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Ministry of Unification to Produce Video Messages for Separated Families in 2026
Ministry of Unification to Produce Video Messages for Separated Families in 2026 April 27, 2026 The Ministry of Unification will begin its 2026 program to record video messages from separated families to prepare for future exchanges and to document the experiences and hardships of separated families. This year, the Ministry will first conduct on-site filming for applicants who have registered through the Integrated Information System for Separated Families website. Other separated families wishing to participate will follow subsequently. The Ministry will also expand its support for producing video messages for separated families living overseas, which was implemented on a pilot basis in 2025. It plans to provide assistance from the filming stage by building networks with overseas separated families organizations and video production companies. The video message program first began in 2005, and a total of 28,112 video messages have been recorded as of 2025. Video messages are based on individual stories of separated families and consists of: introductions of oneself and one’s family, memories with family members, the pain of separation, and messages to be delivered to family members in the North. Video messages consented for public release are uploaded to the official website to raise public awareness of the separated families issue. As of March 2026, a total of 4,185 video messages have been made public. These videos will also be aired weekly on a radio program by the Korean Broadcasting System. The Ministry of Unification will make continued efforts to strengthen conditions for exchanges among separated families and to build consensus on resolving the issue. It will do so by commemorating Separated Families Day, conducting DNA testing, and organizing invitation events for separated families. * Unofficial translation
2026.04.27
Press Releases
DMZ Peace Link Train (Seoul↔Dorasan) Resumes Service
DMZ Peace Link Train (Seoul↔Dorasan) Resumes Service Relaunched after 6 years and 6 months through cooperation among five agencies April 9, 2026 Regular tourist train service between Seoul Station and Dorasan Station will resume on April, following a 6-year, 6-month suspension. Dorasan Station is the northernmost station on the South Korean side of the Gyeongui Line and the gateway to future rail links with the North. It serves as the starting point for inter-Korean connectivity and a symbol of inter-Korean exchange and cooperation. Reflecting the symbolic significance of Dorasan Station, the resumed service has been named the “DMZ Peace Link Train” to convey the commitment to reconnect the South and the North in peace across the DMZ. The resumption of the DMZ Peace Link Train will allow the public to travel by rail beyond Imjingang Station into the Civilian Control Line area to Dorasan Station. Visitors will also be able to visit nearby DMZ attractions, including the Dora Observatory, offering an opportunity to experience firsthand the meaning and value of peace on the Korean Peninsula. * Reservations for the DMZ Peace Link Train can be made through KORAIL, KORAIL Tourism Development, and the DMZ Peace Tourism website. The train operates on the second and fourth Fridays of each month. To mark the launch of the DMZ Peace Link Train, the Government will hold a commemorative event titled “Dorasan Station, Linking Peace Again” on April 10 at Seoul Station and Dorasan Station. The event will consist of three parts: an inaugural train ride from Seoul Station, a ceremony marking the resumption of service at Dorasan Station, and a visit to nearby peace tourism sites including Camp Greaves. Around 260 participants representing the public and various sectors of inter-Korean relations are expected to attend the ceremony. These include members of the National Assembly, North Korean-born citizens, separated families, international students, youth, and leaders of religious and civic organizations. The resumption of the train service was made possible through the cooperation of five relevant agencies: the Ministry of Unification, the Ministry of National Defense, Gyeonggi Province, Paju City, and Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL). At the ceremony marking the launch of the DMZ Peace Link Train, heads of the five agencies will sign a joint agreement to promote the DMZ’s value as a symbol of lasting peace and to boost tourism. As a follow-up to the agreement, working-level preparations will begin in May to expand train operations to four times a month. The initiative will go beyond merely expanding train operations, adding key DMZ attractions such as Camp Greaves and Dorasan Peace Park to existing destinations including Dorasan Station, the Dora Observatory and Unification Village, offering diverse peace tourism experiences. The ROK Government will use the resumption of the train service and the commemorative ceremony to promote peace tourism in the DMZ area and to reaffirm, domestically and internationally, its commitment to a Korean Peninsula based on peaceful coexistence. * Unofficial translation
2026.04.09
Press Releases
1st Inter-Korean Relations Development Committee of 2026 Convenes, Reviews 5th Master Plan on Development of Inter-Korean Relations
1st Inter-Korean Relations Development Committee of 2026 Convenes, Reviews 5th Master Plan on Development of Inter-Korean Relations Committee to discuss five-year plan to advance the Lee Jae Myung administration’s “Policy for Peaceful Coexistence on the Korean Peninsula” March 19, 2026 The Government will hold the first 2026 meeting of the Inter-Korean Relations Development Committee on Thursday, March 19, chaired by Minister of Unification Chung Dongyoung. The Inter-Korean Relations Development Committee comprises 15 government members, including the Minister of Unification (Chairperson), and 15 civilian members. Its purpose is to deliberate on the formulation of the “Master Plan on the Development of Inter-Korean Relations” (hereinafter the “Master Plan”) as well as other important matters for the advancement of inter-Korean relations. At the meeting, the Inter-Korean Relations Development Committee will table and deliberate on the draft 5th Master Plan (2026-2030), outlining the direction of inter-Korean relations over the next five years. The draft 5th Master Plan is a comprehensive mid-to-long-term roadmap to implement the Lee Jae Myung administration’s “Policy for Peaceful Coexistence on the Korean Peninsula.” It aims to redefine inter-Korean relations as one of peaceful coexistence while pursuing unification. The plan presents a vision of “Peaceful Coexistence and Shared Growth on the Korean Peninsula” with three goals: institutionalizing inter-Korean peaceful coexistence, establishing the foundation for shared growth on the Korean Peninsula, and achieving a Korean Peninsula free of war and nuclear weapons. It also outlines three guiding principles: respect for the North Korean system, non-pursuit of unification by absorption, and non-pursuit of hostile acts. The plan identifies six key initiatives: (1) re-establishing inter-Korean relations through reconciliation and cooperation, and institutionalizing peaceful coexistence (2) resolving the North Korean nuclear issue and advancing a peace regime (3) promoting mutually beneficial exchange and cooperation grounded in public consensus (4) alleviating the pain of division and resolving humanitarian issues (5) preparing for a peace economy and shared growth on the Korean Peninsula (6) building consensus on peace and unification through public participation and international cooperation. The Minister of Unification will finalize the draft 5th Master Plan after incorporating discussions from the Committee and completing review by the vice ministers’ conference and the cabinet meeting. The finalized plan will then be reported to the National Assembly and released to the public. * Unofficial translation
2026.03.19
Press Releases
Ministry of Unification Publishes “Policy for Peaceful Coexistence on the Korean Peninsula by the Lee Jae Myung Government”
Ministry of Unification Publishes “Policy for Peaceful Coexistence on the Korean Peninsula by the Lee Jae Myung Government” The Government will build a Korean Peninsula where peace as the absence of conflict prevails and shared prosperity is realized February 3, 2026 The Government, on February 3, will publish and distribute the “Policy for Peaceful Coexistence on the Korean Peninsula by the Lee Jae Myung Government” (hereinafter the Policy for Peaceful Coexistence). The Policy for Peaceful Coexistence was formulated based on the key directions of the Korean Peninsula policy presented in the 80th Liberation Day Address (August 15, 2025) and refined through discussions with relevant ministries, experts, and the public from various walks of life. The Policy for Peaceful Coexistence is grounded in philosophical and historical foundations, and embodies the people’s aspiration for peace on the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia. It carries forward the spirit of “A Treatise on Peace in the East” by independence activist Ahn Jung-geun, which set forth a visionary blueprint for a Northeast Asian peace community. It also inherits the historical current of peaceful coexistence policies sustained by successive administration since the adoption of the 1991 Inter-Korean Basic Agreement, in which the South and the North agreed to mutual recognition and respect. Furthermore, it reflects the people’s hopes and the era’s call for a Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia where peace prevails and prosperity is shared by all. The Policy for Peaceful Coexistence is organized into four components: goals, principles, strategies, and key initiatives. First, the Government outlines three goals: institutionalizing inter-Korean peaceful coexistence, establishing the foundation for shared growth on the Korean Peninsula, and achieving a Korean Peninsula free of war and nuclear weapons. This embodies the Government’s firm commitment to end hostility and confrontation on the Korean Peninsula and to build peace without the need for conflict. Second, the Government establishes three guiding principles for peaceful coexistence: respect for the North Korean system, non-pursuit of unification by absorption, and non-pursuit of hostile acts. The Government acknowledges and respects the North Korean system as a partner for the development of inter-Korean relations and the pursuit of peaceful unification. It pursues unification grounded in peaceful coexistence, not through unilateral absorption or any artificial means. It will refrain from any hostile acts that might needlessly escalate tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Third, the Government established strategies to effectively realize the goals based on the three principles of peaceful coexistence. The Government will pursue a comprehensive approach, including promoting mutually beneficial inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation, supporting and cooperating in efforts to normalize North Korea’s relations with the international community, and devising practical solutions for a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula. In addition, as a government of popular sovereignty, it will listen to the diverse opinions of its people and work closely with neighboring countries and the international community to build durable peace on the Korean Peninsula. Fourth, the key initiatives, which are specific action plans to open a new era of peaceful coexistence and shared prosperity on the Korean Peninsula, are as follows: < Key Initiatives > 1. Re-establishing inter-Korean relations through reconciliation and cooperation, and institutionalizing peaceful coexistence 2. Resolving the North Korean nuclear issue and advancing a peace regime 3. Promoting mutually beneficial exchange and cooperation grounded in public consensus 4. Alleviating the pain of division and resolving humanitarian issues 5. Preparing for a peace economy and shared growth on the Korean Peninsula 6. Building consensus on peace and unification through public participation and international cooperation. The Government will consistently pursue the Policy for Peaceful Coexistence together with the public and the international community to usher in a new era where the South and the North coexist peacefully and thrive together. * Unofficial translation
2026.02.03
