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The resumption of family reunions is welcome news for the many people who were separated from their loved ones during the Korean War and were not able to meet their families in earlier rounds of reunions. The scenes from earlier reunion events of elderly siblings, cousins and even parents and children reuniting after many years of separation were deeply moving.
However, against the background of this promising news there is a sense of growing detachment amongst young people from the issue of unification. A recent paper comparing attitudes of young people to unification across the last twenty years found that the reunification of families was of marginal interest as a motivator for unification. Whilst unifying a so-called ‘one-people’ remained the most important driving factor amongst young people for wanting unification, other motivations such as ‘economic gains’ and ‘increasing peace’ were growing in importance. In other words, the motivation for unification was increasingly focussed upon a desire to make South Korea stronger rather than reunite divided nation or assist those living in the North. These results suggest that unification for young people would only be acceptable if there were net benefits for South Korea.
As the generation that experienced the Korean War and division slowly passes away, the memories of a unified Korean go with them. Increasingly, young people in the South are defining themselves as South Koreans whose nationalist interests lie only with the country that they have known.
So as we watch the emotional reunions of divided families, we should also think about how we can unify the divided identities of young people in South and North Korea if indeed unification is to be successfully achieved.
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6 responses so far ↓
1 derryn // Aug 29, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Its great to see this website up and away angain!
Really, how many young people in South Korea care about family reunions? I think the whole North Korean issue seems shameful to younger Koreans. Like they dont really care at all and would prefer not to even know about the North.
2 jhy2554 // Aug 29, 2009 at 2:31 pm
I think the reasons are obvious MONEY. They spell it out over here: http://rokdrop.com/2009/08/27/why-north-korea-wants-to-restart-family-reunions
3 Park En Hyeun // Nov 7, 2009 at 11:28 pm
Does korean people still care about Korean Unification? how many younsters think and aware about Korean unification and willing to put great effort toward unification?
Unification can not be dependent on government, whole Korean people must eager and put effort if Korean wants it.
4 Karen // Nov 9, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Thats not true. Think we are just tired of ideology fights. In fact, to young generation, it is such a troublesome that they don’t even wanna get involved in. But they do care. Just because they don’t seem to have the truth-blind passion over ideology, it doesn’t mean they are indifferent. Think they are seeking more rational and economical ways to reunify.
5 Good Morning Tours // Apr 12, 2010 at 3:50 pm
I think it is because the South is worried that their economy will worsen when they unite and at present, the gaps between the 2 koreas are just too huge.
6 wisescent // May 9, 2010 at 7:26 pm
I agree. As a ‘young generation’, I can confidently say that we do care. We do have ideas and hopes. We just think everyone should be aware of the frugal effects of reunificatioin.
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