Jeonbuk Provincial Assembly 2021 Youth Peace Festival

Talk about peace on the Korean Peninsula in the midst of a youth festival

The Jeonbuk Provincial Assembly (Vice-Chair Hong Jong Sik) held the ‘2021 Youth Peace Festival’ on November 24th in Majestic Ballroom of Jeonju The May Hotel, with the attendance of about 100 university students from the Jeonbuk region.

The festival was arranged to raise interest in peace and unification on the Korean Peninsula and to have time for young people in Jeollabuk-do to communicate online and offline about the impact of peace on the Korean Peninsula on our daily lives.

In his speech, Vice-Chair of Jeonbuk Provincial Assembly, Hong Jong Sik, said, “For young people, peace on the Korean Peninsula is not only a matter of unification, but also a realm of new opportunity,” adding, “I hope that today’s event will be a chance for young people who are here with us to recognize once again that the issue of peace on the Korean Peninsula is my issue and our issue as well.”

The 2021 Youth Peace Festival, which started with the opening remarks by Jeonbuk Youth Chair Kim Seong Min, proceeded in the order of a peace talk concert; the Golden Bell Challenge for University Students; and cultural performances.

In the peace talk concert, Shin Dong-seok, chief of PUAC Youth Education Standing Committee had a candid talk with three university students from Jeonbuk Province on a variety of topics such as △What is the most important thing in reality from the perspective of young people in the process of peace? △What will be the economic advantages or disadvantages of young people after unification? △What roles can young people have an interest in and play in the process of peace? △What opinions do you want to express as a young person to help the realization of peace?

Shin Dong Seok (PUAC) said, “Unification does not come across as an imminent issue to young people. Just as policies for young people have been far from their priorities and marginalized while the 20-30 generations have been away from politics (voting) for a long time, they will happen to live on a Korean Peninsula that someone else has created if they remain indifferent to peaceful unification. I am not asking you to jump into the unification movement right now, but I want you to live in your type of world by increasing your interest steadily.”

Bae Jin Eui (Chonbuk National University) said, “It is important for young people to take the initiative to prepare for unification by thinking that the issues of peace and unification should no longer be regarded as those of the older generation, but rather as the agenda of the youth.”

Hwang Min Seong (Woosuk University) said, “I have been learning a lot since I was appointed as the youngest member of the PUAC, and I will be interested in, communicate, and participate in PUAC youth projects, unification organizations and clubs.”

Lee In Seo (Kunsan University) introduced an example of an activity, saying, “While working as a civic group for unification called the University Student Gyeorae Hana, I have encountered and practiced peace and unification issues in a pleasant and joyful atmosphere with my friends in everyday life.”

Next, the ‘Challenge! University Student Unification Golden Bell’ was conducted in a way that offline and online participants could hear and present answers to questions presented through a live YouTube broadcast due to the COVID-19 situation.

Participants submitted applications through Google Forms in advance and answered quiz questions based on the basic lessons provided on the PUAC website.

Afterwards, ‘Dreamer,’ a university club in the Jeonbuk region performed, followed by a flash mob called “Let’s go to unification” organized by the Jeonbuk University Student Gyeore Hana to sing their commitment to unification, and a peace performance by the PUAC Jeonbuk Youth Standing Committee members.

It is expected that the ‘2021 Youth Peace Festival,’ held online and offline for the first time in two years, will establish itself as a peace festival for wise youth on the path to the official end of the Korean War.