Organization speaks about reunifying Korea

The National Unification Advisory Council Denver chapter presented the progress of the countries' efforts

By Monica Ly, AsiaXpress.com

Jan. 11, 2008

ARVADA – For a period of three years in the 1950s, American soldiers were shipped overseas to fight in an ideological dispute dividing Korea. Unable to completely settle the issue, an agreement was made to end the war by splitting Korea at the 38th parallel to appease the Communist-controlled north while preserving a democratic nation to the south. Since then, despite sharing the same culture and language, there has been a distinct North Korea and a separate South Korea.

Organizations have been working to fix the division.

The National Unification Advisory Council Denver chapter hosted a Korean War veteran’s luncheon Jan. 8 at American Legion to educate people about the diplomatic progress being made to bring together North Korea and South Korea.

The likelihood of uniting the two countries looks more promising today than the bloody attempts that occurred half a decade ago. Daniel Oh, president of the chapter, showed a DVD and conducted a Korean unification speech to discuss the economic progress resulting from the innovative Gaeseong Industrial Complex.

“Right now, North Korea is providing labor while South Korea is providing all the factories, land, development, products and a higher education than most Korean people,” Oh said. “In North Korea, there are raw materials in the ground, but in South Korea, there are none, so we want a trade to work together.”

Industrial growth beneficial to both countries has created an optimistic outlook for political leaders, citizens and those concerned about the future of Korea. Ninety-one percent of experts have said that the South-North Korean Summit has made positive accomplishments and nearly 77 percent of citizens agree.

With strong numbers of confidence, the NUAC Denver chapter continues promoting awareness about the Koreas to gain support.

“For Denver, we have cultural politics, activities, education, advising, and collect ideas for unification,” Oh said. “We’re looking for politicians, political leaders, and news media and so on and so forth. We’re looking for 150 people for a panel discussion about the unification.”

Established in 1981, NUAC is operated by the South Korean president, according to Oh. Under South Korean constitutional law, NUAC is an independent organization that advises the president. Executive members, such as Oh, fly back four or five times a year to speak with him.

“Lots of people have change in mind. If I have an idea, I can hold it in my mind until I die, but if I discuss it, it’s on the internet, it’s on the computer and I change. And I look at you with a different view,” Oh said. “Since 1953, the communists have been there for 54 years pushing the same concepts.”

Open to new ideas and opinions, NUAC has conducted seminars in the past.

“We had a seminar, a Chinese scholar that said they no longer support North Korea; they no longer take care of North Korea. North Korea depends on China’s support in their economics but North Korea has no choice to go anyplace. Only South Korea can help them,” Oh said.

Monica Ly is an assistant editor for AsiaXpress.com. Monica can be reached via e-mail at monica.ly (at) asiaxpress.com.