At the Board of Audit and Inspection of the Ministry of Unification held by the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee of the National Assembly on the 14th, Minister Chung Dong-young of the Ministry of Unification and opposition lawmakers clashed over the inter-Korean "peaceful two-state theory."
Ahn Cheol-soo, a People Power Party lawmaker, cited Articles 3 and 4 of the Constitution at the committee's audit that day and said, "Under the Constitution, the peaceful two-state theory advocated by Minister Chung directly conflicts with it." Ahn noted, "The government has emphasized the position of the Basic Agreement that inter-Korean relations are a provisional special relationship until unification, but the very notion of a two-state theory runs counter to the Constitution," adding, "The president of the Republic of Korea and the national security adviser also deny it."
Ahn went on to say, "It is undesirable that the Minister in particular keeps insisting on the two-state theory," adding, "I want to believe this isn't some good cop–bad cop division of roles."
Kim Ki-woong of the same party also pointed out, "In terms of the Constitution and Supreme Court precedents, North Korea's status, its status in the context of inter-Korean relations, and its status in the international community are all different, and if you keep trying to define them as one, problems arise and controversy follows."
In response, Minister Chung countered, "(The two-state theory) accords precisely with the Constitution." Chung explained, "The second stage of the National Community Unification Formula, the 'confederation stage,' is exactly the two-state stage. Institutionalizing two peaceful states is what opens the door to unification. We cannot reach unification now because we cannot get to the two-state arrangement." He added, "We are talking about a two-state theory within the notion that inter-Korean relations are a provisional special relationship formed in the process of moving toward unification."
When Ahn criticized, "Wouldn't it be better to resign as minister and work in a civic group according to your own convictions," Minister Chung shot back, "Institutionalizing peaceful coexistence is among the state agenda items, and peaceful coexistence is impossible between hostile two states. How are we supposed to institutionalize peaceful coexistence?"
Minister Chung did not back down even when asked an additional question on whether he would continue to advocate the two-state theory. He said, "I believe the (peaceful two-state theory) will be finalized as the government's position," noting, "It is under discussion now."
When Hong Ki-won of the Democratic Party of Korea asked, "Isn't the peaceful two-state theory an abandonment of the unification theory," Minister Chung repeatedly stressed, "No. It is a two-state theory within a special relationship," adding, "It is a logic that precisely fits the National Community Unification Formula that the government officially maintains."
Some Democratic Party lawmakers agreed with Minister Chung's view. Lawmaker Lee Yong-seon assessed, "Given that over the past 30-some years of inter-Korean exchange and cooperation the reality has been two states, and that the process has been moving toward unification through integration, it is in fact a North Korea policy and understanding that match our objective reality."
Lawmaker Kim Sang-uk also argued, "While maintaining the intent of Articles 3 and 4 of the Constitution, it is common sense and the right direction to use the peaceful two-state theory as a de facto tool for status quo management and crisis management in foreign policy," adding, "By asserting the peaceful two-state theory in response to North Korea's hostile two-state theory, we safeguard the constitutional goal of peaceful unification and establish a de facto two-state management system to open the beginning of peace and exchange."