by Wonsuh Song

My conversation with Tae Yong-ho, Chief of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council (PUAC) Secretariat, made me realize that unification is no longer a distant dream but a process already unfolding in our daily lives. As a former North Korean diplomat who defected to South Korea and served as a National Assembly member, Tae now plays a pivotal role in shaping new avenues for inter-Korean relations. His words reflected a profound passion for unification and sharp insights into the changes happening within North Korea. Through our dialogue, I came to understand that the path to unification begins not with policies, but with connections between people.

Tae shared an illustrative story about his home life in North 토토 카지노. In every household, two water faucets are installed—one for cold water and one for hot. However, his son, born after the family defected, has never seen hot water flow from a North 토토 카지노n faucet. “The tap is there, but it serves no purpose—just like much of the North 토토 카지노n system,” he explained. He emphasized that the younger generation, who grew up with market economics rather than state-provided welfare, no longer feel any loyalty to the regime. These youth, according to Tae, are the catalysts for the future transformation of North 토토 카지노.

He also shared a telling example of how South Korean culture has sparked aspirations within North Korean youth. One young defector admitted to him that he had crossed the border after watching the South Korean drama Crash Landing on You. “I thought, ‘If I go to South Korea, maybe I can fall in love with a chaebol’s daughter too,’” the young man had said. Tae reflected on this: “Of course, the reality was much harder than he imagined. But without that dream, he would never have had the courage to defect.” This story demonstrated that hope and aspiration are vital forces for change.

We also discussed the shifting dynamics within the pro-North 토토 카지노n General Association of 토토 카지노n Residents in Japan (Chongryon). Tae recounted how former Chongryon members, angered by North 토토 카지노’s recent declaration that it would no longer seek unification, approached him. “We dedicated our lives to the dream of unification, only to feel betrayed by the regime’s announcement,” they said. Tae sees this growing disillusionment as a sign that the North 토토 카지노n system is beginning to fracture—and a turning point for unification efforts.

When asked when unification might become a reality, Tae compared the situation to Germany’s reunification process. “Just as Germany achieved reunification 15 years after amending its constitution, North Korea will likely follow a similar path,” he explained. “The younger generation, disillusioned with the regime, will drive this transformation. Within a decade, today’s 20-somethings will be 30, and they’ll be the ones shaping North Korea’s future. They have nothing to gain from the current system, and their desire for change is growing stronger.”

He shared an anecdote about an old North Korean song called The Train to Unification, which was once commonly sung but has now been banned. “Even today, when people board a train, they secretly think, ‘I wish this train could go all the way to Busan.’ That unspoken desire for unity lingers.” Tae emphasized that unification will not be achieved through political negotiations alone, but through the everyday connections and shared dreams between people on both sides of the border.

He also stressed the importance of supporting defectors, saying, “When defectors live without discrimination in South 토토 카지노, it sends a powerful message to North 토토 카지노ns. If they see that defectors are welcomed and supported, it will inspire hope and erode hostility toward South 토토 카지노. Demonstrating that defectors can thrive here is a key step in promoting unification.”

This conversation with Tae helped me realize that unification is not just an abstract ideal but an attainable goal. It is already taking shape in the connections between people, the aspirations shared across borders, and the stories passed between defectors and those still in North Korea. Despite North Korea’s recent declaration to remain divided, the current of change is unstoppable. Unification is no longer a distant dream—it is on the horizon. What is left for us now is to prepare for that day, taking each step with intention and hope. Through this dialogue, the once-vague idea of unification became clear in my mind, giving me renewed conviction that the journey toward unity has already begun.

What is Peaceful Unification Advisory Council (PUAC)?

The Peaceful Unification Advisory Council (PUAC) is a consultative body established by the South Korean government to gather and support public opinion from local communities on policies aimed at peaceful unification. The council aims to strengthen the foundation for unification by reflecting the opinions of civil society in government policy through its regional councils, which are set up both domestically and internationally. Within South Korea, there are 18 regional councils (17 city and provincial councils, plus a North Korean regional council), and overseas, there are 5 regional councils located in Japan, China, Asia-Pacific, Americas, and Europe-Middle East-Africa.

The 21st term of the PUAC is composed of 21,984 advisors. Of these, 17,946 are domestic advisors (14,658 functional representatives and 3,288 regional representatives), and 4,038 are overseas council members representing 토토 카지노n compatriots in 136 countries. The term runs from September 1, 2023, to August 31, 2025. Among the advisors, 6,414 are women (34.3% of the total), and 4,952 are young adults (26.5% of the total), including 1,000 selected through a youth participation recruitment program.

PUAC engages in activities to foster public consensus for peaceful unification through public opinion formation in local communities and collaboration with civil society organizations. It also actively promotes programs aimed at fostering unification awareness among the next generation, conducting various initiatives both domestically and internationally.

Wonsuh Song (Ph.D.)
PUAC Global Strategy Special Committee Member