Posted on : Nov.15,2019 16:52 KST
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South Korean Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul and Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eun at the Central Government Complex in Seoul on Nov. 14.
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Kim Yeon-chul brainstorms with business community on ways to resume tourism
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South Korean Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul and Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eun at the Central Government Complex in Seoul on Nov. 14.
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South Korean Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul met with Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eun, operator of South Korean tours to Mt. Kumgang, at the former’s office in the Central Government Complex in Seoul on the afternoon of Nov. 14. The meeting was held to brainstorm ways to resume tourism to the North Korean resort. The two may also have discussed arranging a trip to North Korea by Hyun, ostensibly to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Mt. Kumgang tourism project, on Nov. 18.
Kim will also be meeting with 30 South Korean business operators connected with Mt. Kumgang (not including Hyundai Asan and the Korea Tourism Organization) at the inter-Korean dialogue office in Seoul on Nov. 15.
Kim’s successive meetings with Hyun and other South Korean operators of Mt. Kumgang businesses are expected to discuss potential solutions at a time when the South and North Korean governments have been unable to find common ground, with Seoul’s Nov. 5 proposal to have a joint inspection group of authorities and business operators visit the North met with Pyongyang’s insistence on a “document-based agreement” focusing solely on the plan and schedule for demolishing facilities at the complex.
In his meeting with Hyun, Kim said, “I feel that Hyundai and the government will need to communicate very closely to find a solution.”
“I invited you because I wanted to hear you speak frankly about your plans going ahead,” he told her.
In response, Hyun promised to “discuss things thoroughly with the government and respond judiciously.”
“I hope we can find a good solution and establish a good relationship with North Korea,” she said.
Kim went on to say, “Even though the situation is grave and there are still differences in views between South and North, I feel that not only the South and North Korean authorities but Hyundai also understand the Mt. Kumgang tourism project’s historical significance and direction for development.”
A Ministry of Unification (MOU) senior official said the government was “obliged to respect the positions of business operators,” adding that the meeting was “held to fully hear what Ms. Hyun had to say.” According to MOU figures, Hyundai Asan, a private company, has made the largest investment [in Mt. Kumgang tourism] at US$196.6 million, while the next largest investment has come from the Korea Tourism Organization, a public enterprise.
By Lee Je-hun, senior staff writer
Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]
