Seoul: Unification Minister Chung Dong-young and the archbishop of the Seoul Catholic archdiocese have expressed optimism that North Korean youth will participate in the global Catholic youth festival in Seoul in 2027. Their remarks were made during a meeting at Myeongdong Cathedral as preparations for World Youth Day 2027 continue.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Chung Dong-young emphasized the potential of the event to act as a significant milestone for peace on the Korean Peninsula. He expressed hope that the wish of the Seoul archdiocese for the participation of North Korean youth would be realized. Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taick echoed these sentiments, suggesting that even limited participation by North Korean youth could symbolically enhance inter-Korean relations. He pledged to explore avenues to facilitate this participation.
The minister also highlighted the expected visit of Pope Leo XIV to North Korea en route to South Korea for the festival. Archbishop Chung Soon-taick responded that he would investigate potential pathways to make this visit feasible. Additionally, during their discussion, the minister noted that "de facto" unification, characterized by cooperation between South and North Korea and the unimpeded flow of people and resources, should precede legal or political unification.