Kickstarting Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation... Government Holds Online Public Hearing on Related Law Amendments

"Amendment to the Act on Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation"
Ministry of Unification Holds Online Public Hearing

The second phase of the waterway construction in Hwanghae Nam-do, North Korea, has been completed, according to a report by the Korean Central News Agency on the 22nd.

As the peace process on the Korean Peninsula experiences prolonged stagnation, the government, which has embarked on establishing an independent inter-Korean relationship, has rolled up its sleeves to improve the system for revitalizing inter-Korean exchange and cooperation.

On the 26th, the Ministry of Unification announced, "We will listen to the public's opinions to amend the 'Act on Exchange and Cooperation between South and North Korea,' which stipulates the principles and procedures necessary for inter-Korean exchange and cooperation," adding, "An 'Online Public Hearing on the Amendment to the Act on Exchange and Cooperation between South and North Korea' will be held from 2 p.m. on the 27th."

Enacted in 1990, the Exchange and Cooperation Act sets forth the principles and procedures for inter-Korean exchange and cooperation.

The Ministry of Unification explained, "This amendment aims to broaden the permissible scope of contact, which forms the basis for promoting exchange and cooperation, and explicitly designate local governments as key actors in inter-Korean cooperative projects, thereby ensuring further promotion of inter-Korean exchange and cooperation," adding, "We intend to revise the law in a way that strengthens the system's purpose of guaranteeing the activities of citizens for inter-Korean exchange and cooperation."

This public hearing will be conducted via an online live broadcast to practice social distancing in daily life due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Anyone can participate in real time by accessing the 'Online Public Hearing Channel for the Amendment to the Act on Exchange and Cooperation between South and North Korea (http://www.excolaw2020.kr)' through a computer or mobile device. The online public hearing channel will operate for three days from the 26th to the 28th, and questions and opinions can be submitted through the bulletin board within the channel.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.