The Ministry of Unification Says It Will Listen to Views From All Sectors on Calling North Korea “Joseon”... Minister Jung Dong-young Has Already Used the Name

[Financial News] The Ministry of Unification said on the 3rd that it will first gather opinions from across society on proposals from senior religious leaders and the presidential Peaceful Unification Advisory Council (PUAC) to refer to North Korea as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). In contrast to the ministry's position, Minister of Unification Jung Dong-young has occasionally referred to North Korea as Joseon.
A ministry official said on the 3rd, "We are paying attention to the public message issued by the religious community on how to refer to North Korea in the context of peace and coexistence on the Korean Peninsula." The ministry also said it is watching the response from PUAC and other groups that have expressed support and sympathy after the religious community's statement.
The official added, "We see this as part of a process in which public consensus is being formed on how to refer to North Korea." The official also said, "We will continue to closely monitor this process and broadly listen to voices from all sectors of society."
Senior leaders from seven major religious groups issued a public statement the previous morning, proposing that North Korea be referred to as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The declaration was joined by former senior figures from seven religious traditions, including Catholicism, Protestantism, Won Buddhism, Buddhism (the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism), Cheondoism, Confucianism, and the Korean Association of New Religious Movements.
PUAC also became the first to express support for the religious community's public proposal to refer to North Korea as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. PUAC is an advisory body that makes policy recommendations on unification to the president. It is currently chaired by President Lee Jae Myung.


rainman@fnnews.com Kim Kyung-soo Reporter