개성공단 기업인들 내주 방미... "공단 재개 전제로 시설 점검해야"
South Koreans who ran businesses at the Gaeseong Industrial Complex are visiting the U.S. next week... to meet with government officials and lawmakers and explain their view on resuming the inter-Korean factory park.
They also called on Pyeongyang to approve their visit the to facilities across the border within this month.
Oh Jung-hee fills us in.
South Koreans who ran businesses at the Gaeseong Industrial Complex the inter-Korean factory park located just north of the border, suspended since early 2016 are visiting the United States next week.
The Corporate Association of Gaeseong Industrial Complex told reporters on Monday... that they'll be speaking at the U.S. Congress about the Gaeseong Industrial Complex... and will meet with State Department officials and experts.
The purpose... is to raise Americans' understanding of the joint factory park.
"For the companies, being there had a greater meaning than just running businesses and earning money. The complex promoted peace. It brought together South and North Koreans, helped them overcome hostility and mistrust and grow their understanding of each other."
Regarding their plan to visit the Gaeseong Industrial Complex to check their assets, they stressed that the ultimate goal of their visit is to resume operations there.
Seoul's unification ministry had said that the visit has nothing to do with reopening the industrial complex.
But the business owners say:
"There's no reason to check the assets there if we won't resume the operations. We are taking care of the equipment there because the complex is to run again in the future."
They went on to urge North Korea to approve their visit.
"I believe the North will approve our visit to the complex soon. I strongly urge the North to let us visit the complex around June 20th, before President Trump visits South Korea."
In mid-May, the South Korean government approved the business people's 9th request to visit the joint factory park.
The schedule for their Gaeseong visit has to be ironed out with the North... and Seoul says it's discussing the issue with Pyeongyang.
Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News.
