Gyochuhyeop Provides 1.18 Billion Won Support for Expansion of Video Reunion Centers for Separated Families

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] On the 3rd, the government held the 321st Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Promotion Council (hereinafter referred to as the Exchange Council) and approved a plan to provide 1.18 billion KRW in support for the separated families' video reunion centers. Two new civilian members were also appointed to fill the vacancies created by the appointment of Ki Mo-ran as the Blue House Quarantine Planning Officer.

Based on this, the Ministry of Unification plans to expand seven domestic video reunion centers. This takes into account the increase in mobility-impaired elderly separated family members and the COVID-19 situation.

Considering the density of separated families, accessibility to nearby reunion centers, and convenience of movement, seven locations were selected: ▲Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi ▲Gangneung and Wonju, Gangwon ▲Cheongju, Chungbuk ▲Hongseong, Chungnam ▲Andong, Gyeongbuk ▲Jeonju, Jeonbuk. Expansion construction will begin within this month and is scheduled to be completed by August.

On the same day, the Exchange Council also reviewed agenda items such as the 'Adjustment of Interest Rates on Existing Loans from the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund,' which lowers loan interest rates by 0.5 percentage points for companies engaged in inter-Korean economic cooperation, and the 'Change in Repayment Terms for Korea Tourism Organization's Kumgangsan Project Loan,' which extends the maturity of a 90 billion KRW loan from the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund to the Korea Tourism Organization by seven years.

Additionally, as civilian members, Yeoh Hye-sook, co-representative of Women Making Peace, and Choi Hye-kyung, Secretary General of Children’s Shoulder to Shoulder, were newly appointed.