Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Association Launched: "Opening a New Path on the Korean Peninsula Through Private Initiative"

Declaration of a Purely Private Cooperation Body
Excluding Political, Religious, and Commercial Interests
Former NIS Director, Ministers, and Media Figures Join Forces

Amid the prolonged deadlock in inter-Korean relations, a new movement has emerged in which the private sector is taking the initiative to open a path toward peace on the Korean Peninsula. The Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Association held its inaugural general meeting at the National Press Club in the Korea Press Center in Seoul on the 13th, officially launching the organization. More than 100 initiators participated in the founding, forming a private platform for inter-Korean exchange and cooperation.

Kim Manbok, the founding inaugural chairman of the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Association, and Kim Dugwan, former Minister of the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs and chairman of the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Association, attended the event, which proceeded with congratulatory speeches and celebratory performances. Photo by Kwon Byunggun

Kim Manbok, former Director of the National Intelligence Service, who was elected as the inaugural chairman, reflected on his experience during the 2007 inter-Korean summit in his inaugural address and emphasized the urgency of the current situation.

He stated, "The Korean Peninsula is now under an even deeper shadow of the Cold War than in the past," and added, "Sustained action by the private sector, independent of political interests, religion, or commercial purposes, is the key to opening the future." He continued, "The association will serve as a practical agent in recreating space for inter-Korean dialogue and opening the door to unification."

Kim Dugwan, former Minister of the Interior and Safety, who delivered a congratulatory speech, highlighted the practicality of inter-Korean cooperation. He said, "Inter-Korean cooperation is the foundation for permanent peace and economic development on the Korean Peninsula," and added, "I hope the private sector will take the lead so that exchanges can become part of daily life, not just one-off events."

Another speaker, Lee Donghan, former president of Segye Ilbo, shared his experience of interviewing Kim Yongsoon, secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, during a past visit to North Korea and offered a critical perspective on the current cooling of relations.

He remarked, "The tensions that seemed likely to ease after four inter-Korean summits and North Korea-U.S. summits have actually worsened," and added, "At times like this, a diverse approach at the private level, free from political logic, is desperately needed. I believe the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Association will play that crucial role."

The inaugural general meeting went beyond the simple launch of an organization, serving as a venue to explore new directions for inter-Korean exchange. The initiators shared a luncheon, discussing the association’s mid- to long-term activity plans and overseas private exchange models. All agreed that "opening the door to inter-Korean exchange is the way for the nation to survive."

The inauguration ceremony also featured performances wishing for inter-Korean reconciliation, including a choral rendition of "Arirang Alone" and a creative dance using the Taegeukgi, further heightening the atmosphere. Attendees reaffirmed the significance of the founding, stating, "The first step to melting the wounds of division and the ice of the Cold War must begin with the private sector."

The reporter covering the event met with key figures of the association one after another, directly and indirectly gauging the atmosphere of the gathering.

One initiator said, "The more difficult intergovernmental dialogue becomes, the more the private sector must take action," adding, "I hope this association will serve as a stepping stone for restoring trust between the South and the North." Another participant expressed high expectations for the launch of the association, stating, "A private platform that can continue steadily beyond administrations and ideologies was truly needed."

The Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Association plans to promote private sector-led exchange projects in a variety of fields, including cultural, artistic, and academic exchanges; non-political humanitarian and social cooperation; youth and civil society programs; and overseas Korean diaspora network linkages. Finally, participants concluded the inaugural general meeting by expressing their hope for "a new spring of unification, our long-cherished wish."

One of the initiators said, "The more difficult intergovernmental dialogue becomes, the more the private sector must take action," adding, "I hope this association will serve as a stepping stone for restoring trust between the South and the North." Photo by Byunggun Kwon

"Amid the strained inter-Korean relationship, this appears to be another opportunity to focus on the power of the private sector. It remains to be seen how the association’s declared principles of 'non-political, non-religious, and non-commercial' will be realized as a sustainable exchange model in practice."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.