Busan is good

In Commemoration of North Korean Defectors’ Day, Busan Holds “Youth Consensus-Building Forum” Today (14th)

내용

Busan Metropolitan City Mayor Park Heong-joon announced that today (14th) at 1:00 PM, a consensus-building forum titled “UNiSdam: Stories of Unification by Youth (Unification + Youth + 談)” will be held at Domoheon with 80 youths (aged 19 to 39), the future leaders of a unified Korea.

This forum, jointly hosted by Busan Metropolitan City and the Ministry of Unification, commemorates the 2nd North Korean Defectors’ Day (July 14). The event aims to promote understanding of North Korean defectors and explore strategies for social consensus and solidarity under the theme of “coexistence and mutual prosperity with North Korean defectors.”

Participants include 80 youths from the Yeongnam region selected through prior applications, along with North Korean defectors residing in Busan, who will take part in group discussions.

○ Through discussions involving unification experts, defectors, and youth, the forum seeks to explore actionable measures for achieving coexistence with defectors, fostering recognition that all are part of a community moving toward unification.

The forum is composed of three segments. ▲ Part 1 will begin with a screening of the grand prize-winning short film from the 3rd “Hana-ro” Film Festival ▲ followed by a talk concert with North Korean defectors ▲ and conclude with group discussions on selected issues related to North Korean defectors.

○ The short film, a winner of the Ministry of Unification’s Hana Center competition, captures in a sincere and detailed manner the defection journey and settlement process of North Korean defectors, providing a chance for young participants to empathize with the challenges defectors face.

○ The talk concert with defectors will be moderated by Professor Jung Eun-chan of the National Institute for Unification Education, with panelists Park Ye-young, Chair of the Youth Future Committee at the National Movement for Inter-Korean Cooperation, and Park Young-chul, aide to Assemblyman Park Choong-gwon of the People Power Party.

Jo Young-tae, Director General of the Administrative Management Bureau of Busan Metropolitan City, stated, “We hope this forum will serve as an opportunity for youth to develop a positive perspective on unification and recognize the importance of social solidarity with North Korean defectors.” He added, “Busan will continue to create communication platforms across different social groups to strengthen community spirit and make this a city where people want to live, even in their next life.”