Attention is turning to the next president of South Korea’s National Unification Advisory Council (NUAC) in Los Angeles after the country has recently seen an administration change with the election of Jae-in Moon, the new president. Some who have been chosen as potential candidates are expressing enthusiastic interest, while others are showing an aversion.
President Moon is expected to appoint the person to lead South Korea’s NUAC, which in turn will affect the next leader of its L.A. branch. As soon as Moon makes his appointment, the hiring process for NUAC’s branches abroad will take place.
It has already been reported that L.A. NUAC’s current president Tae-rang Lim has dismissed the possibility of running for reelection. “It is Lim’s thinking that he should step down after the administration has changed,” said an anonymous source close to Lim’s camp.
The incoming advisory board for the L.A. NUAC president will start its term on July 1. The L.A. department has received 231 applications for 157 positions, while the Orange County and San Diego department has received 119 for 114 available slots. The South Korean consulate office in L.A. reported the candidates to the headquarters on April 17.
Both L.A. NUAC and the consulate office said that the president will choose the next leader for the advisory board. “The next president will be chosen by our department in Korea. We didn’t make a recommendation for the next L.A. NUAC president. The announcement will be made by the end of June,” said an employee at the L.A. consulate office.
Within L.A. NUAC, five liberal candidates have been chosen as its potential president.
“It’s probable that the inter-Korea relations will improve since Jae-in Moon is now our president,” said one of those candidates, only identified by his initial A. “The NUAC branches outside of Korea must now change from its initial passive attitude.”
On the other hand, another rumored candidate, identified by his initial B, said: “The L.A. NUAC president must have strong ties with the South Korean president. My name has always been on the rumored list, but I have no interest. The NUAC’s reputation has taken a nosedive over the last 10 years.”
Meanwhile, critics argued that L.A. NUAC must be at the forefront in the efforts to better the relations between the two Koreas to raise its visibility.
“A president of L.A. NUAC who only takes on the role for its title will have no presence,” said former L.A. NUAC president Jong-hwan Cha. “The next president must be objective in the approach to improve the relationship between the two Koreas.”
By Hyoungjae Kim
