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 and Coordination Standing Committee

  • Formulation of the annual comprehensive plan for advisory activities and policy recommendations
  • Overall coordination of policy recommendations from each standing committee and drafting of policy recommendation reports to the Chairperson
  • Presentation of mid- to long-term directions for policy recommendations
  • Research, studies, and recommendations on matters not assigned to other standing committees
Peaceful Unification Standing Committee

  • Matters related to the formulation of policies for peaceful unification on the Korean Peninsula
  • Matters related to inter-Korean dialogue and confidence-building
  • Matters related to redefining inter-Korean relations based on reconciliation and cooperation
  • Other matters related to the formulation and implementation of unification and North Korea–related policies
Korean Peninsula Peace Standing Committee

  • Matters related to the establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula, security and military affairs
  • Matters related to cooperation in border areas and exchanges between inter-Korean regions
  • Matters related to humanitarian assistance, including emergency evacuation and relief
  • Other matters related to mutual cooperation for peace on the Korean Peninsula
Law, Institutions, and Human Rights Standing Committee

  • Matters related to inter-Korean agreements and the institutionalization of peaceful coexistence
  • Matters related to North Korean human rights policies and domestic and international cooperation
  • Matters related to settlement support for North Korean defectors
  • Other matters related to public administration, North Korean human rights, and support for North Korean defectors
International Cooperation Standing Committee

  • Matters related to international cooperation for peace and unification
  • Matters related to public diplomacy for peace and unification on the Korean Peninsula
  • Matters related to the establishment and operation of a global Korean unification network
  • Matters related to support for and cooperation with overseas Koreans’ unification activities
  • Other matters related to international cooperation for peaceful unification
Economy and Science Standing Committee

  • Measures to promote a peace economy and shared growth on the Korean Peninsula
  • Measures to form an inter-Korean economic community
  • Matters related to inter-Korean cooperation in science and technology and the development of transportation and communications infrastructure
  • Matters related to economic security and sanctions against North Korea
  • Other matters related to unification and North Korea–related policies in the fields of economy and science
Exchange and Cooperation Standing Committee

  • Matters related to inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation in culture, arts, sports, and tourism
  • Matters related to forming an inter-Korean cultural community based on shared national traditions
  • Matters related to inter-Korean cooperation in health and medical services
  • Other matters related to unification and North Korea–related policies in the social and cultural fields
Religion and National Reconciliation Standing Committee

  • Matters related to unification discussions among religious communities to alleviate the pain of national division
  • Matters related to inter-Korean religious exchanges
  • Matters related to national reconciliation and cooperation, and conflict resolution
  • Other matters related to unification discussions in the religious sector and national reconciliation
Public Communication Standing Committee

  • Matters related to peace and unification education
  • Matters related to shaping peace and unification discourse through social dialogue
  • Matters related to gathering unification-related public opinion and building consensus among local residents and overseas Koreans
  • Matters related to the development, utilization, and dissemination of unification-related cultural content
  • Matters related to communication across various media on peace and unification
  • Other matters related to public opinion-gathering on unification and peace and unification education
Youth Standing Committee

  • Matters related to youth participation in unification discussions and raising awareness of unification
  • Matters related to youth-led peace and unification activities and capacity-building
  • Matters related to inter-Korean youth exchanges and the establishment of domestic and international youth peace and unification networks
  • Other matters related to building consensus among youth on unification and North Korea–related policies

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