Lee In-young "We Must Restore Inter-Korean Dialogue... I Want to Create the Dream of Unification"

Minister Nominee for Unification

Lee In-young, the nominee for Minister of Unification, is making a statement regarding his appointment as minister at the National Assembly on the 3rd. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Lee In-young, the nominee for Minister of Unification, identified the most urgent task in inter-Korean relations as the 'restoration of dialogue' and stated on the 3rd that he would implement humanitarian exchange and cooperation projects that can be carried out immediately.

On the same day, Lee met with reporters at the National Assembly and said, "I agreed to the appointment process with a sense of urgency that we must reopen the path to peace before the door to peace closes," adding, "I want to create the dream of peace and unification again with 50 million citizens and 80 million compatriots."

When asked about the urgent and necessary tasks in current inter-Korean relations, he emphasized, "We definitely need to restore dialogue," and added, "In that process, we should first look into humanitarian and exchange cooperation issues that we can immediately undertake, as well as faithfully implement the promises that South and North Korea made together in the past with renewed trust."

Former Minister of Unification Kim Yeon-chul stated upon stepping down that "the responsibility is heavy compared to the authority." Regarding how he plans to overcome this challenge, Lee reserved comment, saying, "I will talk about what can be done after passing the confirmation process."

Regarding criticism that the Ministry of Unification has not taken the lead not only in inter-Korean relations but also within government ministries, he only responded, "Please watch a little longer."

About Park Ji-won, the former lawmaker nominated as the next Director of the National Intelligence Service, he said, "We will work together with good teamwork to solve the tasks facing our nation and people."

Addressing North Korea, Lee emphasized, "I hope we can prove together that we are a people who coexist and move toward greater prosperity through peace."

Meanwhile, on the same day, President Moon Jae-in nominated former Minsheng Party lawmaker Park Ji-won as the next Director of the National Intelligence Service. Seo Hoon, the current Director of the National Intelligence Service, was appointed as the Director of the National Security Office. Additionally, former Presidential Chief of Staff Lim Jong-seok and National Security Office Chief Chung Eui-yong were appointed as the President’s special advisors on foreign affairs and security.