Gasan-sook: A Champion for Peaceful Unification in South Korea’s Seosan City

On February 9, Gah Seon-sook, a member of the Seosan City Council, received the prestigious Presidential Commendation from the National Unification Advisory Council (NUAC) (Photo courtesy of Seosan City Council).

Gah Seon-sook, a Seosan City Council member, was honored with the Presidential Commendation from the National Unification Advisory Council on February 9.

The NUAC, a constitutional presidential advisory body, awards this commendation to individuals who have made significant contributions to fostering peaceful coexistence, mutual growth, and national development.

Since 2019, Gah has served as an NUAC advisor, now in her fourth term spanning eight years. She has been actively involved in various initiatives promoting community integration, unity among North Korean defectors, and raising awareness about peaceful unification.

Her consistent engagement in local activities, policy proposals, and efforts to enhance public understanding of unification issues have led to this recognition.

Gah’s dedication has been consistently acknowledged. She received the 2023 NUAC Governor’s Award for Chungcheongnam-do and a certificate of appreciation from the NUAC Seosan Chapter in 2025. This Presidential Commendation is seen as a comprehensive recognition of her ongoing efforts.

Notably, Gah drafted the “Ordinance on Supporting Organizations Related to North Korean Defectors in Seosan.” This legislation aims to boost the self-esteem of North Korean defectors and provides an institutional framework to address their challenges. Her work has been highly praised for broadening community support for unification and promoting social cohesion.

Upon receiving the award, Gah stated, “I’ve strived to promote the values of peaceful unification in our community and to establish a foundation for social integration that resonates with everyone. I remain committed to legislative efforts that foster peaceful coexistence and social harmony.”

Gah has consistently championed legislative initiatives to improve welfare for vulnerable groups, including individuals with disabilities, seniors, youth, children, women, multicultural families, small business owners, workers, female farmers, and North Korean defectors.
Seosan = Lim Bung-soon, reporter ibs9900@