2013년 2월 13일 ‘새터민 부부 초청 희망의 날 만찬’행사를 새터민 50쌍이 함께한 가운데 서울역 트레인스 뷔페에서 세계평화여성연합 주최로 개최하였다.

이날 행사는 최영선 사무총장의 사회로 개회되었으며 장인숙 명예회장(사단법인 평화통일탈북인연합회)의 인사말씀, 설용수 회장(남북통일운동 국민연합)의 축사, 조명철 국회의원(탈북자 출신 최초 국회의원)의 축하의 편지 대독, 문난영 회장의 환영사 및 주제강연, 참부부 통일다짐, 글로리아 찬양단(새터민 찬양단)의 축가, 만찬 순으로 진행되었다.

북측 대표 새터민 장인숙 회장은(사단법인 평화통일탈북인연합회)은 “지금 남한에는 2만5천명의 새터민들이 살고 있지만 사회의 무관심속에 있는 듯하다. 그러나 여성연합은 15년간 오랜 인연을 맺고 지내오면서 늘 한결같은 관심으로 새터민들에게 참가정의 중요성을 교육해줌에 감사하다. 또한 새터민들인 우리가 통일의 걸림돌이 되지 말고 통일의 디딤돌이 되자”고 인사말씀을 했다.

설용수 회장(남북통일운동국민연합)은 축사에서 “북한에서는 새터민들을 남한 보다는 가까운 동족으로 느끼고 신뢰하기 때문에 더욱 새터민들이 남북통일에 앞장서야한다. 같은 것은 넓히고 다른 것은 좁히는 것이 통일이다. 또한 건강한 가정을 이루는 것이 통일이기에 새터민 가정이 건강한 가정이 되어야 통일을 앞당긴다.고 했다.

문난영 회장은 환영사와 더불어「인류 한 가족 평화세계」라는 주제강연을 통해 “1992년 창립이후 1997년부터 UN경제사회이사회 협의지위를 갖는 3400개의 NGO 중 가장 높은 지위를 갖고 있는 140개의 포괄적협의지위로 활동하고 있다.”고 세계평화여성연합을 소개하며 “전 세계적인 활동에 새터민 여러분들도 함께 동참하길 바란다.고 했다.

 
또한 참석한 새터민 부부들은「통일 실천 다짐문」을 함께 제창하면서 참된 부부의 인연을 지킬 것을 다짐하고 남북통일을 위해 노력할 것이며 나아가 자녀들을 남북통일과 세계평화의 주역으로 육성할 것을 손을 들어 맹세하는 시간을 가지며 이날의 행사를 마쳤다.

‘North Korean defector Couples Invitational Day of Hope Banquet’ Hosted

On February 13 2013, the ‘New Settler Couples’ Invitational Day of Hope Banquet’ was hosted by the Women’s Federation for World Peace at the Trains Buffet in Seoul Station, attended by 60 New Settler (North Korean defectors) couples.

The event was emceed by Secretary-General Yeong Seon Choi, and commenced with an address by Honorary President In Sook Jang (Peace Unite Korea Defector Alliance), which was followed by the congratulatory address of President Yong Soo Seol (The Citizen’s Federation for the Unification of Korea), a reading of the congratulatory letter from MP Myeong Cheol Cho (the first North Korean defector to become a Member of Parliament), the welcoming address and keynote speech by World President Lan Young Moon, a Resolution of Unity by True Couples, congratulatory songs sung by the Gloria Choir (New Setters’ Choir), and the banquet.

President In Sook Jang (Peace Unite Korea Defector Alliance), the representative of North Korea, said in her address: “Though there are 25,000 New Settlers living in the South, it seems as if the society is indifferent to them. The WFWP, however, formed ties with us 15 years ago, and since then they have always shown an interest in the New Settlers and have continued to educate us on the importance of the true family. For this, we are truly grateful. We, the New Settlers, should serve as stepping stones in bringing about unification and not become a stumbling block instead.”

President Yong Soo Seol (The Citizen’s Federation for the Unification of Korea) said in his congratulatory address, “Since the North Koreans think of the New Settlers as being closer to them than South Koreans and therefore trust them more, this is all the more reason why the New Settlers should take the lead in bringing about the unification of North and South Korea. Unification is all about expanding the similarities and narrowing the differences. Moreover, unification is also about forming healthy families, and so it is only when the New Settler families become healthy families that they can accelerate unification.”

Together with her welcoming address, President Lan Young Moon delivered a keynote speech titled “A World of Peace with Humanity as One Family”, in which she introduced the Women’s Federation for World Peace: “After its founding in 1992, from 1997 the WFWP has continued to maintain its status as an NGO in General Consultative Status under the United Nations Economic and Social Council, which is the highest status given to an NGO, and only 140 out of 3,400 NGOs under the ECOSOC have been awarded this status.” She went on to add, “I hope you, the New Settlers, will also take part in our worldwide activities.”

Furthermore, the participating New Settler couples recited the “Unification Practice Resolution” together, through which they resolved to uphold their connection to each other as true couples and, raising their hands high, they pledged to make great efforts for the unification of North and South Korea and, moreover, to raise their children to become leading figures who can play a central role in bringing about the unification of Korea and world peace. With this pledge, the event drew to an end.