'Return After 20 Years' Minister Chung Dongyoung Emphasizes 'Peaceful Coexistence Between South and North Korea'... Name Change 'Not a Priority'

Inauguration Ceremony of the 44th Minister of Unification
Chung Dongyoung Emphasizes "Restoration of Peace and Inter-Korean Relations"
Calls for "Peaceful Coexistence and a New Era of the Peace Economy"

On July 25, Minister of Unification Chung Dongyoung stated, "We must restore the lost peace and rebuild the collapsed inter-Korean relationship through a major policy shift," presenting 'peaceful coexistence between South and North Korea' as the top policy goal. Regarding the proposal to change the name of the 'Ministry of Unification', which has been continuously raised since the launch of the new administration, he expressed a cautious stance, saying, "I do not consider it a priority."

Jeong Dongyoung, the newly appointed Minister of Unification, is taking the oath of office at the inauguration ceremony held on July 25, 2025, at the annex of the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

At the inauguration ceremony for the 44th Minister of Unification held at the Government Complex Seoul on this day, Minister Chung said, "Now is the time for coexistence." He continued, "We must find the most realistic and practical ways for mutual coexistence, not mutual hostility," and emphasized, "To achieve this, we must swiftly restore the severed communication channels." He also appealed to the public, "Please stand on the side of reconciliation and cooperation, on the side of peace, not on the side of hostility and confrontation."

Minister Chung went on to say, "Peace is the path to joint growth," and stressed, "We must usher in an era of 'peace economy' between South and North Korea." He previously served as Minister of Unification in 2004, when the Kaesong Industrial Complex began full-scale operations. Minister Chung said, "We will resume inter-Korean economic cooperation as soon as possible, and seek advanced future cooperation models such as the Korean Peninsula AI model."

As the third and final policy goal, he named a 'people's sovereignty-based North Korea policy.' Minister Chung said, "To enable the people, as sovereigns, to actively participate in and express their opinions on the issue of unification, we will launch a social dialogue body as soon as possible," and added, "We will also devise bipartisan cooperation measures with the National Assembly."

Even before the inauguration ceremony was held, Minister Chung visited Panmunjom immediately after his appointment was approved. He said, "I picked up the inter-Korean direct phone, which had no answer, and pressed the bell three times for a long duration, but there was no response." He continued, "As I returned to Seoul, leaving behind the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) filled with silence and stillness, I reaffirmed my historical mission as the 'Minister of Unification of a divided nation' to end the long war and begin a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula."

Jeong Dongyoung, the newly appointed Minister of Unification, is delivering his inaugural speech at the inauguration ceremony held on July 25, 2025, at the annex of the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

During the inauguration ceremony, a photo record of Minister Chung's wide-ranging activities during his previous term as the 31st Minister from 2004 to 2005 was shown. As Minister Chung is also a member of the National Assembly from the Democratic Party of Korea, aides from his parliamentary office who have supported him in Yeouido also attended the event.

Addressing the staff of the Ministry of Unification, Minister Chung said, "The current Ministry of Unification is abnormal," and stressed, "It is essential to normalize the reduced and distorted unification organization." With the Lee Jaemyung administration strongly expressing its willingness for dialogue with North Korea and the inauguration of 'veteran' Minister Chung, the internal atmosphere of the ministry is becoming more vibrant. The organization in charge of inter-Korean exchange and cooperation, which had been significantly downsized under the Yoon Sukyeol administration, is also expected to be restored.

Finally, without naming any specific individual, Minister Chung addressed 'North Korean authorities,' saying, "It is time to end the era of strength against strength." He added, "As promised in the 1991 Inter-Korean Basic Agreement, the two Koreas must newly open an era of peaceful coexistence based on mutual recognition and respect for each other's systems." He also proposed, "On December 26 this year, it will be exactly 100 years since poet Kim Sowol published 'Azaleas.' Wouldn't it be wonderful for the two Koreas to celebrate this milestone together? How great would it be if we could hold a joint event to mark the 100th anniversary of Azaleas?"