2026 Australia–New Zealand Unification Policy Lecture Held

- Expanding consensus among council members and overseas Koreans on the people-sovereignty government’s North Korea and unification policies -

The Peaceful Unification Advisory Council (Secretary-General Bang Yong-seung) held the Oceania Unification Policy Lecture. Following the Australia lecture held on Tuesday, March 10, at the Latvian Grand Hall in Strathfield, Sydney, the New Zealand lecture was held on Thursday, March 12, at the B:HIVE Auditorium in Auckland.

<(Left) Opening remarks by Park Eun-deok, Chair of the Australia Chapter / (Right) Opening remarks by Kwak Sang-yeol, Chair of the New Zealand Chapter>

In his opening remarks, Park Eun-deok, Chair of the Australia Chapter, who hosted the 2026 Australia Unification Policy Lecture, said, “This lecture will serve as an opportunity to explore the role of overseas Korean communities in building a new Korean Peninsula based on peaceful coexistence and shared growth amid a turbulent international landscape, and to foster empathy for peace on the Korean Peninsula.”

Kwak Sang-yeol, Chair of the New Zealand Chapter, who hosted the 2026 New Zealand Unification Policy Lecture, stated, “At a time when the situation on the Korean Peninsula is more strained than ever since the division, the role of overseas Koreans in advancing peace on the Peninsula is becoming increasingly important, and I hope this lecture will provide an opportunity to explore pathways to peace.”

<Keynote lecture by Secretary-General Bang Yong-seung>

In his keynote lecture, Secretary-General Bang Yong-seung stated, “Peace begins when we acknowledge and respect differences,” and urged that “peaceful unification, in the end, is something achieved by the people, and overseas council members—as key actors in civilian peace public diplomacy—should help strengthen support for peace on the Korean Peninsula among overseas Korean communities and the international community.”

<Special lecture on peaceful unification by Professor Jeong Jin-ho of POSTECH>

In his special lecture, Professor Jeong Jin-ho of POSTECH emphasized that “peace is a state without war and violence, without poverty and hunger, and without disease and suffering.” He proposed the “Cheongpodo Project,” a peace initiative connecting Pohang and Chongjin—the largest steel-producing cities in South and North Korea, both facing the East Sea—and stated that a joint inter-Korean steel and energy community could become a peace and economic community in East Asia.

<Special lecture on peace public diplomacy by PUAC  Public Relations Ambassador Lee Won-jong>

In his special lecture, PUAC  Public Relations Ambassador Lee Won-jong said, “I hope overseas council members will use K-culture to spread empathy for peace on the Korean Peninsula among local communities and overseas Korean communities, thereby laying the groundwork for opening a new Korean Peninsula of peaceful coexistence.”

<Group photo from the Australia–New Zealand lectures>

<Joint cheering for the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup>

Meanwhile, in hopes of creating even a small breakthrough in strained inter-Korean relations, council members of the Australia Chapter joined the Korean community cheering squad in Australia to cheer together for the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup match between South Korea and North Korea.

<Visit to the Korean War Memorial>

They also visited the Korean War Memorial in Moore Park, Sydney, where they laid flowers and paid their respects together with veterans and council members.