By Park Ji-won
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is pushing for a visit to Pyongyang with about 100 businesspeople next month to discuss possible inter-Korean economic cooperation if sanctions are lifted.
According to officials of the party's Special Committee on Peaceful Cooperation for Northeast Asia, the committee is organizing schedules with firms for a visit to Pyongyang sometime next month.
The committee, launched in the beginning of this month to support President Moon Jae-in's policy of promoting peace on the Korean Peninsula and cooperation among countries in Northeast Asia, plans to form a delegation including 100 businesspeople and 50 reporters and lawmakers.
It is not yet known whether big companies like Samsung, LG and Hyundai will join the delegation.
Rep. Song Young-gil, head of the committee, said recently, “I will seek inter-Korean economic exchanges through (my) experiences and network.”
The Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), one of the largest corporate lobby groups in the country, is known to have selected delegates from its member companies.
The committee is planning to send a letter of invitation with a list of visitors to North Korea by Wednesday and finalize the delegation. If it materializes, the visit will be held from Dec. 7 to 9.
When President Moon visited Pyongyang in September, he brought along a delegation of industry moguls such as Hyundai Motor Group Vice Chairman Kim Yong-hwan, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, LG Group CEO Koo Kwang-mo and Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry Chairman Park Yong-maan.
This time, the list may exclude those who went to Pyongyang last time.
Opposition parties have been criticizing the government's move regarding inter-Korean cooperation. They will not support it unless the sanctions against North Korea are lifted and the denuclearization of North Korea is guaranteed.