By Pyeongyang Press Corps

There’s former soccer coach Cha Bum-kun and table tennis champion Hyun Jung-hwa who played on the unified Korea team at the 1991 World Table Tennis. From the arts, we have rapper Zico and singer Ailee.

These are all members of the special delegation heading to Pyeongyang for the upcoming third inter-Korean summit from Sept. 18 to 20.

Presidential Chief of Staff Im Jong-seok announced on Sept. 16 that the South Korean delegation to Pyeongyang will include around 200 people, including 14 officials and 52 special envoys. The delegation includes Seoul’s top officials as well as prominent figures from business, religion, the arts and sports.

The chief presidential secretary said at a press briefing that, "If the first summit was 'the new start to peace,' this third summit will be 'peace that makes a new future.'"

There are 14 official delegates. They include the ministers of foreign affairs, unification, national defense, and land, infrastructure and transport. From Cheong Wa Dae, there’s National Security Adviser Chung Eui-yong and presidential aide for economic affairs Kim Hyun-chul. This is the first time that a South Korean foreign affairs minister will make an official visit to Pyeongyang.

Lee Jae-yong, vice-chairman of Samsung Group, and the heads of four other conglomerates are among the special business delegates. From the entertainment sector, rapper and producer Zico, singer Ailee, and producer Kim Hyung-suk have been invited to be part of the entourage.

In closing, Im said that the goal of this inter-Korean summit is to develop and improve inter-Korean ties, accelerate and mediate U.S.-North Korea talks, and end any fear about threats of war or military clashes between the two Koreas.

jer2co@korea.kr