Kang Chang-il, senior vice chair of the National Unification Advisory Council, delivers his inaugural speech at a ceremony held in Jung District, Seoul, on April 17, 2026. / Courtesy of News1

Kang Chang-il, senior vice chair of the National Unification Advisory Council, said on the 17th in his inaugural remarks, “I hope we can join forces to gradually resolve inter-Korean relations together.”

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held at the council’s main conference hall in Jung District, Seoul, Kang said, “Inter-Korean relations are in a difficult situation due to North Korea’s ‘two-state theory,’ and this is also a very critical time.”

He added, “The council has strengths in gathering public opinion and building consensus on peaceful unification,” noting, “Based on this, efforts are needed not only to propose policies to the president but also to widely promote peaceful unification to the public. I will work to revitalize the council and actively promote its role.”

Kang, a four-term lawmaker, historian and diplomat, is regarded as a veteran political figure with experience across academia, politics and diplomacy. He previously served as head of the Korea-Japan Parliamentarians’ Union and as ambassador to Japan, playing a significant role in diplomacy with Japan and managing bilateral relations.

The term for the senior vice chair of the council is two years. The first appointee under the Lee Jae-myung administration, former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan, took office in October last year but passed away in January during a business trip to Vietnam due to deteriorating health.

A total of 22,824 domestic and overseas advisers of the 22nd term, appointed as of Oct. 28 last year, will serve for two years until Oct. 31, 2027, carrying out activities to inform the public of the government’s policy toward North Korea.

Kang Chang-il, senior vice chair of the National Unification Advisory Council, said on the …

Kang Chang-il inaugurated as senior vice chair of advisory council, calls for joint efforts to ease inter-Korean relations