The National Unification Advisory Council (Executive Vice-chairperson Yoo Ho-yeol, Secretary General Bae Jung-ho) held the second function-specific policy meeting for 2016 at Daejeon Yousung Hotel for 2 days and 1 night from March 24th (Thursday) to 25th (Friday). More than 150 council members nationwide representing politics, security, administration, and 2 legal functions attended the conference.

The meeting started with an opening address by Kim Hyung-rye, adviser of the Gyeonggi Osan-si Municipal Chapter, followed by the pledge of allegiance, greetings from Kang Yeong-ja, Vice-chairperson of the Daejeon Chapter, welcome remarks from Shin Yong-un, chief of the Unification Policy Advisory Bureau, keynote speech from Hong Yang-ho, distinguished fellow researcher from the Korea Institute for National Unification, special lecture from Kim Tae-woo, invited professor from Konyang University, and policy meetings of each specific department.

Kang Yeong-ja, Vice-chairperson of the Daejeon Chapter, thanked the council members for coming to Daejeon for the second function-specific policy meeting. "Through these function-specific policy meetings, I hope the National Unification Advisory Council members can strengthen the power and will for unification," he added.

Shin Yong-un, chief of the Unification Policy Advisory Bureau, also thanked the council members for attending the second function-specific policy meeting despite their busy schedules. "Through this 2-day meeting, I hope that proper policy agenda can be derived from the free exchange of opinions regarding unification among the council members,” he said.

In his keynote speech on the topic "South-North relationship status and future challenges,” Hong Yang-ho, a distinguished research fellow, noted that, for peace in the Korean peninsula, North Korea's abandonment of nuclear weapons is a preemptive task. “We need to set our sanctions policy in a more decisive direction. This time, public opinion should be mobilized and should be collected as one opinion," he stressed.

Professor Kim Tae Woo diagnosed the North Korean nuclear issue and future direction of North and South, proceeding to lecture about the need for unification. "In a situation wherein, due to the nuclear issue, inter-Korean relations are adversely affected, further dialogue and engagement needed to be put off for a while, but it is time to urge a change of attitude from North Korea. As council members of the National Unification Advisory Council, we need to be exactly aware of the situation and the security dilemma and spread, unify, and lead public opinion," Professor Kim Tae-woo explained.

The department-specific policy conference was divided into six thematic department meetings, and each department meeting was led by the expert in the relevant topic with the council members presenting their own opinions.

The politics and security functions discussed the "national consensus reconsideration method of unification and North Korean policy” in depth, whereas the administrative and legal functions talked about the “conflict resolution plan for South-South reunification preparation” in detail.

Following the discussion of departments with the heated participation of the council members, a cultural performance was given by baritone Noh Hee-sub and the leader Kim Jung-won. The schedule for Day 1 ended with a harmonious banquet.

For day 2 of the meeting, March 25th (Friday), video screenings were held, followed by the announcement of the policy meeting results for each department and awarding of outstanding debaters.

Park Hak-min, chief of the Public Opinion Analysis Division, commented at the end of the policy meeting that "it was a great opportunity to collect opinions on unification from various professional council members," and that "the office and advisory will strive together to reflect these suggestions from the advisory to the policy."

Meanwhile, following 2016’s 2nd function-specific meeting, the 3rd meeting is scheduled to be held from March 31st to April 1st.