South Korean Unification Minister Announces Nine‑Project Plan to Restart Inter‑Korean Exchanges
Updated (2 articles)
Minister Chung Dong‑young Sets Agenda for Renewed Dialogue At a Seoul gathering of the South‑North Korea Exchanges and Cooperation Support Association on Jan. 22, 2026, Unification Minister Chung Dong‑young pledged to design mutually beneficial, multilateral projects that will reopen all roads and railways to the North and end hostilities [1]. He framed the resumption of inter‑Korean exchanges as the surest route to lasting peace and emphasized that the initiatives will be financed through the Inter‑Korean Cooperation Fund [1]. The announcement signals a shift from diplomatic stalemate to concrete, funded cooperation.
Public‑Private Association Mobilizes 25 Officials and Business Leaders The association, chaired by the minister, brings together 25 participants from the Office of National Security and the foreign, finance, and justice ministries, alongside private‑sector representatives [1]. It functions as a consultative forum to generate policy ideas and plan projects, linking government expertise with industry resources [1]. This structure aims to streamline decision‑making and ensure that proposed initiatives have both political backing and commercial viability.
Nine Joint Projects Target Culture, History, and Infrastructure Among the nine projects discussed are a joint Korean dictionary and a collaborative archaeological survey of the Manwoldae palace site in Kaesong [1]. The portfolio blends cultural and historical cooperation with practical exchanges, illustrating a comprehensive approach to rebuilding ties [1]. By funding these initiatives through the Inter‑Korean Cooperation Fund, the government seeks to demonstrate tangible progress toward reconciliation.
Timeline
Dec 18, 2018 – The last inter‑Korean talks occur at a sports‑related meeting, marking the most recent high‑level dialogue before a seven‑year hiatus; this baseline underscores the significance of Seoul’s renewed outreach in 2025‑2026 [2].
Dec 17, 2025 – Unification Minister Chung Dong‑young meets with Won Buddhism leader Na Sang‑ho in Seoul and vows “extraordinary efforts to turn 2026 into a starting point for peaceful coexistence,” signaling the administration’s intent to break the seven‑year stalemate and reopen diplomatic channels [2].
Jan 22, 2026 – At a Seoul gathering of the South‑North Korea Exchanges and Cooperation Support Association, Minister Chung pledges to “end hostility and reopen all roads and railways toward the North” and unveils a nine‑project plan—including a joint Korean dictionary and a Manwoldae palace survey—aimed at reviving cultural, historical, and infrastructural ties through the Inter‑Korean Cooperation Fund [1].