Concerns Over Potential Name Change of Unification Ministry

On June 24, 2025, Jeong Dong-young, the nominee for the Minister of Unification, stated that the name change of the Ministry of Unification should be actively considered, as unification can be pursued on the foundation of peace and stability. However, there are concerns that changing the ministry's name could signal a weakening of the South Korean government's commitment to unification in the eyes of the international community, especially as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has characterized inter-Korean relations as those of two hostile nations.

During a press briefing at the Inter-Korean Relations Management Office in Jongno-gu, Jeong emphasized that establishing peace is the top priority for the 50 million citizens of South Korea. He likened unification to a cart and peace to the horse that pulls it, asserting that the horse must lead the cart. He referenced the example of Germany, where the government changed the name of its Ministry of Unification to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which dealt with East-West relations, to illustrate his point.

Jeong also suggested that the name of the Kaesong Industrial Complex should be changed, arguing that the term 'complex' diminishes the significance of Kaesong, which means 'opening a fortress.' He proposed renaming it to 'Kaesong Peace City' or 'Peace Zone.' He described the past six years of severed inter-Korean relations as abnormal and stressed that restoring communication between the two Koreas is the first task at hand.

He criticized the previous government's consolidation of various organizations into the 'Inter-Korean Relations Management Office' due to a decrease in operational demand for inter-Korean meetings and exchanges, calling it 'abnormal.' Jeong hinted at potential organizational restructuring aimed at resuming dialogue with North Korea, which has unilaterally severed communication channels. He remarked that the current situation arose during the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, which he believes has now faded into history, making it crucial to seek a new inter-Korean relationship with the new government.

Jeong, who previously served as Minister of Unification from 2004 to 2005 during the Roh Moo-hyun administration, has been nominated for the position again after 20 years. His comments regarding the potential name change of the Ministry of Unification have sparked discussions both within and outside the government, with some officials arguing that such a change would be meaningless. A former high-ranking official from the Ministry of Unification expressed that removing 'unification' from the ministry's name could be perceived as the South Korean government abandoning its unification efforts, potentially aligning with Kim Jong-un's two-nation theory. Another former official remarked that simply changing the ministry's name would not alter the situation and suggested focusing on substantive unification and North Korea policies instead.