The CBCK Committee for the Reconciliation of the Korean People (President: Most Rev. Peter Lee Ki-heon) held a forum on the unification of the two Koreas at the auditorium of the Catholic Conference of Korea on September 18, 2012. Bishop Lee and Fr. Timotheos Lee Eun-hyeong, Secretary of the Committee, and about 50 guests attended a lecture given by Dr. Kim Yeong-yoon, President of the Korea Logistics Forum, entitled "The Best Way to the Unification of the Two Koreas."

In his introductory remarks, Bishop Lee said, “As an escapee from North Korea at the age of 4 during the Korean War, I earnestly yearn for the reunification of Korea. Though I am still waiting for the reunification after 40 years of life as a priest, I think the best way to the unification of the two Koreas is prayer.”

In his lecture, Dr. Kim said, “We can learn the best model for the unification of the two Koreas from what happened in Germany.” He explained that Germany was able to accomplish the whole process of reunification within just 16 months, because they had already had enough experiences of mutual exchange. He also said that many citizens of old East Germany willingly wanted the reunification of Germany as the result of long mutual exchanges, including freedom to visit with each other. In conclusion, he said, “We have to build up conditions for a de facto unification which means that we can freely visit North Korea and do business in North Korea, and vice versa.”

During the panel discussion Mr. Kim Heung-gwang, President of North Korea Intellectuals Solidarity, said, “North Korean people are very loyal to their regime; however they are in desperate need of food for bare survival. Therefore, we have to start from the area of non-economic sectors like food aid. In this regard, the role of the Catholic Church in Korea is very important, especially that of the CBCK Committee for the Reconciliation of the Korean People.”