South Korea Archives - Hyun Jin Preston Moon

My Korean Dream: A Korean-American on Reunification

Editor — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 17:03:20 +0000

HK is a Korean American high school student that has participated in the One Korea Global Campaign for several years. As part of the 7 million people in the Korean diaspora, HK’s story represents a powerful voice for a free, independent, and united Korea. The following is her story on Global Peace Foundation explaining why she cares about the reunification of the divided Korean peninsula.

By HK

When my grandparents would visit from Korea, I would always ask about their past, including our ancestry. Hearing my grandfather talk, it was sometimes hilarious and sometimes very bittersweet. He would talk about his childhood since Japanese colonization and how my great-grandfather led our village. The conditions since then are so different from the one we are in right now; Korea was so poor, people were starving, families lost, and many orphans out on the streets. My grandfather told me tragic stories of loved ones being brutally tortured and killed… and how they are still occurring to this day to innocent people who resist North Korea’s regime.

My grandfather told me tragic stories of loved ones being brutally tortured and killed…

Later on, I asked my mother about my ancestry on her side and she told me how my great-grandparents originally lived in North Korea and were in fact wealthy during Japanese colonization, but always donated and gave help and food to others. But when Korea split, their faith compelled them to leave all their riches to escape to South Korea.

I thought that was the end of it, but when I said, “We don’t have any family in North Korea, right?” my mother looked at me shocked and exclaimed, “Of course we do! Almost every Korean family has relatives in North Korea. You have uncles and aunts and cousins you don’t even know about.” I was stunned, and it got me thinking, I love my family so much, and now I realize I have even more people to include in that family—people I’ve never met, that are suffering in a country cut off from the outside world.

I was stunned, and it got me thinking, I love my family so much, and now I realize I have even more people to include in that family—people I’ve never met, that are suffering in a country cut off from the outside world.

I reflected more thinking even if I wasn’t Korean with family in the North, how could I not think about the injustice and suffering of the people in North Korea? This is why we should all unify to restore one Korea; a place where families can be restored and healed and where more people can be saved before it gets worse.

This summer I am going to Korea, and as a Korean living in the diaspora, I want to support One Dream One Korea. I will be helping out with campaigns and projects to help incite the Korean people to unite and push for the unification of our nation as a whole. But my most important step during this trip is to actively publish my thoughts and reflections during this time. I hope my story can inspire others—can inspire YOU—to aid as well.

The Korean Dream is for the world. So ask yourself, why do you care about Korean reunification?

The post My Korean Dream: A Korean-American on Reunification appeared first on Hyun Jin Preston Moon.

Dr. Hyun Jin P. Moon Editorial Published in Newsweek: WHAT THE U.S. IS GETTING WRONG ON NORTH KOREA

Editor — Mon, 25 Feb 2019 02:36:11 +0000

Dr. Hyun Jin P. Moon, author of Korean Dream: A Vision for a Unified Korea, had an editorial published on February 22, 2019 in Newsweek. The article addresses the importance of a long-term strategic approach for the future of the Korean peninsula that focuses on reunification.

Dr. Moon will be addressing the Global Peace Conference 2019 at the end of February.

You can find Newsweek’s full article below or here.

With the second summit between President Donald Trump and Chairman Kim Jong Un of North Korea happening at the end of the month, it is time to consider whether narrow bilateral negotiations on denuclearization are likely to produce results. If recent revelations are indicators of the North’s intent, the prospects are not hopeful. The only reason for this summit is the lack of substantial progress on denuclearization from the first meeting in Singapore last June, whose sole result was to relieve the global pressure that the Trump administration was able to put on Kim Jong Un.

There are two fundamental, flawed assumptions in the current U.S. approach. First, it assumes that denuclearization could be narrowly negotiated with Kim Jung Un. To the Kim regime, its nuclear weapons program is not only a guarantee to its survival, but a source of national pride and achievement. Unlike the South’s “miracle on the Han,” the North’s only globally recognizable achievement, although untenable, is its nuclear program. Like past agreements, the North will offer marginal concessions while maintaining its nuclear store.

Second, the U.S. fails to see the nuclear issue within the larger strategic framework of unification. It needs to understand that Kim and the North Korean ruling elite are an inter-generational dictatorship that have not abandoned the dream of Kim’s grandfather, “Eternal President” Kim Il Sung, of a united peninsula under the ideology of the North. They have a larger strategic view that wants to reap the benefits of the South Korean economy married with their nuclear power.

And what they can no longer achieve by force they will seek to achieve by geopolitical maneuvers and exploiting the hyper-divisive ideological divide in South Korea. They will appeal to the anti-Americanism and anti-Japanese elements of the progressive Left in the current South Korean administration under the banner of Korean self-determination. This will slowly erode the fragile alliance in Northeast Asia between the U.S., Japan and South Korea.

If the U.S. was to remove its troops as part of its narrow bi-lateral deal with North Korea, it will seal the deal for the North to make moves to secure its ultimate prize—South Korea. Korean unification is an issue that is already on the table. It was featured as a shared goal of the two parties in official statements after the summits between Chairman Kim and South Korea’s President Moon.

With its narrow focus on the singular, unachievable goal of full, verified nuclear disarmament, the U.S. is in danger of missing the boat as much wider issues are now in play with potentially dangerous geopolitical consequences. With an impetus towards unification underway among the Korean parties, the most important strategic question will become, “What sort of unification will it be?” This will be the new battleground and where debate should be focused. The U.S. needs to recognize this emerging reality and adapt its policy accordingly.

A unified Korea aligned with fundamental human rights and values should become the clearly stated and actively pursued policy of the U.S., South Korea, and their allies. It would provide a clear end goal for Korea policy and a framework for all negotiations with North Korea. Most importantly, it would break out of the usual vicious cycle of threats, followed by peace talks and by concessions to the North. It would deprive the North of the initiative that it has typically enjoyed in all ‘peace’ talks to date.

The geopolitical cost to the U.S. of neglecting such a policy is potentially disastrous. If an unholy alliance of the regime in Pyongyang and South Korean progressives prevails, the peninsula will fall under the dominance of an unreformed dictatorial regime. The U.S. presence will no doubt be pushed out. Korea will sit firmly within the sphere of influence of authoritarian China, our ally Japan will be isolated and the U.S. will have lost an important democratic partner in East Asia.

The timing of the summit could not be more significant in this context. The next day, March 1st, is the centenary of the Korean Independence movement’s 1919 proclamation of the Korean Declaration of Independence in peaceful mass rallies across the country. Among the drafters of the declaration was my great-grand-uncle, Moon Yung-guk.

These patriots aspired to create a nation that was “united, independent, and free.” Korean unification should be peaceful and align with the ideals and principles they proclaimed. They wanted freedom from Japan, not enmity towards it. Rather, they wanted to create a new nation that drew upon Korea’s shared cultural history and values.

At the heart of this history is the Hongik Ingan ethos – living for the greater benefit of all humanity, as I describe in my book, Korean Dream: Vision for a Unified Korea. It was a motivating ideal for the Independence movement. Korean independence leaders in the U.S. recognized that Hongik Ingan resonates with the universal principles expressed in the U.S. Declaration of Independence. Their aspirations were linked to America’s founding ideals.

Those aspirations are still unfulfilled today. The launch of an active pursuit of peaceful Korean unification on the basis of the principles they proclaimed would be a fitting way to mark this centenary. Those principles long predate the current ideological division touching the heart of Korean identity.

Such an approach is also practical politics in the U.S. interest. Its ultimate success would create a new nation in East Asia aligned with the same principles and values that animated the American Founding. It would be an important ally against the rising global tide of authoritarianism.

Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon is Founder and Chairman of the Global Peace Foundation and author of the award-winning book, “Korean Dream: A Vision for a Unified Korea.”

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own.

The post Dr. Hyun Jin P. Moon Editorial Published in Newsweek: WHAT THE U.S. IS GETTING WRONG ON NORTH KOREA appeared first on Hyun Jin Preston Moon.

Common Threads that Bind North and South Korea

Editor — Sun, 11 Feb 2018 04:33:20 +0000

Some 3,000 spectators crowded into the Seonhak International Ice Rink on Sunday afternoon to watch the first practice match between the united Korean women’s ice hockey team and Sweden. Many waved flags emblazoned with the light blue silhouette of the Korean peninsula shouting, “Urinun Hana,” (We are one).

The team is headed by a Canadian, Sarah Murray, who speaks through a translator. To complicate matters, the Southern and Northern players have discovered that 70 years of division have created linguistic differences. Southern players tend to adopt the Koreanized version of English words, while Northern players stick to the original Korean.

South Korean players say “pass,” but their North Korean counterparts say yeol lak (communication). South Koreans say “block shot” while North Koreans say buhduh make (stretching to block). To circumvent the difficulties, the team has developed a glossary linking different terms.

If fans expect the team to do well, they may be disappointed. They were beaten by Sweden 3-1 in Sunday’s match, and are not expected to rank highly due to a short joint practice period. The joint team has attracted many supporters who see it as a signal of hope for future unification despite the nuclear escalation between North and South Korea in 2017. At the same time, it has also garnered protest and criticism of those who are speaking out against the human rights abuses in North Korea. Just outside the Ice Rink protestors ripped North Korean flags and photos of Kim Jong Un.

Surface efforts for unity like the joint North-South Korea Olympic representation have brought out challenges that reunification poses, linguistics and ideology just scratching the surface. These hurdles will require Koreans, both North and South, to dig into their past to rediscover their shared identity and history and define a shared destiny that can pull them beyond the current differences and divide.

In his book, Korean Dream: A Vision for a Unified Korea, Dr. Moon shares some of the aspects of the shared history of the Korean journey.

Dr. Moon speaks at the 2017 International Forum on One Korea in Seoul

Dr. Moon goes back four millennia to trace the historic path of the Korean people. He describes a people who share a single language and culture—who embraced the great religious traditions of the world—who fought against foreign domination to assert self-determination—and who made the peninsula their homeland for 4,300 years.

Concepts of nobility and public service deeply imbue the policies and laws of the ancient Korean dynasties. Korean governance took root in the concept of family relationships—a nation was seen as the expansion of the extended family. Civic and educational efforts followed the precepts of religious teachings. Unlike many other nations, Korea historically welcomed and honored the teachings of all faiths.

Dr. Moon highlights these threads running throughout the Korean national story—threads that have helped the Korean people navigate through the crises of their history – threads defined by the concept of Hongik Ingan that calls for an ethic of “benefiting all humanity.”

It is from this central principle and shared identity and values that Dr. Moon believes an overarching vision for a new Korea can be drawn. Korea has long held a historical imperative to serve as a light to the world, to function in a way that benefits all humanity. To the casual observer, this idea might seem idealistic, especially viewed in the light of current society.

Yet, the desperate suffering of Koreans north of the 38^th parallel—the emptiness of the race for mere material wealth in the south—attest to what Dr. Moon has described it as “a lack of a cohesive and inspiring vision.”

Dr. Moon has pushed forward a movement that is defining the starting point for exploring reunification as the Korean historic and cultural imperative to be of benefit to all humanity. The movement is changing the nature of the conversation and is garnering not just national but international support.

Common sense dictates that such a people have a nation and live in freedom. Yet, unlike most of the indigenous peoples that have fought for sovereignty in the past century, Koreans still have no unified homeland.

A peaceful and thriving Korean homeland is both possible and practical. Those who can envision a new Korea—which incorporates our treasured historic values, which ensures rights and dignity for all citizens, and which lives by the unassailable standard of Hongik Ingan—will become the architects and artisans of our new society.

The Korean people deserve a homeland that reflects their aspirations, their unique cultural identity, their chosen form of governance and honors their intrinsic human rights. But, it must be built with Korean hands.

Hockey could be a place to start, and could demonstrate the power of a shared dream. “We are on the same team now,” Voice of America reported Coach Murray saying. “Hockey really does bring people together.”

The post Common Threads that Bind North and South Korea appeared first on Hyun Jin Preston Moon.

PyeongChang Torch Relay Theme Song Lyrics and the Korean Dream

Editor — Thu, 01 Feb 2018 20:56:56 +0000

When the Olympic torch left Greece on October 24, 2017 to journey to Korea, Greek cross country skier, Apostolos Angelis, took two items – the torch and an olive branch. Carrying on the tradition of the Olympic Flame and torch relay, the Olympic Flame touched down in Korea on November 1 to begin a 101-day trek through 17 cities and provinces across Korea that will end in PyeongChang, site of the 2018 Winter Olympic Games on opening day, February 9.

The journey is symbolic in many ways. The relay will travel through sites that highlight the culture, heritage, history and technological accomplishments of the Korean people, crisscrossing across the peninsula, passing the torch through the hands of virtually every sector of Korean society: from better known TV personalities and K-pop stars, athletes and public officials, to local youth leaders, crossing guards, mothers, students, and foreigners who have made Korea their home. In total, 7,500 people will have held the torch.

The 2010 flame passes from one torch to another. Photo by: Ben Dauphinee

The Torch Relays have fired up national excitement for the PyeongChang Olympics. But a more subtle and lasting effect could be the demonstration of the power of people brought together in common cause. One cannot but think of the olive branch that came with the torch, the hopes that it carries for peace of a long-divided people, and the feasibility of its realization when every person adds their contribution.

The torch relay is unique in another way in that it has a theme song. Renowned K-pop star, Insooni, who sang “Hana e Gum” (The Dream of One) at the 2016 One Korea Concert, sings “Let Everyone Shine.” Although the lyrics are implicitly about winning gold medal and representing the best of a nation, Insooni’s gospel-like delivery of the song makes the song sound more like a peace anthem than a torch relay theme song.

Torch bearers shout encouragement for everyone: for the Korean team, which incidentally will include North and South Korean athletes marching under one Korean flag; for all the athletes from around the world who have prepared to show their best in PyeongChang; for friends and family and peers who have contributed to the making of the games.

Perhaps the torch relay and its theme song is in a way a shout from the Korean collective soul, reminding them of their calling much like the one made by Indian Nobel Laureate, Rabindranath Tagore, who wrote to encourage the Korean nation to be an “illumination” for others.

What follows are the lyrics of the 2018 Winter Olympic Torch Relay song:

All of us gathered here share one dream
It is the moment to rise again, and follow the flame
With a shining dream deep inside of you
Together we can move forward one step at a time
When all our dreams come together
and shine as one bright flame