Chung Dongyoung: "Korean Peninsula Issues Cannot Be Solved by Bureaucratic Mindset Waiting for U.S. Approval"

Minister of Unification Chung Dongyoung stated on the 25th, "The unique characteristic of issues on the Korean Peninsula is that they cannot be resolved through a bureaucratic mindset that waits for approval and outcomes from the United States."

During his congratulatory remarks at the International Seminar on the Future Vision of Peace Economy on the Korean Peninsula, held at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul on this day, Minister Chung shared an anecdote about former President Kim Daejung during the 1998 departure of the Geumgangsan tourism ship to illustrate his point.

Yonhap News Agency

According to Minister Chung, in November 1998, when the Geumgangsan tourism ship was set to depart, there were opinions within the government that the event should be postponed. This was because the United States was not pleased, given the emergence of the Geumchang-ri underground nuclear facility issue. In particular, U.S. President Bill Clinton was also about to visit South Korea at the time.

Minister Chung explained that, in this context, former President Kim Daejung decided that the ship should depart as planned, emphasizing "self-centeredness and self-determination" regarding issues on the Korean Peninsula.

Minister Chung stated, "Not one, not two (不一不二-neither one nor two), even within this, the path we can take is that of a peace economy," and expressed his hope that "2026 will mark a new beginning for peaceful coexistence, reconciliation, and cooperation on the Korean Peninsula."

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