On November 15th, ‘Youth Forum of National Unification of Korea’ was held by the National Unification Advisory Council Seattle Chapter at the University of Washington. The purpose of this forum was to introduce the importance of peaceful unification of the Korean peninsula to the youth.
The forum explained human right violations in North Korea as a critical reason for the Unification of Korean Peninsula rather than simply stated North and South were originally one.
The event kicked off with screening a video clip about the injustice and corruptness happening in North Korea. In relation to this short video clip, three keynote speakers lively introduced facts about North Korea shared their experiences from visiting North Korea and helping escaped North Korean refugees.
Robert Hyung-chan Kim, professor emeriti at the Western Washington University (WWU), spoke about the severe poverty and human rights violation in North Korea. Incorporating data from the numerous researches he had and from visiting North Korea for four times, he answered to questions that many audiences did not know.
Park Chul a political refugee from North Korea and the President of North Korea Defectors gave a testimony on what it is like living under Kim’s dictatorship.
He mentioned, “I didn’t know Kim Jung Il had 5 wives and also had so many children when I was in North Korea.” and he added, “Kim Jung Il closed all of the karaokes in North Korea because he thought they were the hotbed of cultural decadence.
Last keynote speaker Blaine Harden, former Washington post correspondent and an author of award winning book ‘Escape from camp 14’, received a lot of attention during this forum. He discussed about Dong Hyuk Shin, a North Korean defector, who Blaine mainly wrote about and the impact this refugee brought to the world.
The story of Dong Hyuk Shin triggered the UN to form Commission on Human Right on North Korea. In addition, defector Shin reminded issues of human rights in North Korea through participating the United Nation Security Council and the United States councils. Harden stated,
“The human rights violation and the political oppressions are still going on in North Korea.” and he claimed, “Be aware of it, and the responsibility is on South Korea.”
About 300 people of students and the advisory committee members attended the forum from different cities including Seattle, Bellevue, Federal Way, and Tacoma.
Susan Lee, the president of the National Unification Advisory Council Seattle Chapter, stated “It is very special and meaningful event having lots of youth and students attended because it would be what their parents’ generation cares more. I hope they recognize the necessity and importance of peaceful unification.”
By Woo Jung Oh
