President Park Geun-hye met with representatives from around the world who were in Seoul to attend the International Democratic Union (IDU) conference on November 21. They discussed issues regarding the Korean Peninsula and human rights in North Korea.
Over 100 people, including former IDU Chairman John Howard, President Mladen Ivanić of Bosnia-Herzegovina and former Maldives President Mohamed Anni Nasheed, attended the meeting.
"Korea has rebuilt itself from the debris of the Korean War and has developed into an economy ranked around 10th in the world in only half a century because it had a liberal democracy and a market economy," said President Park. "Here on the Korean Peninsula, where South and North Korea confront each other, the value of freedom and democracy is even dearer to us."
"These days countries around the world face low economic growth and higher unemployment and suffer from political and social instability," said the president. "Thus, the basis of a representative democracy is threatened in some countries. Countries with liberal democracy and a market economy need to have a bold and active response to these problems."
Speaking of human rights issues in North Korea, Park said, "During the IDU conference in the morning, participants adopted a joint statement to urge North Korea to improve human rights in the country and this is very meaningful. With its nuclear weapons development program, North Korea chooses to walk the path of isolation and severance and now its people face starvation and a human rights tragedy."
"In order to improve the situation in North Korea as soon as possible and achieve peace and prosperity on a unified Korean Peninsula, we need support and cooperation from the international community. I hope the members of the IDU continue to show their support and interest in the matter."
Using West Berlin and East Berlin before Germany's reunification as an example, former IDU Chairman John Howard said, "I can clearly see the contradiction between South and North Korea. I have witnessed freedom and a dynamic market economy in the South while I can see only depressing oppression in the North."
"However, freedom and open markets have always faced challenges and these challenges will continue to exist for many decades," he added.
By Limb Jae-un
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Cheong Wa Dae
jun2@korea.kr
Over 100 people, including former IDU Chairman John Howard, President Mladen Ivanić of Bosnia-Herzegovina and former Maldives President Mohamed Anni Nasheed, attended the meeting.
(Top) President Park Geun-hye (second from left) greets participants in the International Democratic Union conference at Cheong Wa Dae. (Bottom) President Park Geun-hye proposes a toast before the luncheon.
"Korea has rebuilt itself from the debris of the Korean War and has developed into an economy ranked around 10th in the world in only half a century because it had a liberal democracy and a market economy," said President Park. "Here on the Korean Peninsula, where South and North Korea confront each other, the value of freedom and democracy is even dearer to us."
"These days countries around the world face low economic growth and higher unemployment and suffer from political and social instability," said the president. "Thus, the basis of a representative democracy is threatened in some countries. Countries with liberal democracy and a market economy need to have a bold and active response to these problems."
Speaking of human rights issues in North Korea, Park said, "During the IDU conference in the morning, participants adopted a joint statement to urge North Korea to improve human rights in the country and this is very meaningful. With its nuclear weapons development program, North Korea chooses to walk the path of isolation and severance and now its people face starvation and a human rights tragedy."
"In order to improve the situation in North Korea as soon as possible and achieve peace and prosperity on a unified Korean Peninsula, we need support and cooperation from the international community. I hope the members of the IDU continue to show their support and interest in the matter."
President Park Geun-hye (top) and former IDU Chairman John Howard (bottom) give speeches before the luncheon.
Using West Berlin and East Berlin before Germany's reunification as an example, former IDU Chairman John Howard said, "I can clearly see the contradiction between South and North Korea. I have witnessed freedom and a dynamic market economy in the South while I can see only depressing oppression in the North."
"However, freedom and open markets have always faced challenges and these challenges will continue to exist for many decades," he added.
By Limb Jae-un
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Cheong Wa Dae
jun2@korea.kr
