Koreans in the diaspora suffer from divided families the same as Koreans on the peninsula. We are affected by and engaged in the fate of a divided homeland and often can bring a broader perspective to meeting the challenge of unification. I believe that the diaspora is destined to play an essential role in gathering support and building awareness on a global stage for the unity of the Korean people. – Hyun Jin Moon, The Korean Dream: A Vision for a Unified Korea

Ongoing efforts by both North and South Korea to engage their diaspora communities only begins to scratch the surface of the potential impact and contribution Koreans spread across the globe can make on their homeland.

Overseas Korean capital brought into South Korea (Source: IZA World of Labor)

Both sides of the Korean peninsula have drawn on a number of connecting factors, namely language, culture and identity, which have been mostly passed down from generation to generation within the tight knit Korean traditional family. This unique quality is shared between both North and South Koreans.

Chongryun is an example of North Korean efforts to keep their ties alive with Zainichi Chosenjin, North Koreans living in Japan. The organization runs schools, universities, cultural exchange programs, and even a credit union. Robert M. Hathaway, Director of Asia Program at the Wilson Center, observes that the society is a prominent force that represents the agendas of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in Japan.

South Korean initiatives are younger. The most recognized South Korean initiative is the Overseas Koreans Foundation, formally established in 1997 and run by the Republic of Korean government. Around the same time as allowing dual citizenship and the more recent recognition of Koreans in China and the former CIS, the Korean Legislation has begun to establish ties between Korea and its large diaspora community.

Studies of South Korea’s engagement with its diaspora community center mostly on economic opportunity. A study by Inbom Choi, chief economist for the Federation of Korean Industries and visiting fellow at the Institute for International Economics, shows that the diaspora community has had a measurable impact on imports and exports, foreign investment, increased inflow and outflow of cash with foreign countries and an influx of both skilled and unskilled labor.

However, a mere economic analysis of the benefits from the diaspora community does not take into consideration cultural currency, humanitarian aid, and sheer people power. To date, statistics show that the Korean diaspora is the most widely spread diaspora in the world.

There are stories like Mr. George Rhee from the United Kingdom who began ‘Love North Korean Children’, an organization that the Global Peace Foundation’s “Miracle of 1,000 Won” supports, to establish bread factories in North Korea to feed local children.

International student volunteers raising money for “Miracle of 1,000 Won” a donation drive to support bread factories in North Korea that provide daily bread for local school children.

There are numerous examples where the diaspora community has stood up to provide humanitarian aid, advocacy, and even emergency relief to their extended Korean family. The contribution of the Korean diaspora during the March 1st Korean Independence Movement had Koreans around the world, from intellectuals in Japan to farmers in Cuba, who sought the liberation of their fatherland.

Perhaps in these examples lie a deeper connection and calling to Koreans living abroad. If we reflect on the economic impact and benefit that the diaspora community has had on both North and South Korea, we can only imagine what a reawakening of Koreans around the world to their shared role as ‘a chosen people’ could do for Northeast Asia and the world.

Dr. Moon’s call out to the diaspora community goes deeper than just economic gains. It is a similar call to the one from the 1940’s Independence Movement. Despite the division that was artificially imposed by outside forces, this is a call for Koreans around the world to bring together their divided family with the strength of their shared identity as a family. It is time for the people chosen to live for the benefit of humanity to fulfill their destiny.

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For more than 60 years the Korean people has been divided at the 38th parallel. Only recently has unification become a viable solution.

Two years ago, unification was not considered a practical solution for the conflict on the Korean peninsula.

On February 25, President Park Geun-hye announced the formation of a reunification committee that will map out “systematic and constructive” plans towards unification. She stated, “For true peace… it is necessary to make preparations for reunification that will open a new era on the peninsula,” Unification is now the only sustainable and even mutually-beneficial solution to the tensions in North-East Asia.

Dr. Moon has been championing Korean unification openly since 2011. In August of that year he held the Global Peace Festival in Mongolia, where he called on Mongolia to play a mediating role in the Six-Party talks. He said Mongolia’s unique ties to both North and South Korea and its history of peaceful transition from communism to democracy would be important assets in the negotiations. The Global Peace Convention was held later that year in Korea. Both convention and the accompanying festival served as launching points for innovative engagement around the issue of unification. Unlike efforts in the past that focused on high-level political dialogue and delineating the process of unification, the conversation was extended to engage Koreans at the grass-roots, and zeroed in on a vision of unification’s end goal.

Dr. Moon coined the term “Korean Dream” to encapsulate the vision of a Korea united based on the philosophy of Hong-Ik-Ingan, living for the betterment of humanity, which arose from the founding of the ancient Korean kingdom of Gojeoson.

1913 Nobel-laureate Rabindranath Tagore made a similar appeal to Korea’s illustrious past at another pivotal juncture in Korean history. He wrote a poem that can be found on the pedestal of his bust in Daehangro, Seoul, Korea and in most Korean history textbooks. It gave inspiration to Korea when it was fighting for independence from Japanese rule.

In the Golden Age of Asia
Korea was one of the lamp-bearers
That lamp awaits to be lighted once again
For the illumination of the East

Tagore composed the poem after he met several patriotic young Korean university students in Japan. According to historians, Tagore was touched by the students’ stirring descriptions of their cultural legacy and their courageous efforts for independence. Although he was never able to set foot in the land of the morning calm, Tagore wrote the poem in solidarity with the students whose passion for their country so moved him. The Korean university students played a critical part in Korea’s independence movement. On  February 8, 1919 they issued a declaration that spark events that led to the March 1st movement.

Tagore’s poem links Korea’s historic legacy to its future as the “illumination” of the East.  Similarly, the way towards unification begins with the shared identity of the Korean people that precedes ideological and political differences, and is rooted in their common history and culture that calls from 5,000 years back.

Tagore wrote another lesser known poem entitled “The Song of the Defeated” for Choy Nam Sun, a Korean student in Japan.

The following excerpt from the poem animates Professor Pankiaj Mohan’s account of a Korean student in Russia who told Tagore, “Those who suffer unite and those who exploit others, remain divided, preoccupied as they are with the need to guard their loot.”

She is silent with her eyes downcast; she has left her home behind her, from where she comes the wailing in the wind.
But the stars are singing the love song of the eternal to her whose face is sweet with shame and suffering.

Even in her suffering something has endured; something has sustained the innate greatness of Korea’s people; something has survived to point the way forward. Dr. Moon calls it the Korean Dream.

Dream Big Camp graduates appointed “U-Generation” members pose at the end of GPLC Seoul 2012.

Since 2011 numerous practical initiatives have been launched to advance the Korean Dream.  Action for Korea United is a coalition of over 300 civic groups and NGOs collaborating for unification. The Miracle of 1,000 Won Campaign has raised money for a bread factory in North Korea that provides bread for school children. The Unification Pledge Drive has gotten thousands to pledge their time and money toward Unification. And the Need U Idea has engaged thousands of middle, high and university students in a contest to generate ideas to promote unification.

The Korean Dream is rising from the mists of Korea’s past to fulfill Korea’s destiny as a lamp not just in the east, but the world.

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Global Peace Foundation Korea was selected from among thousands of NGOs in Korea to receive a special certificate of commendation from the Korean Ministry of Special Affairs.

This is what Financial News in Korea reported.

Minister for Special Affairs Ko Heung-Kil (right) takes a commemorative photo after presenting Global Peace Foundation (GPF) Korea president Yoo Kyung-Ei(left) with a Certificate of Commendation. (Credit: Financial News, Korea)

By Hyung Wook Yang hwyang@fnnews.com

Seoul, KOREA, February 15 (Financial News) –

Global Peace Foundation Korea (President Kyung Eui Yoo) was awarded a Certificate of Commendation   from the Minister for Special Affairs Ko Heung-Kil. GPF is being recognized for its charitable activities over the last year such as the Alllights Village Project and the Miracle of 1,000 Won.

Minister of Special Affairs Ko Heung-Kil remarked, “This extent of social volunteer work is unprecedented for a civil society organization. It has made notable contributions to developing South Korea’s national prestige .” He added that the new government will continue to provide active support and cooperation for civil society organizations.

President Kyung Eui Yoo said, “This Certificate of Commendation carries a special significance for the entire staff and members of Global Peace Foundation who have all been engaged in the peace initiative program together. We will continue to stand in the forefront of building world peace in 2013.”

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