The Shenyang Chapter (head: Ahn Cheong-rak) held the “2016 Unification Camp for the Youths in Three Northeast Provinces” in the presence of 130 participants including 90 overseas Korean high and middle school students and Korean-Chinese students, teachers, and council members who are residents in three northeast provinces in Shenyang, Dandong, Jian, and Huanren for 13 days from August 10 to 13 for 3 night and four days.

The students who participated in the camp floated a “light of hope” containing their wishes at the side of Amnokgang River where the pain of division has been kept intact and had Amnokgang River filled with red color. Afterward, the participants had an opportunity to experience the reality of the sad history of the war and economic cooperation between China and North Korea as they toured the Hwanggeumpyeong Special Economic Zone whose development was now interrupted, the Ogeumseong North Korea & China Logistics Center in Dandong, the New Amnokgangdaegyo Bridge, which was not yet opened due to lack of progress on the part of North Korea, and the disconnected Amnokgang Railroad Bridge.

As the finale of the tour, historical Goguryeo sites in Jian City were visited; the participating students were saddened with bitter hearts, seeing the reality wherein even hanging a placard or shooting video was prohibited in the sites even though the place held the remains of our ancestors.

Hong Ji-min, who participated in the camp as a student in Shenyang Korean International School, hoped that unification will come sooner so that we can be happier and well together after seeing civilians who worked in agriculture, North Korean soldiers at checkpoints, and poor houses and ragged environments.