korean unification studies

The Ministry of Unification has an interesting article written Gwon Yong-Jin,  an employee of Korea Land Corporation, who works and lives at the Gaeseong Industrial Complex(GIC). Gwon presents an account of the diverse aspects of life at the complex and how his attitudes have come to change during his one year stay:

I have lived in Gaeseong for more than one year. I am now familiar with many facets of Gaeseong. In the beginning, however, I felt tension whenever a North Korean soldier just looked at me…

I have worked with North Koreans for one and a half year, I almost forgot that Korea is a divided country. A day here without North Korean workers would be strange to me. I meet them all the time, everywhere–in the workplace, cafeterias, the barber shop, and even at the hospital.

This is a new series by the Ministry of Unification that seeks to present the views of ordinary South Koreans who have worked, or are working in the GIC. It is a very valuable resource and an interesting glimpse into the meeting of Stalinist communism (for want of a better word) and capitalism. It also highlights the more personal side of unification. Beyond the strategies, the economics and the politics. Just personal, ordinary views and hopes that division can end:

In the past, I somewhat vaguely thought that South and North Koreans belong to the same nation. Now, I have a first-hand “experience” of the future of unified Korea and can feel that the day of unification is getting closer. Here, thoughts and behaviors are changed as we work, talk, and live amid daily contacts and deepening friendship. 

Please take the time to have a read and I will be sure to fill these pages with future excerpts from the series.