The Peaceful Unification Advisory Council

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In order to fulfill its assigned roles and responsibilities, PUAC operates statutory conferences including the General Assembly, Provincial Assemblies, Executive Committee, Central Committee, and Standing Committees affiliated with the Central Committee.

General Assembly (Inaugural Session)

The Chairperson convenes the General Assembly once every two years for all council members to attend.

[ Article 20 of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council Act ]

Meetings of the Unification Advisory Council shall be called by the chairperson once every two years and shall also be called when the chairperson deems it necessary or at the request of at least one-third of registered members.

Provincial Assembly

The Chairperson convenes the Provincial Assemblies and Vice-chairpersons preside over the conferences of their respective provincial assemblies.

  • Provincial Assemblies are convened once every two years, in the year when the General Assembly is not held, by each city, province and overseas area with all council members in attendance according to their representation.

[ Article 29.2. of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council Act ]

Meetings of a regional council shall be called by the chairperson as necessary, with a vice-chairperson from the relevant region presiding over the meetings: Provided, That when a regional council has no vice-chairperson from the relevant region or when a vice-chairperson from the relevant region is unable to perform any of his/her duties due to extenuating circumstances, a council member appointed by the chairperson shall preside over meetings.

Executive Committee

Composition

  • The Executive Committee consists of up to 50 members appointed by the Chairperson, and the Executive Vice-chairperson assumes the role of the committee's chief.

Duties

  • Enact, revise, and abolish the rules and regulations on managing the Council.
  • Review the decommissioning of council members.
  • Review other issues on managing the council.

Central Committee

Composition

  • The Central Committee consists of 300-500 members appointed by the Chairperson taking regional and professional representation into account.
  • The Executive Vice-chairperson assumes the role of the committee's chief.

Duties

  • Review assigned issues
  • Deliberate on items ordered by the Chairperson
  • Review the deliberations of standing committees

Standing Committees

Composition

  • There are 9 Standing Committees affiliated with the Central Committee, and the members of the Central Committee are affiliated with each standing committee given their professional career, position and region of origin.
  • The Chairperson appoints the chief and secretary of each standing committee.
  • Each standing committee includes professionals with specialized knowledge and insight and who are able to devise practical advice and suggestions on unification and inter-Korean policy of the South Korean government. The standing committees document policy proposals through in-depth research activities on major pending inter-Korean issues and mid-to-long-term unification tasks.

Duties

  • Deliberate on agenda items proposed by the chief of the Central Committee
  • Review the preliminary standing committee agenda to propose to the Central Committee
  • Conduct surveys and research on unification issues for each specialized field, develop policies
  • Gather opinions to make proposals for unification discussions of each field

Organization and Functions

Organization and Functions
Organization Functions
Planning & Coordination Subcommittee

  • Development of comprehensive plans for advice and recommendation
  • Coordination of advice and recommendation by each subcommittee and drafting of report on policies recommended by the chairperson
  • Research on mid- and long-term policy-recommending directions
  • Survey, research, and recommendation on other issues that do not belong to other subcommittees
Reunification and security subcommittee

  • Plans for inter-Korea relations development for peaceful reunification
  • Plans for the development of statutes and institutions for peaceful reunification and inter-Korea relations development
  • Plans for inter-Korea dialog and building of foundation for mutual trust
  • Plans for cooperation in the military and security areas for peace settlement on the Korean Peninsula
  • Other matters related to the development and promotion of policies for the reunification and engagement of North Korea
Human Rights and North Korean Defectors Support Subcommittee

  • Plans for domestic and overseas assistance for improving human rights in North Korea
  • Plans for assistance and humanitarian support for improving the quality of life of North Korean residents
  • Plans for recovering family community (reunion) including return of South Korean soldiers captured by, kidnapped by, and detained in North Korea
  • Plans for aiding vulnerable people from North Korea including women, children, and physically handicapped
  • Plans for aiding in the settlement of North Korean defectors in the South
  • Other issues related to human rights in North Korea and aid to North Korean defectors in the South
International Cooperation Subcommittee

  • Plans for international cooperation for peaceful reunification
  • Plans for the denuclearization of North Korea and deployment of peace regime on the Korean peninsula
  • Collection of public opinion and plans for promoting the agreement on peaceful reunification in the Korean resident communities overseas
  • Plans for promoting public diplomacy for peaceful reunification
  • Other issues concerning policies for reunification and engaging North Korea in the areas of international cooperation
Economy and Science Subcommittee

  • Plans for developing an inter-Korea economic community
  • Plans for promoting inter-Korea economic exchange and cooperation
  • Plans for inter-Korea exchange and cooperation in the areas of science, technology, resources, and energy
  • Plans for inter-Korea cooperation in the areas of agriculture, fisheries, and forest development
  • Other issues concerning policies for reunification and engaging North Korea in the areas of economy, science
Exchange and Cooperation Subcommittee

  • Plans for inter-Korea cooperation in the areas of culture, arts, sports, and tourism
  • Plans for inter-Korea cooperation in the areas of preservation of history, language, exchange, cultural assets, and sites
  • Plans for inter-Korea health and medical cooperation
  • Plans for inter-Korea cooperation in disaster, catastrophe, ecological and environmental areas
  • Plans for deploying a system for responding to climate crisis on the Korean peninsula
  • Plans for exchange and cooperation between South and North Korean regions
  • Plans for inter-Korea exchange and cooperation in other areas
Religion and National (Racial) Concord Subcommittee

  • Measures to promote inter-Korean health and medical cooperation
  • Measures to aid the vulnerable in North Korea and promote maternal and child health projects
  • Measures to promote inter-Korean cooperation in disasters, accidents, ecology and environment
  • Establishment of a climate and environment community on the Korean Peninsula
  • Other matters concerning policies on unification and North Korea in health and environment
National or Public Communication Subcommittee

  • Plans for providing the people with correct information concerning North Korea
  • Plans for online communication concerning peaceful reunification
  • Plans for inter-Korea exchange and cooperation in the areas of newspaper and broadcasting
  • Plans for collecting public opinion and deriving an agreement on peaceful reunification among residents in different regions
  • Other issues concerning national or public communication concerning reunification and North Korea policies
Youth Subcommittee

  • Plans for promoting youth activities for peaceful reunification
  • Plans for enhancing youth competencies for peaceful reunification
  • Plans for deploying a peaceful reunification network among the youth population at home and abroad and inter-Korea youth exchange
  • Plans for promoting reunification education
  • Other issues concerning the development of youth population consensus on Korean reunification and policies toward North Korea

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