The Ministry of Unification of Korea (Korean: 통일부; English: Ministry of Unification) is a special and famous state administrative agency of the Republic of Korea, specializing in the unification of the Korean Peninsula, whose predecessor was the National Land Unification Institute established on March 1, 1969; on December 27, 1990, it was renamed the Unification Institute; in 1998, it was renamed the Unification Institute. On December 27, 1990, it was renamed the Unification House; on February 28, 1998, it was reorganized as the Unification Ministry. The Minister of Unification is called the Minister of Unification and is appointed as a member of the State Council. The department's main responsibilities are: the development of North-South unification and North-South dialogue, exchange and cooperation, humanitarian support and other related policies; management of the unification industry, education, publicity and other related matters.