3rd Tongil Hanguk Forum

The opening speech was given by President Son Jae-shik of the Tongil Hanguk Forum. He said “although it is difficult to anticipate the future, the discussion with experts from various areas will be valuable in preparing for the future” and added that “now is the time for North Korea to change.” Executive vice-chairperson Yoo Ho-yeol of the National Unification Advisory Council (NUAC) delivered a congratulatory speech. Dr. Yoo stated the role of this forum, of figuring out how to respond to the 7th congress of Korean Worker’s Party with conservatives and liberals all together.

The main forum consisted of two statements and conclusive discussions for each statement. Former Minister of Unification and current Chief researcher of the Sejong Institute, Dr. Lee Jong-seok was the Moderator of this forum. The first statement was held by Professor Nam Seong-uk of Korea University. He explained about the five main topics of the party convention and their implications, and advised that our government should be more active to become an independent subject in the international society for reunification of Korean peninsula. The second statement was given by Professor Yang Moon-soo of Kyungnam University, Graduate School of North Korean Studies, with the topic “The future of North Korean economy seen through the 7th congress of Korea Worker’s Party.” Professor Yang explained that the Five-Year Strategy of National Economic Development from this party convention is still abstract, therefore the possibility of realization also seems very low. Also, he added that current North Korean economy can be summarized into market and sino-korean trade, and that we should remind ourselves that North Korea is under strong pressure of strict sanctions from the whole world.

Afterwards, Editor Lee Dae-geun of Kyunghyang Shinmun had a discussion session with the topic “Active participation to a more dangerous NK”. He summarized the party convention into nuclear, leader(Suryung), and autonomy, and mentioned that our government has to accept Kim Jong-un as a conversation partner and to pursue reversible peace actions preferentially. Senior researcher Cho Bong-hyun of IBK Economics Research Institute proceeded with the second discussion session with the topic “Parallel policy line of nuclear and economy, a sticking point to National Economic Development Strategy”. He stated that the items discussed in the economic and social areas were lacking details of e.g. how to improve the living conditions of the people, and also that they would cause strong sanctions from the international community.

Senior researcher Lee Jong-seok argued that we have to figure out the real purpose of North Korea opening such a party convention after 36 years. He also advised the main focus should be on economic strategies and normalization of party functions, and should check the specific policies related continuously. In the continued Q&A session, questions about Gaeseong Industrial complex and the hard-line policies of President Park were asked and discussed.

During the closing speech, Board president Shin Young-seuk of Institute for Peace Affairs (IPA) mentioned that the Korea-Germany Workshop and the German unification study tour, in cooperation with Hanns Seidel Foundation, might be a chance to cooperate with North Korean people, and that our generation should put an effort into ending the tragedy of division.