Korean Youth Take Reins to Support Peaceful Unification of Korean Peninsula

New Delhi: In a significant move to engage the next generation in the vision of peace and unification on the Korean Peninsula, 28 Korean youths in India were appointed as Junior Advisory Officers of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council (PUAC) during the 4th Junior Advisory Officers Inauguration Ceremony held at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in New Delhi on Saturday, May 9.

PUAC Southwest Asia Chapter Chairman Euy Don Park formally inducted Korean youngsters staying in India during the ceremony in the presence of their parents and senior PUAC members.

The number of Junior Advisory Officers appointed from India this year is the highest to date in the Southwest Asia Chapter of PUAC, surpassing that of other countries in the region and reflecting growing enthusiasm among young Koreans in India for the cause of peaceful unification.

The ceremony was attended by nearly 50 people, including the newly appointed Junior Advisory Officers, their parents, senior advisory members, and representatives of the Korean community.

With the latest appointments, the Southwest Asia Chapter now has a total of 52 Junior Advisory Officers, including 28 from India, 12 from Sri Lanka, six from Nepal and six from Bangladesh. India has emerged as the largest contributor of Junior Advisory Officers in the chapter, underlining its importance as a strategic base for PUAC’s outreach and youth engagement activities in the region.

In an emotional address, the PUAC Southwest Asia Chapter Chairman, Euy Don Park, said the record number of young applicants this year was a highly encouraging sign for the organisation’s future and its mission.

“This year saw the highest number of applicants in our history, and this high level of engagement points to a very encouraging and promising future for the Southwest Asia Chapter of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council,” Park said.

He said the chapter would further strengthen its youth-oriented programmes to help the future generation develop a clear historical understanding and a constructive vision for the peaceful unification of Korea.

“Moving forward, we will strive even harder through various programmes to instil a sound sense of history and a clear vision for the peaceful unification of Korea in our future generations,” he said.

Addressing the newly appointed Junior Advisory Officers, Park described their appointment not as a ceremonial honour but as the beginning of a meaningful journey linked to the aspirations of Koreans worldwide.

He said PUAC was not merely a social organisation but a constitutional body placed directly under the President of the Republic of Korea, as provided under Article 92 of the Korean Constitution. Its overseas members, he said, serve as “civilian diplomats” who carry the message of peace for the Korean Peninsula in their respective countries.

“By being appointed today, you are proudly joining this beautiful and meaningful journey. Your every step is not just an activity; it is a precious expression of your heart toward the peaceful unification that 80 million Koreans long for,” Park told the young officers.

In a speech that strongly emphasised the role of youth, Park acknowledged that the younger generation may not view Korean unification the same way as their elders, particularly because they did not personally experience the pain of division. However, he said this difference should not be seen as a weakness, but as a source of fresh thinking.

“Difference does not mean being wrong—it means having a new perspective,” he said.

Park said that while older generations often viewed unification as a national duty, Korean youths growing up and studying in India could interpret the issue through broader global values such as coexistence, mutual prosperity, and universal peace.

He said their fresh sensibility and open worldview could bring new energy to the discourse on peaceful unification, which often remains confined to older historical and political frameworks.

Highlighting India’s importance, Park said the country held a special place in PUAC’s regional activities because of its democratic values, growing global influence and strategic relevance in Asia.

“India is a very strategic and important country for NUAC’s activities. It is a centre of the global economy and a partner that shares the values of democracy,” he said.

He urged the Junior Advisory Officers in India to serve as young bridges between Korea and India by explaining to their Indian friends that peace on the Korean Peninsula was not only a Korean issue but also directly linked to the prosperity and stability of Asia.

“I imagine you, growing up here, communicating to your Indian friends in your own language that peace on the Korean Peninsula is directly linked to the prosperity of Asia and your own happiness. That is the greatest expectation and hope we have for our Junior Officers,” Park said.

Calling the appointment a “new beginning,” Park encouraged the youth to use the platform to deepen their historical awareness, broaden their worldview and participate actively in dialogue for the peace and prosperity of the Republic of Korea.

“The Southwest Asia Chapter and I will always be by your side, cheering for your love for both India and Korea, and for the brilliant future you will forge,” he said.

The inauguration ceremony marked another important step in PUAC Southwest Asia Chapter’s efforts to bring young Koreans into discussions on peace, coexistence and the future of the Korean Peninsula. With India producing the largest number of Junior Advisory Officers in the region this year, the chapter is expected to further intensify youth-led engagement and community outreach in the coming months.