On February 10th, a press conference was held at the Dorasan Inter-Korean Transit Office. Representatives from Kaesong Industrial Complex companies pleaded, "We're on the brink of survival. Please allow us to visit at the very least." They emphasized, "This is both a matter of survival and peace... The Kaesong Industrial Complex story isn't over yet."
On this somber anniversary, businesses formerly operating in the Kaesong Industrial Complex implored the government and international community to permit, at minimum, visits to the site.
The Kaesong Industrial Complex Association convened the press conference at 10 a.m. in front of the CIQ gate in Dorasan, Paju, Gyeonggi Province, the nearest accessible point to the complex. There, they presented their appeal, “We Want to Return to the Kaesong Industrial Complex.”
The event drew about 80 attendees, including Jo Kyung-joo, president of the Kaesong Industrial Complex Association, along with company representatives and employees. Participants shared their struggles for survival and recovery over the past decade since the complex’s closure, revealing that many businesses now face potential shutdown or suspension.
Business leaders expressed their longing for the factories and equipment left behind in the Kaesong Industrial Complex, as well as for their former North Korean colleagues. They appealed to the South Korean government, North Korean authorities, and the United States to facilitate at least minimal visits for asset inspections. They reaffirmed their commitment to reopening the complex.
Jo Kyung-joo stated, “Despite the longest communication blackout between North and South Korea in the 21st century and the worst inter-Korean relations, the Kaesong Industrial Complex companies haven’t lost hope.” He added, “A decade after the closure, most member companies, primarily small and medium-sized enterprises, now face existential threats, yet they cling to the possibility of reopening.”
He urged the South Korean government to develop practical survival strategies for the complex’s companies, called on North Korean authorities to approve businesspeople’s visits, and asked the U.S. to help facilitate visits for asset inspections.
Yoo Dong-wook, CEO of Daehwa Fuel Pump, who attended the event, shared, “The Kaesong Industrial Complex was our livelihood, just a stone’s throw away.” He expressed, “I deeply miss the North Korean workers I collaborated with for over a decade. The thought of them breaks my heart.”
He continued, “We’ve persevered not just for economic gain, but with a sense of mission to contribute to the shared prosperity of our divided nation.” He fervently appealed to North and South Korean authorities to make this crucial decision in the face of history.
Kim Jin-yang, chairman of the Kaesong Industrial Complex Support Foundation, also spoke, stating, “The Kaesong Industrial Complex symbolized peace and prosperity between North and South Korea.” He remarked, “Although the government closed the complex, the businesspeople here cannot abandon peace, so we must hold onto hope.”
Chairman Kim emphasized, “For 16 years, the Kaesong Industrial Complex demonstrated that ‘peace is economy.’ Even if it takes time, we need effective efforts for inter-Korean economic cooperation. If at least the May 24 measures are lifted, businesspeople are prepared to revitalize the peace economy on their own.”
He added, “We hope the Lee Jae-myung administration, which claims to represent the people’s will, will extend a hand to the Kaesong Industrial Complex businesspeople. We also urge the public not to forget about the complex.”
The Kaesong Industrial Complex Association stated in their press release, “A decade has passed since the unilateral closure of the Kaesong Industrial Complex, which both governments had agreed to operate normally under any circumstances.” They emphasized, “The Kaesong Industrial Complex is more than just a production base; it symbolizes inter-Korean economic cooperation and was a space where we experienced a ‘microcosm of unification’.”
They further warned, “If all companies from the Kaesong Industrial Complex disappear, the foundation for future inter-Korean economic cooperation will inevitably crumble.” They urged the government and international community to reconsider the complex’s historical and policy significance and to permit at least visits for asset inspections.
The Kaesong Industrial Complex Association declared, “We can never abandon the Kaesong Industrial Complex, nor should we,” and stated, “Until we can return to the complex, we will not relinquish our responsibilities and hopes as businesspeople.”
Reporter Kim Dong-wook east@viva100.com
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