Nodutdol . e*News
February 2009
Let’s Talk about Peace: Discussion with Korean Reunification Experts
By Yom Kisuk
On January 14, 2009, Nodutdol hosted a meeting with 3 people known to be experts, journalists and activists with regard to north Korean politics and prospects for reunification.
Who came into town?
UNG CHANGHYUN, chief representative of Minjok 21, a magazine dedicated to reunification analysis, and a lecturer in Korea on north Korea-related issues.
CHUNG KIYEUL, editor at Minjok 21, a long-time activist for reunification in the US who organized the Korea Truth Commission in New York, and now teaches at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
YUN JIHOON, photographer, who works at EJ Consulting as a board member and writing correspondent.
Attendees from New York: Members of Nodutdol and the NY Korean Democratic Labor Party.
What is the purpose of their trip?
To write articles about Korean-American organizations who have been working toward reunification, and to do some interviews with Korea Society chairman and progressive professors. They came to us as soon as they arrived and are scheduled to visit one organization in Boston the next day as well as to meet with LA forum activists and professors.
Some main points from the meeting
Current landscape on reunification scholars and research:
Jung Changhyun, who has studied many aspects of north Korea, began by pointing out that many Korean college students don’t have much interest in north Korea or in reunification issues due to economic reasons (i.e. no jobs after college graduation) even though they already have enough knowledge to pass most job interviews. He added that he agreed to do lectures on reunification on college campuses because of the possibility that they would have to close the related academic department if he didn’t. They have hard time to find young professors on the topic. Generally, there are only a few students and scholars who are interested in reunification due to their economic hardship.
He also shared that in the progressive field in Korea there is no network or system to nurture young leaders, unlike the right wing, which has the conservative media triad of Chosun, Joong-ang, and Dong-a Ilbo newspapers who support ultra right young leaders and who foster the idea that reunification means that the South will have to economically support North Korea. For example, the staff whom he met 20 years ago while giving reunification-related workshops are the same staff now.
However, he also stated that the main reason for the lack of new leadership is not the lack of resources but because of the divisions and factions within the left. Thus people can’t come together as one force. It’s not impossible to create a stronger left. But the time is critical now because ten to twenty years later, people will not be able to do it.
Timeliness and prospects for a peace treaty campaign
A question asked by attendees was: What would be likely to happen with a peace treaty campaign after President Obama takes over? Mr. Jung thinks it is a good time and the right person to push forward the peace treaty campaign for two reasons. The power that can carry out the peace talks is not dependent on the US bur rather on north Korea. North Korea will put in maximum effort to make it happen before 2012 since 2012 will be the 100th birthday of Kim Il Sung Jusuk. The US-based personnel who will work on this agenda are politicians from the Clinton Administration who had contact and hands-on experience in dealing with north Korean politician and politics.
Chung Kiyeul added that it’s not wise for President Obama to push forward all of his policies now, to be revolutionary, because he has to build a position of power. Global power is restructuring and the American political system is being restructured. His rationale for this prediction is based on their experience of the Roh Moo Hyun administration in Korea (the previous president). In south Korea, in the past two or three years, they have created a draft of the peace treaty among movement groups, which they are mobilizing around. There is an article on this topic in Minjok 21 for further reading, if people are interested.
Envisioning Long-Term Change in North Korea
Attendees asked the scholars about what they believe will north Korea's future will look like after US-north Korea normalization. One speaker said that if the security issues are resolved in north Korea, then there would be much more economic reform than what is anticipated, but less than China’s level of reform. In North Korea, there is a new theory about economic systems because in classical socialist economy there is no such thing as the joint ventures that now appear in north Korea in the special economic complexes. The logic is that because the most apparent characteristic of socialism is collectivism, and because the state will continue to provide and control food, clothing, and housing, there will continue to be collectivism in north Korean society. North Korea will put more emphasis on political activity like small group study and meeting. In addition, the state is becoming more confident in managing and owning state-owned markets, which supplement their own management system. They want to put the black market back on the national distribution system. However, he thinks they need a state-owned market, for which they need more foreign investment. And in order to increase foreign investment, they will have to pursue normalized relations with the US.
Mr. Chung Kiyeul expressed how important and significant NDD’s work and existence has been for 10 years. As a 1.5 generation Korean-American he is so impressed by our hard work and passion. He encourages us to keep up the good work. Mr. Jung Changhyun also noted that they would like to do a training for reunification activists who are overseas and host people in South Korea for periods of time.
Closing Reflections
Personally I liked the lecture and visit. The speakers are certain that the national peace treaty campaign to end the Korean War is in a better position than before to mobilize people and realize true and lasting peace on the Korean peninsula. They might be right! Choose peace treaty now!!!
Jung Changhyun said the magazine Minjok 21, which mostly covered stories relating Koreans in Japan, is planning on expanding its coverage to the movements and experiences of Koreans all around the world, including the US and China. This means our E-news will be utilized in Korea soon. Isn’t that great?
On January 14, 2009, Nodutdol hosted a meeting with 3 people known to be experts, journalists and activists with regard to north Korean politics and prospects for reunification.
Who came into town?
UNG CHANGHYUN, chief representative of Minjok 21, a magazine dedicated to reunification analysis, and a lecturer in Korea on north Korea-related issues.
CHUNG KIYEUL, editor at Minjok 21, a long-time activist for reunification in the US who organized the Korea Truth Commission in New York, and now teaches at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
YUN JIHOON, photographer, who works at EJ Consulting as a board member and writing correspondent.
Attendees from New York: Members of Nodutdol and the NY Korean Democratic Labor Party.
What is the purpose of their trip?
To write articles about Korean-American organizations who have been working toward reunification, and to do some interviews with Korea Society chairman and progressive professors. They came to us as soon as they arrived and are scheduled to visit one organization in Boston the next day as well as to meet with LA forum activists and professors.
Some main points from the meeting
Current landscape on reunification scholars and research:
Jung Changhyun, who has studied many aspects of north Korea, began by pointing out that many Korean college students don’t have much interest in north Korea or in reunification issues due to economic reasons (i.e. no jobs after college graduation) even though they already have enough knowledge to pass most job interviews. He added that he agreed to do lectures on reunification on college campuses because of the possibility that they would have to close the related academic department if he didn’t. They have hard time to find young professors on the topic. Generally, there are only a few students and scholars who are interested in reunification due to their economic hardship.
He also shared that in the progressive field in Korea there is no network or system to nurture young leaders, unlike the right wing, which has the conservative media triad of Chosun, Joong-ang, and Dong-a Ilbo newspapers who support ultra right young leaders and who foster the idea that reunification means that the South will have to economically support North Korea. For example, the staff whom he met 20 years ago while giving reunification-related workshops are the same staff now.
However, he also stated that the main reason for the lack of new leadership is not the lack of resources but because of the divisions and factions within the left. Thus people can’t come together as one force. It’s not impossible to create a stronger left. But the time is critical now because ten to twenty years later, people will not be able to do it.
Timeliness and prospects for a peace treaty campaign
A question asked by attendees was: What would be likely to happen with a peace treaty campaign after President Obama takes over? Mr. Jung thinks it is a good time and the right person to push forward the peace treaty campaign for two reasons. The power that can carry out the peace talks is not dependent on the US bur rather on north Korea. North Korea will put in maximum effort to make it happen before 2012 since 2012 will be the 100th birthday of Kim Il Sung Jusuk. The US-based personnel who will work on this agenda are politicians from the Clinton Administration who had contact and hands-on experience in dealing with north Korean politician and politics.
Chung Kiyeul added that it’s not wise for President Obama to push forward all of his policies now, to be revolutionary, because he has to build a position of power. Global power is restructuring and the American political system is being restructured. His rationale for this prediction is based on their experience of the Roh Moo Hyun administration in Korea (the previous president). In south Korea, in the past two or three years, they have created a draft of the peace treaty among movement groups, which they are mobilizing around. There is an article on this topic in Minjok 21 for further reading, if people are interested.
Envisioning Long-Term Change in North Korea
Attendees asked the scholars about what they believe will north Korea's future will look like after US-north Korea normalization. One speaker said that if the security issues are resolved in north Korea, then there would be much more economic reform than what is anticipated, but less than China’s level of reform. In North Korea, there is a new theory about economic systems because in classical socialist economy there is no such thing as the joint ventures that now appear in north Korea in the special economic complexes. The logic is that because the most apparent characteristic of socialism is collectivism, and because the state will continue to provide and control food, clothing, and housing, there will continue to be collectivism in north Korean society. North Korea will put more emphasis on political activity like small group study and meeting. In addition, the state is becoming more confident in managing and owning state-owned markets, which supplement their own management system. They want to put the black market back on the national distribution system. However, he thinks they need a state-owned market, for which they need more foreign investment. And in order to increase foreign investment, they will have to pursue normalized relations with the US.
Mr. Chung Kiyeul expressed how important and significant NDD’s work and existence has been for 10 years. As a 1.5 generation Korean-American he is so impressed by our hard work and passion. He encourages us to keep up the good work. Mr. Jung Changhyun also noted that they would like to do a training for reunification activists who are overseas and host people in South Korea for periods of time.
Closing Reflections
Personally I liked the lecture and visit. The speakers are certain that the national peace treaty campaign to end the Korean War is in a better position than before to mobilize people and realize true and lasting peace on the Korean peninsula. They might be right! Choose peace treaty now!!!
Jung Changhyun said the magazine Minjok 21, which mostly covered stories relating Koreans in Japan, is planning on expanding its coverage to the movements and experiences of Koreans all around the world, including the US and China. This means our E-news will be utilized in Korea soon. Isn’t that great?
This article originally appeared in the February 2009 issue of Nodutdol eNews.
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Nodutdol eNews is the monthly e-mail newsletter of Nodutdol.Through grassroots organization and community development, Nodutdol seeks to bridge divisions created by war, nation, gender, sexual orientation, language, classes and generation among Koreans and to empower our community to address the injustice we and other people of color face here and abroad. Nodutdol works in collaboration with other progressive organizations locally, nationally and internationally as part of a larger movement for peace and social change.
In this issue
Ally Profile: Al-Awda NY, the Palestine Right to Return Coalition
Let’s Talk about Peace: Discussion with Korean Reunification Experts
Candlelight Vigils Again: Yongsan Tenant Tragedy in Korea
The Occupation Will Not Be Televised: On the Latest Attacks in Gaza
View the complete e*News Archives »
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