Practical Role to Be Played in Improving North Korean Human Rights Issues and Supporting North Korean Defectors of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council,
Suggested by Dr. Kim Hoi-chang
The Peaceful Unification Advisory Council, LA Chapter made a presentation on February 21st at 6pm at the Oxford Palace Hotel in Koreatown, LA, with a three-member discussion group among about 100 advisory members.
In the third subcommittee discussion, Dr. Kim Hoi-chang, Chairman of the Unification Strategy Committee, gave a summary presentation during the presentation time of the general meeting, prefaced by the latest urgent information as follows.
Practical Role to Be Played in Improving North Korean Human Rights Issues and Supporting North Korean Defectors at the Level of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council
Introduction
In response to South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol’s diplomatic unification policy toward North Korea, North Korea’s Chairman Kim Jong-un took hard measures in inter-Korean relations as of January 23, 2024. He banned the use of the words “independence, peace, and great national unity.”
He completely demolished the ‘symbols of harmony’ that their ancestors had emphasized: the Kaesong Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office building, the Mt. Geumgang tourist district office building, and the Three Charters of Fatherland Unification Monument.
In addition, by emphasizing the concept of disconnection and hostility, measures were taken to prevent even the need for unification from being used, like the MZ generation in S. Korea.
He also removed South Korea from maps in school education textbooks, removed maps of South Korea from weather forecasts, banned the use of the name of the unified nation as the Federal Republic of Goryeo, and banned the use of the words “Unification and Harmony.”
Furthermore, the threat to the livelihood of the country’s citizens is increasing this spring due to the strengthening of nuclear armament, the sale of military supplies to Russia, and the armament of high-speed missiles.
The ever-changing situation of young Kim Jong-un, like a football(rukby ball), is actually a manifestation of the crisis in North Korea.
In this situation, the reporter would like to address the topic of today’s third meeting.
Main subject
I. There is a need to approach the improvement of North Korean human rights issues from the Level of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council
A. Basic human rights are no longer guaranteed in North Korea due to nuclear development. This is something North Korea does not want to express. It was said that in 2021, North Korea should adhere to its claims to improve economic development and the people’s standard of living at the 8th Party Congress, but the common press dealing with the Kim Jong-un regime, the son of an opposing position, must research and respond.
B. South Korea, which is on the other side of North Korea, needs wisdom to sharply respond to North Korea’s needs economically and diplomatically through the international community, rather than speaking directly.
C. There is a need to expand universal research organizations in the field of human rights in North Korea. There must be more voices in human rights research in the international community for it to be of interest.
D. Liberalization must be emphasized in the areas subject to human rights evaluation in North Korea, such as freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of economic activity, and freedom of individual activity (freedom to travel within the country, group activities related to foreign visits).
E. There is a need to create awareness of unification through the development of cultural content media, which is a symbolic expression of human rights. For reference, not long ago, two high school students who watched a Korean drama were sentenced to 12 years in prison in front of thousands of students.
F. The North Korean human rights resolution was adopted by the U.N. in 2005, and this body’s headquarters should announce what the results were and take countermeasures.
G. We need to strategically spread the word among North Koreans that economic development is activated when people feel proud of basic human rights.
H. This committee must develop accessible alternatives so that North Koreans are aware of their human rights, and prepare strategic implementation of policies.
II. A practical role is needed to support North Korean defectors.
A. Since basic residence maintenance measures for North Korean defectors already exist in South Korea, this body should conduct cross-cultural adaptation-related projects to help them adapt to life through education on Korean culture. Additionally, if they live in the United States, this body must contact U.S. government officials to help with survival measures.
B. They have been to S. Korea, a world-famous country, and experience the diversity of the international multy cultural setting so that they can have the wisdom to adapt.
North Korean defectors lived in a group culture and a dictatorship culture.
The freedom of founding President Rhee Syng-man Ph.D. should be guided by the common people’s lives so that they can have basic access to the constitutional life of S. Korea.
C. It should be helped to accept the individualistic culture of life through various experiences of S. Korean culture.
D. Large companies of S. Korea have a budget for welfare funds, so they hire a small number of North Korean defectors through their own efforts and make them work for the company, thereby generating economic income and somewhat eliminating the tendency of the collective culture that had been maintained so far, while encouraging individuals to lead individualistic lives. We need help to taste it.
E. The life of anthropological inter-cultural communication should first be helped to develop mental communication skills through lectures and practice in educational forums.
Conclusion
It is becoming clear that there is a need to respond to Kim Jong-un’s escalating nuclear threat with a wealthy nation and strong military. There is a need to expand international community solidarity efforts to improve human rights in North Korea, even if they are meaningless. There is a need to institutionalize the common life settlement of North Korean defectors, improve their cultural communication skills, and make their happiness known to North Korea through a cultural approach to revive the spirit of unification that Kim Jong-un is blocking.
