Nine New Members Appointed to North Gyeongsang Province North-South Exchange Committee: "Preparing for Improved Inter-Korean Relations"

On May 22, the North-South Exchange and Cooperation Committee of North Gyeongsang Province held an appointment ceremony in the video conference room of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Government Building and appointed nine new committee members.

The North-South Exchange and Cooperation Committee of North Gyeongsang Province (hereinafter referred to as the "Committee") was established in March 2008. It consists of 20 members, including the Vice Governor for Administrative Affairs as the chairperson, and each term lasts for two years.

Gyeongbuk Provincial Government Building

The main functions of the Committee are to oversee, coordinate, and advise on North-South exchange and cooperation projects in North Gyeongsang Province; to establish a foundation for North-South exchange and cooperation and support private exchanges; and to deliberate and advise on the operation of the North-South Exchange and Cooperation Fund.

At the appointment ceremony, nine new members were appointed. The committee also received a report on the current status of North-South exchange and cooperation projects and discussed ways to utilize the North-South Exchange and Cooperation Fund.

The newly appointed members are experts from various fields such as healthcare, agriculture, forestry, and culture and tourism. Going forward, together with the existing members, they will identify new North-South exchange and cooperation projects that can be promoted at the provincial level and provide advice on all aspects of North-South exchange and cooperation, including deliberation and decision-making regarding the fund.

The newly appointed members are: Lee Gilho, President of the Gyeongbuk Medical Association; Jang Youngja, Vice President of the Gyeongbuk Pharmaceutical Association; Seo Jeongbae, Deputy Director of the South-North Social Integration Research Institute; Park Junghyun, Unification Education Committee Member at the Ministry of Unification and Assistant Professor in Social Welfare Counseling at Daegu Science University; Jeon Sangmi, Professor of Culture and Tourism at Kyungpook National University; Lee Dalwoo, Head of the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Regional Headquarters of the National Forestry Cooperative Federation; Lee Sangho, Director of the Forest Restoration Center at the Korea Erosion Control Technology Association; Cho Hyuncheol, Deputy Director of Management at the Gyeongbuk Headquarters of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation; and Kim Sumi, President of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Association of Korean Women Farmers.

Meanwhile, North Gyeongsang Province stated that, although the current situation is difficult due to strained inter-Korean relations, the province and its cities and counties are jointly creating a North-South Exchange and Cooperation Fund in preparation for the possible easing of sanctions against North Korea and improvement in inter-Korean relations, and have continued to identify new exchange and cooperation projects.

In addition, the province is supporting North Korean defectors and promoting projects to raise awareness of the importance of unification among residents. It also requires public officials to complete mandatory unification education.

With the Committee newly reconstituted, North Gyeongsang Province announced that it will focus on discovering exchange projects in its areas of strength, such as fruit tree planting and erosion control projects, and on preserving the fund in preparation for the possible easing of sanctions against North Korea.

Kim Hakhong, Vice Governor for Administrative Affairs of North Gyeongsang Province, stated, "Although strained inter-Korean relations persist, the role of the North-South Exchange and Cooperation Committee will become even more important in the future," adding, "I hope the Committee will pool its wisdom and capabilities so that North Gyeongsang Province can emerge as a key player in North-South exchange and cooperation."

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