Park Euy Don Assumes Leadership of PUAC Southwest Asia, Calls for Broader Global Dialogue on Korean Unification
At his inaugural address, the newly appointed chairman urged regional advisors, diplomats, and community leaders to share insights that would shape Korea’s unification policy from an international perspective.
New Delhi, India – In a significant development that underscores South Korea’s expanding diplomatic engagement with South Asia, Park Euy Don formally assumed office as the new Chairman of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council (PUAC) of Southwest Asia, a constitutional body mandated by the Republic of Korea to advise its government on unification policies, strategies, and international perspectives related to the Korean peninsula.
The inauguration ceremony held on November 26 in Gurugram near New Delhi, attended by senior diplomats, scholars, business leaders, and members of the Korean diaspora, marked the beginning of the 22nd meeting of the PUAC Southwest Asia Chapter. The Council operates across the region, bringing together Korean expatriates and local experts to contribute insights that help shape Seoul’s long-term roadmap for peaceful reunification.
Ambassador Lee Seong-ho said, “This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Special Strategic Partnership Agreement between South Korea and India,” and emphasized that “Southwest Asia has been an important pillar of South Korea’s diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific region.”
In his address, Jagdip Singh, Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Korea, North India, said, “I would like to congratulate ED Park for taking over the big responsibility of the Southwest Asia Chapter of PUAC. The Peaceful Unification Advisory Council has been set up and is working with a lofty objective, which is to build the foundation for the peaceful unification of the Korean Peninsula based on a free democratic fundamental order and build a unified Korea.”
In his first address as chairman, Park Euy Don expressed gratitude to the distinguished guests whose presence, he said, lent credibility and motivation to the chapter’s new term. He acknowledged the esteemed dignitaries in attendance, including Ambassador Lee Sung-ho, senior PUAC advisors, academic experts such as Professor Yang Moo-jin of the North Korea Graduate School, and representatives of various Korean organizations operating in India.
Special appreciation was extended to Honorary Consul General Jagdip Singh for his support, along with leaders such as Cho Sang Hyun of the Federation of Korean Associations and Lee Kwang-il, President of the Korean Association in India, among others.
Park emphasized that the 22nd Council comprises 64 advisors from five countries across West and South Asia—a diverse network he described as a family united by shared values and a shared responsibility toward the cause of peaceful unification. “With the encouragement of so many people, the 64 of us will unite warmly, help one another, and work as one family over the next two years,” he declared.
Reflecting on PUAC’s legacy, Park praised the exemplary leadership of former chairmen Um Kyung-ho and Lee Kwang-il, noting that they had upheld the Council’s reputation as one of Korea’s most respected democratic advisory institutions abroad. He pledged to continue their work with renewed vision, focusing particularly on strengthening the active role of ordinary advisors and expanding meaningful community-led initiatives within the region.
Turning to geopolitical realities, Park observed that the world is undergoing intensified strategic competition, especially in the Indo-Pacific, and that this evolution has placed Southwest Asia—and India in particular—at the forefront of emerging global dynamics. “Perhaps this region in which we live will become the centre of Korea’s extended future beyond Northeast Asia,” he remarked, suggesting that the chapter’s insights could influence not just policy, but Korea’s international positioning.
Park urged participants and the wider expatriate community to remain engaged, open-minded, and vocal. “Please let us talk to you consistently, and let me ask you to share your valuable opinion and advice on the unification of Korea,” he said. “Your concern and advice will be a great help in building broad international perspectives in favour of unification.”
As the new chapter begins its term, the PUAC Southwest Asia Council is expected to deepen its outreach efforts, amplify Korean cultural and diplomatic presence in the region, and contribute meaningfully to the global discourse on achieving a peaceful and unified Korean peninsula. 
