Korea Report

Korea Enters 2012

2012-01-02T13:54:00.001-05:00

The Korean Peninsula enters 2012 with both sides of Korea in flux. North Korea, with a recent transition of power, will be celebrating the 100th birthday of its founding leader Kim Il Sung in April. South Korea will be holding crucial elections in 2012 -- parliamentary elections in April and presidential election in December, with opposition forces eyeing for a transfer of power. China, Russia, and the US will be holding presidential elections or transfer of power as well.

With these expected changes and infusion of new players, an opportune moment may come in 2012 for a renewed and refreshed start of the peace process in the Korean Peninsula, with amending of relations between the two sides of Korea and a resolution of security issues. Let's hope for the best in 2012.

[Photo by AP: Sun rises in Pyongyang. With the AP now operating a bureau in Pyongyang, news stories and photos abound.]

North Korea After Kim Jong Il

2011-12-21T15:30:00.001-05:00

Wild speculations and conjectures abound in the international circles in the aftermath of the death of Chairman Kim Jong Il of North Korea, whereas the transition of power to Kim Jong Un seems to be playing out without any incident. During upcoming uncertainties of the situation, all parties concerned should support a development conducive to fostering peace and reconciliation in the Korean Peninsula.
See alternative analyses: Korea Policy Institute article, interview on Democracy Now!

1000th Continuous Wednesday Protest on "Comfort Women" Issue

2011-12-16T11:11:00.001-05:00

Dec. 14, 2011 marked the 1000th "Wednesday Protest" on behalf of the Korean "Comfort Women" victims -- the continuous protest every Wednesday, rain or shine, for the past 19 years in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul, Korea. The few surviving and aging victims and their support organization (The Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Sexual Slavery by Japan) have been demanding sincere acknowledgement and apology from the Japanese government on this issue, yet no representative of the Japanese embassy has ever come out of its building over these years to acknowledge the protesters.

The silence of the Japanese authorities on this issue will not deter the protesters though, who have vowed to continue on until they pass away, if necessary. As the Japanese and South Korean governments aim to work toward a "future-oriented" relationship, the first task is to acknowledge the past, especially those painful ones that have not been adequately addressed or redressed, like the wartime "comfort women" sexual slavery issue. Solidarity protests occurred worldwide, including in front of the Japanese embassy in Washington, DC.

Photos are scenes from the protest in Seoul, the bottom photo shows former "comfort women" survivors at the "peace memorial" statue that was erected across from the Japanese embassy, with the likeness of young Korean girl who were forced to serve as sex slave for the Japanese military.

Naggomsu -- The Rise of Alternative Media and Political Activism in South Korea

2011-12-10T13:31:00.001-05:00

Naggomsu -- the phenomenal podcast (internet radio) team that is all the rage in South Korea these days -- is on the U.S. tour. (The photo is the event on Dec.8 in Washington, DC at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.) Naggomsu is made up of independent journalist, commentator, producer and a former national legislator. Its programs draws the largest audience in Korea as well as being the top downloaded podcast in iTunes. While it specializes in humorous satire and parody of President Lee Myung-bak and his policies, it relies more on investigative journalism and keen analysis that uncover the ruling government and political party's mis-steps.

This phenomenon is noticeable and extraordinary since the mainstream Korean media has turned conservative due to media consolidations and ownership by pro-government big businesses. The effective and widespread use of alternative media and social media have energized the pro-democracy and opposition movement to a new level. No wonder the South Korean governemnt has announced that it will begin monitoring and potentially censuring expressions aired in the social media.

A Korean-American Becomes U.S. Ambassador to South Korea

2011-11-11T13:17:00.002-05:00

Sung Kim, a "1.5 generation" Korean-American, is the new U.S. ambassador to South Korea (photo showing his family's arrival in Seoul), marking the first time that a Korean-American has taken this post. Kim hadserved as a Korea expert in the State Department. He was also a special envoy to the six-party talks, which now puts him in a good position on the ground in the Korean Peninsula to help foster an atmosphere for possible renewal of the talks aimed at nuclear disarmament and regional security in Northeast Asia.

A Civic Activist Becomes the Mayor of Seoul

2011-10-26T15:44:00.004-04:00

Park Won-soon (second from the right on the photo, with supporters from other opposition party leaders) -- human rights lawyer, pro-democracy activist, and a leader of South Korea's grassroots civil society organizations -- was elected as the next mayor of Seoul.

This election was significant in many ways in that 1) a political novice and independent candidate won a major election, bypassing more well-known candidates from the established parties; 2) the opposition parties fielded a unified candidate (by supporting a non-affiliated candidate) which helped prevent splintering of votes that arose in the past elections with the usual array of many opposition candidates; 3) it is an indicator of the populace's dissatisfaction with the ruling Lee Myung-bak government and its policies that will impact upcoming general and presidential elections in 2012; 4) the younger generations have voted strongly for Park, suggesting that they yearn for change from the established politics and economic inequities and hardships.

With his long experiences in civic activities and citizen watchdog groups, Park will be in a good position to promote genuine and popular reforms based on true fairness and social justice.

Protesters on Lee Myung-bak's State Visit to the U.S.

2011-10-14T15:24:00.004-04:00

While President Lee Myung-bak of South Korea came to Washington with much fanfare for a state visit, opponents of his policies held a rally during the state dinner; the following is the statement from the rally:

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We have gathered in front of the White House to voice our anger at the South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, whose government has reversed the trend towards democracy, prosperity, peace and social welfare espoused by the two previous administrations of Presidents Kim Dae Jung and Roh Moo-hyun -- and instead pursued policies that are ant-democratic, anti-peace, and anti-citizen welfare.

Instead of promoting the advancement of Korea’s national economy and the general welfare of the people, President Lee has pushed for his personal agenda and enrichment of his family members through favors, governmental contracts, and shady, speculative land investments. His government officials have been mired in corruption scandals.

Moreover, the Lee government has reversed the years of hard-earned democratic gains by restricting the freedoms of press, assembly, expression and is criticized from all sides for practicing autocratic and unilateral approach towards governance. No wonder South Korea is back in the headlines of the Amnesty International reports for cases of human rights abuses.

Also, we ask President Obama and President Lee to pursue more sincere and pro-active approach towards ensuring peace and reunification of Korea by pursuing an engagement policy that aims to resolve contending issues peacefully, rather than resorting to arms buildup and arms race in the Northeast Asia region.

We demand:
-- President Lee to apologize to the Korean people for destroying democratic gains and freedom, and to pursue policies aimed at restoring democratic principles and rights;
-- President Lee to apologize for economic wrongdoings, and to pursue policies of fairness, transparency and justice;
-- President Lee to stop the construction of Jeju Island Naval Base, which will only add to the military buildup and arms race in the Northeast Asia region.
-- Presidents Obama and Lee to pursue engagement policies that aim to achieve a peaceful settlement in the Korean Peninsula.

October 13, 2011
Anti-MB Committee/Korean Americans for Peace

New Film Highlights Korea's Divided/Separated Families

2011-10-05T10:02:00.005-04:00

This new documentary film (Divided Families), directed and produced by two Korean-American university students (Jason Ahn, Eugene Chung), screened at the U.S. Senate building on Oct. 4, 2011. It is a moving film that highlights the pains of separated families due to the Korean War and the prolonged division, focusing on separated Korean-American family members in their attempts to reunite with their loved ones in North Korea. The filmmakers are not professional filmmakers, but they made the film in their desire to spread the word around about this critical and not well-known issue. The audience was full of young Korean Americans -- indicating strong interests and activism on this issue from the second-generation Korean Americans. Hopefully, this issue will get more attention and resolution, vis-a-vis a peaceful settlement in the Korean Peninsula.

Playing Frisbee in North Korea

2011-09-15T16:22:00.002-04:00

Frisbee, that quintessential American plaything, spotted in Pyongyang -- with North Koreans playing with foreigners? And amateur golf tournament in North Korea? Are these signs that North Korea is opening up more to the outside world?

Protests Against Japan's Policies Amidst Korea's Liberation Day Celebrations

2011-08-19T10:39:00.004-04:00

In solidarity with former Korean "comfort women" and supporters who have demonstrated in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul on every Wednesday for the past ten years to demand the Japanese government's acknowledgement and apology of its role in the wartime military sex slave system, activists in the Washington, DC area demonstrated in front of the Japanese embassy in Washington on Wednesday, August 17, 2011.

The following is their statement:

This week, Koreans throughout the globe are commemorating the 66th anniversary of Korea’s Liberation Day (August 15, 1945) from the Japanese colonialism.

The reason why we have gathered in front of the Japanese Embassy today is to show our grave concerns on the Japanese government’s continuing refusal to acknowledge its wartime crimes such as the “comfort women” (military sex slave system) issue.

Unlike the German government, the Japanese government still refuses to come to terms with the ramifications of its wartime crimes, but instead pursues teachings of revisionist history through school textbooks that whitewash its wartime atrocities inflicted on civilians of Korea, China, and other Asian countries.

Moreover, the Japanese government has recently provoked confrontations with Korea with the Dokdo Island dispute, disregarding Korea’s historic and sovereign claim to the islands. Koreans painfully remember that one of the first steps taken by Japan in colonizing Korea was to incorporate the Dokdo Islands as its own territory, as a strategic stepping stone towards its territorial ambitions in Asia.

We demand that:
1. Japanese government fully acknowledge the wartime military sex slave system and apologize to its surviving victims;
2. Japanese government stop using school textbooks that distort wartime history;
3. Japanese government issue public apology regarding its wartime crimes and set up a compensation fund to surviving victims;
4. Japanese government stop disputing Korea’s sovereignty over the Dokdo Islands.

SaSaSe-Washington (Korean Americans for Peace)
Washington Special Committee on the Dokdo Islands

"There's an app for that" for Korean Reunification

2011-08-15T13:20:00.002-04:00

Imagine Korea without the signs of division such as fences along the DMZ. Now you can -- literally see it with your own eyes -- a smartphone user with this "augmented reality" app can point to certain locations along the DMZ viewing area and "see" the landscape without the man-made barriers that are painful signs of continuing Korean division and inter-Korean acrimony. Hopefully the time will soon come when smartphone users just can snap photos and see the landscape void of the physical remnants of the division.

August 15th: Korea's Liberation Day

2011-08-12T11:51:00.004-04:00

August 15th is the Liberation Day in Korea, when Koreans celebrate its independence from Japanese colonialism. But since the Allied powers (mainly the US and USSR) had strong hands in liberating Korea, the end result was the "temporary" division that led to an eventual war, prolonged division and yet-unresolved tension in Korea. One of the last surviving members of Korean independence fighters said that "the true liberation of Korea would happen when the two sides of Korea reunite."

To many, the real history of Korean division is shrouded in Cold War-era mentality and narrative, especially amongst Americans whose government had been and are deeply involved with Korean affairs (for example, how many Americans know that Korea was under direct U.S. military government for three years after the "liberation"?) Some do understand it, as expressed keenly by an American expat teaching English in South Korea.

Protesters at the White House Demand Conversion of Korean War Armistice to Peace Treaty

2011-07-28T15:50:00.007-04:00

On the 58th anniversary of the signing of the Korean War Armistice on July 21, 2011, protesters -- young and old, Koreans and non-Koreans -- gathered in front of the White House to demand the signing of peace treaty to replace the temporary armistice in place to pave a way to broader peace settlement in the Korean Peninsula and to ensure lasting peace mechanism in Northeast Asia. Prior to the candlelight rally, a workshop focusing on various challenges in Northeast Asia (Korea War Armistice and Jeju naval base controversy, Okinawa base relocation issue, China and the U.S.'s role in the region) took place at the Institute for Policy Studies.

Following is the statement from the candlelight rally.
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Convert the Korean War Armistice to Peace Treaty

As we commemorate the 58th anniversary of the signing of the Korean War Armistice and hold a candlelight vigil in front of the White House in honor of the nameless spirits who sacrificed their lives during and since the Korean War, we also demand a permanent peace settlement on the Korean Peninsula.

On July 27, 1953, the U.S. signed (for the U.N. Command in Korea) an Armistice agreement with China and North Korea to temporarily halt the fighting that claimed 4 million lives and divided 10 million families, pending a formulation of a peace treaty. Despite the desire of people in North and South Korea for peace and reconciliation, no peace treaty has been signed since. Though China has since normalized relations with the U.S. and South Korea, the U.S. has yet to normalize relations with North Korea likewise. Sixty years after the outbreak of the Korean War, the United States continues to have a strong military presence in South Korea including 24 military bases and 28,500 military personnel. We demand that the U.S. move towards signing the peace treaty to officially end the Korean War.

The peace treaty in itself may not be enough to guarantee permanent peace in the peninsula, but it is a first logical step to take, that will aid in mutual confidence-building towards formulating a comprehensive and binding peace settlement. The previous attempts by the two sides of Korea on an inter-Korea peace agreement are good precedents for this process.

The need for a peace treaty is also a part of a larger political issue of not only bringing peace to a divided Korean peninsula but also developing a regional framework that provides a means for resolving conflicts and promoting peace in Northeast Asia. East Asia has historically been considered a dispute-ridden region in which the countries participating in the Six Party Talks (U.S., Russia, China, North Korea, South Korea, and Japan) account for nearly 65 percent of the world’s military spending. With military spending increasing in this region, there is no room for peace in East Asia nor peaceful relations between North and South Korea. We demand the end to arms build-up and arms race in the region.

Sponsors: National Association of Korean Americans (NAKA), Foreign Policy in Focus, SaSaSe-Washington (Korean Americans for Peace)
Co-Sponsors: Washington Peace Center, June 15 Committee for Peace and Reunification (U.S. Committee), Korean American Committee for Democracy and Reunification, SaSaSe-Seattle, Good Friends USA, Network for Okinawans, Nodutdol for Korean Community Development, National Campaign to End the Korean War, World Student Christian Federation of the North American Region, World Student Christian Federation of the Asia-Pacific Region, Veterans for Peace NYC

Opposition to Jeju Naval Base Construction Intensifies

2011-07-18T16:28:00.002-04:00

Opposition to the construction of proposed new naval base in Jeju Island in South Korea is intensifying. Though the South Korean government is touting the base as a "blue navy" port to protect South Korean waters and interests, Jeju residents and civil society organizations oppose the project, arguing that the base would bring forth additional naval arms race in the region as the U.S. will likely use it to monitor and check on the Chinese navy. They also point out that this development would counter the current image of the Jeju Island as a "peace island" that would help bring forth reconciliation and peace in Northeast Asia.

Taekwondo Bridges North Korea and the U.S.

2011-06-20T18:09:00.005-04:00

At a time of heightened tension between North Korea and the U.S., a taekwondo delegation from North Korea toured the U.S. East Coast (Boston, New York, Delaware) recently with warm welcome from American audiences. This is second taekwondo tour; such tours help bridge the gap of misunderstanding between North Korea and the U.S. Coul such good will spill over to the political relations between the two countries?

Inter-Korea Relations Hit Rock Bottom

2011-06-07T16:37:00.003-04:00

Inter-Korea relations, once thriving and promising to bring the two sides of Korea closer toward reconciliation and some form of integration, has hit rock bottom, with return to mutual animosities of the Cold War era. Many avenues of inter-Korea contact and exchange set up during the two previous administrations of South Korea, in agreement with North Korea, have all but disappeared, with the joint economic venture in Kaesung being the sole remnant. North Korea even took over the operations of the Geumgang Mountain Resort area from Hyundai group and is trying to attract Chinese tourists. Border has been closed, cultural exchanges have stopped. South Korean authorities banned any food aid to North Korea and is considering prosecuting a South Korean NGO for sending food aid to North Korea.

Recently, North Korea has announced that it will sever all contacts with South Korea and revealed a secret inter-governmental meeting between Pyongyang and Seoul, which contradicts the Lee Myung-bak government's public stance of no dialogue with North Korea. Both sides are emphasizing military readiness.

All these developments have blown away many accomplishments in inter-Korea relations of the last decade. To ensure peace and stability in the penindula, both sides will need to start from scratch again and build trust and confidence gradually.

US Troops Dumped Agent Orange in South Korea

2011-06-02T13:47:00.003-04:00

Since the revelations by former US soldiers stationed in Korea that they buried toxic defoliant Agent Orange in a US base in Korea, more and more related revelations are surfacing, making this issue a tip of an iceberg of potentially massive environmental disaster (the photo shows soil testing in the US base for possible contamination). US troops may have secretly buried the Agent Orange tanks in several base locations, and has sprayed the chemical over the DMZ near the border with North Korea to clear foliage (the Demilitarized Zone is touted as a pristine, undisturbed natural preserve, but that may be only true on the northern side as the southern side's forests have been sprayed with defoliants). In an affront to Koreans, it was revealed that the actual spraying of the dangerous chemical was done by Koreans, with US soldiers monitoring and supervising the operations from far away.

This scenario is alike the situation when US troops practiced deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Korea prior to their removal in the early 90s. A standard war exercise involved South Korean troops carrying backpacks filled with small nuclear weapons and moving closer to the field where likely North Korean troops would have amassed, with US soldiers staying far away, holding remote controls that would detonate the nuclear bombs. It clearly showed an unequal relationship between Americans and South Koreans.

Although the US military authorities have acted quickly this time and agreed to a joint investigation with South Korean authorities, this incident will not likely quell anti-US sentiments of South Koreans, as Koreans will see US getting away with another misdeed (since the current Status of Forces Agreement [SOFA] will likely preclude any prosecution of US military wrongdoing in Korea).

Events Mark the Second Anniversary of Former Pres. Roh's Death

2011-05-27T15:46:00.003-04:00

On the occasion of the second anniversary of the death of former president Roh Moo-hyun of South Korea, memorial events took place in Seoul, Bongha (Roh's hometown), and various cities overseas, including a cultural event in Annandale, Virginia (photo), with participants urging unity of opposition parties in preparation for the elections in 2012 in South Korea.

US Officials in North Korea to Assess the Food Situation

2011-05-26T16:29:00.003-04:00

A rare official US delegation is in North Korea to assess the food situation there, suprisingly headed by Ambassador Robert King, the special envoy for North Korean human rights. The State Department officials may also be raising human rights concerns in Pyongyang, but it is also a surprise that North Korean officials accepted King's visit. Nevertheless, upon the findings and recommendations from the delegation, the US may or may not resume its food aid to North Korea, which will impact South Korea's decision on possible resumption of food aid to North Korea. According to the UN report, North Korea is in dire need for food aid this year to ward off famine.

Jimmy Carter Heads to North Korea Again

2011-04-23T11:07:00.004-04:00

Former President Jimmy Carter is heading to North Korea again (his third trip) next week with three former world leaders (belonging to a group called "The Elders"), to address tension in the Korean Peninsula and food shortage in North Korea. Hopefully, their efforts will bring some improvements in the current situation.

Calls for Resumption of Food Aid to North Korea

2011-04-06T09:15:00.004-04:00

As the food situation in North Korea worsens, there are calls for resumption of US food aid to North Korea. Here is an appeal from the National Association of Korean Americans:

"As you may know from the recent report by several UN agencies on the food situation in North Korea, the condition is very dire and needs the world´s prompt attention in order to alleviate a mass-scale famine that will severely impact the vulnerable populations of children, pregnant mothers, the sick, and the elderly. The South Korean government, in a reversal of policy, has approved the resumption of civilian humanitarian aid to North Korea. We understand that, under the current political situation, there is a reluctance to approve the resumption of U.S. government´s food aid to North Korea. But, upon a formulation of a new agreement on monitoring and transparency, and a settlement of the past dispute on the U.S. food aid delivery, U.S. food aid to North Korea can and should resume at this critical juncture. Such an expression of good will and humanitarian assistance may foster resolutions of contentious issues between the two countries as well. We urge you to support the resumption of U.S. food aid to North Korea."

Possible Volcanic Eruption Brings the Two Sides of Korea Together

2011-03-29T14:23:00.003-04:00

Will a prospect for natural disaster bring the two sides of Korea closer? That may be the case as a rare inter-Korean meeting took place upon the aftermath of the earthquake/tsunami in Japan that focused on the possibility of volcanic eruption on Mt. Baekdu, a dormant volcano in North Korea-China border considered as sacred by the Koreans. More meetings and possible joint study is in the works, perhaps this can lead to wider inter-Korea dialogue aimed at reducing tensions.

North Korean Delegation in the U.S. to Learn Market System

2011-03-23T17:06:00.004-04:00

An unusual North Korean delegation is visiting the U.S. -- an economic delegation to learn about Western market system. They landed in San Diego on an invitation from the Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation at the University of California, San Diego, and will also visit New York City. It remains to be seen how the delegation will impact North Korea's economic planning or policies, but this shows that -- despite all the harsh rhetorics between North Korea and the U.S. -- that there are also channels of exchange and opportunities for interaction. Perhaps North Koreans and American hosts can wrap up the meetings with North Korean beer, which is now available in the U.S. with approval from the U.S. Treasury. (Photo: Korea Daily News)

Anti-Lee Myung-bak Protest in Washington, DC

2011-03-02T15:53:00.002-05:00

During the heydays of military dictatorships and authoritarian regimes of South Korea, the Korean embassy in Washington, DC drew steady demonstrations calling for democracy. Now the protests have reappeared, afre many years of absence, as protesters denounced current policies of Pres. Lee Myung-bak on many fronts: 1) erosion of democratic gains by suppressing dissent and public expression; 2) economic slide with deteriorating public welfare and increasing inequities; 3) environmental destruction brought about by the massive "four river project"; 4) mishandling of livestocks' foot-and-mouth disease; and 5) worsening relations with North Korea by negating previous gains on inter-Korea cooperation. The protesters have demanded Lee's resignation and vowed a 100-day relay protest.

Opposition to the Korea-US FTA Continues

2011-02-11T13:09:00.004-05:00

The Obama administration, along with Lee Myung-bak administration of South Korea, is pushing for the ratification of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) this year, despite vocal oppostion from both sides -- citizen groups and farmers in South Korea and labor and public-interest organizations in the U.S. such as the AFL-CIO. Economist Martin Hart-Landsberg takes a look at one of the component of the proposed FTA --the investment chapter-- in the following commentary from the Korea Policy Institute.

Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement: The Investment Chapter

President Obama has said that the U.S. needs to compete more effectively for exports. That is why he is calling on Congress to ratify U.S. free trade agreements with Korea, Columbia, and Peru.

In the public back and forth about these free trade agreement most of the arguments are about whether the designated tariff reductions mandated by the agreements will produce jobs for U.S. workers. In fact, there is little reason to believe that they will. But, more importantly, little attention has been focused on the fact that these free trade agreements contain many chapters that have far reaching implications beyond employment numbers.

In fact, the U.S. free trade agreement with Korea includes 24 chapters. One of those chapters deals with investments. In broad brush, the investment chapter establishes broad limits on the ability of governments (at all levels) to regulate or interfere with private profit seeking investments by (foreign) corporations. See more.