Unification academy being set up

The South Korean government is starting a unification academy for university students in an effort to educate young people about issues related to unification.

The Ministry of Unification will also start a unification forum that will enable students to discuss what will come after the two Koreas are unified.

The unification academy, still in its developmental stage, will provide classes for students on unification and South-North Korea related issues and also provide the opportunity for those who participate to take part in field trips to places closely connected with unification.

This year, seven universities have been designated as hosts of the program: Kyungnam University, Dongguk University, Yeungnam University, Ewha Womans University, Inje University, Chonbuk National University and Chung-Ang University.

Three of the schools, Dongguk, Inje and Chonbuk, have already proceeded with the academic course that lasts for two weeks, while the others will conduct the course in the fall. Students who cannot make it to the universities can also view classes on unification at www.kaurinu.or.kr.

The unification forum project has been taken on by 21 universities that will invite experts and graduate school students to take part in seminars.

The experts are from research centers and think tanks in South Korea, including the Korea Institute for National Unification, the Institute for Peace and Unification Studies of Seoul National University and Kyung Hee University’s Institute of Global Affairs.

“Through this project for university students, we hope to create a desirable idea of unification for them,” said the Unification Ministry.

By Christine Kim [christine.kim@joongang.co.kr]