been paralyzed due to his reign of terror and anti-market policies for the economy. He also believes that the North can be changed with firm reciprocity.
The researcher Kwak In-su said, "I had worked as a spy in the past and thought of nothing but the collapse of the North until I was caught. The loyalty of people in the North has been rapidly crumbling, and active intervention is very much needed to change the North Korean government."
Unification Talk Concert
After the luncheon, Kim Young-ho, a professor of Korea National Defense University, gave a lecture on the "Status and prospects of South Korea-United States relations."
"Under the Park Geun-hye administration, South Korea-United States relations have become closer and wider for comprehensive strategic alliance of the 21st century. It is necessary for us to make the best use of our relationship with neighboring countries, such as China and Japan, and to develop the relevant capabilities by ourselves," Professor Kim said.
Group discussion by chapter was actively held as well. The session consisted of various activities and policy proposals including △strengthening the alliance between Korea and the United States, △unification education for the next generation, △changing the idea of the relationship between South and North, △human rights in the North, and △public diplomacy for unification so that each chapter can build sympathy for further direction and activities.
Fourth day (May 19)
On May 19, the last day, the participants visited sites for unification security including Seungjeon Observatory and 1.21 "Kim Shin-jo" Route to complete the four-day event.
Overseas council members visiting sites for unification security
