0
Minister of Unification Chong Dong-young delivers an opening address at the inauguration ceremony for the 25th term of the Peace, Unification, and Democratic Education Committee, held at the National Institute for Peace, Unification, and Citizenship Education on the 19th. / The Ministry of Unification

On the 19th, Minister of Unification Chong Dong-young announced that he will request the Ministry of Education to restore the song 'Our Wish is Unification' to music textbooks in the regular curriculum.

Attending the inauguration ceremony for the 25th term of the Peace, Unification, and Democratic Education Committee held at the main auditorium of the National Institute for Peace, Unification, and Citizenship Education on this day, Minister Chong stated, "While talking with students a while ago, I found out they didn't know the song 'Our Wish is Unification.' It feels like the generational gap began with songs."

Minister Chong said, "Wouldn't it be good to consult with the Ministry of Education to restore the song 'Our Wish is Unification' to music textbooks?" adding, "I will convey the request for restoration to the Ministry of Education."

In addition, Minister Chong announced plans to completely transform the Peace, Unification, and Democratic Education Committee system, which had been nominal for the past 40 years, and appoint about 10,000 education committee members with the goal of providing peace, unification, and democratic citizenship education for at least one hour a year to at least 5 million teenagers and students.

Minister Chong explained, "If we gather 100 students at a time to give special lectures, 50,000 hours are needed," adding, "We can appoint 10,000 teachers and have them take charge of special lectures for 5 hours a year each." He continued, "Although we are launching this year without a budget, we will reflect the activity fees for the peace and unification education committee members in next year's budget to provide monthly educational support fees."

At the inauguration ceremony on this day, through a session for communication and listening between Minister Chong and the committee members, opinions were exchanged on sharing the vision for vitalizing peace, unification, and democratic citizenship education, as well as measures to link it with educational fields.

Meanwhile, on the 1st, the National Institute for Peace, Unification, and Citizenship Education under the Ministry of Unification first appointed about 4,000 members for the 25th term of the Peace, Unification, and Democratic Education Committee and began activities in earnest, centering on frontline school sites. During their upcoming two-year term, they are scheduled to perform roles such as: peace and unification education through curriculum-linked education, experience, and discussion programs; spreading awareness of peace and unification and supporting the formation of democratic citizen values among teenagers and the youth generation; and expanding educational activities in cooperation with schools, local communities, and overseas Korean communities.

The Ministry of Unification stated, "We have significantly expanded the number of Peace, Unification, and Democratic Education Committee members from the previous 1,000 to about 4,000," adding, "We plan to appoint about 6,000 additional domestic and overseas committee members in the second half of this year to build a broader foundation for participation in peace, unification, and democratic citizenship education."

                                                                                                            Mok Yong-jae