The Relationship Between South Korea, North Korea and Unification

HAESUN CHO

German Ambassador Hans-Ulrich Seidt’s giving a speech for the Relationship Between S. and N. Korea and Unification

- Discard Ideologies, Focus on Practicality
- Gradual Processes for Unification rather than Abrupt One
- Accurate Analyses on Current Political, Economic Situation

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the German unification on the coming Oct. 3, German Ambassador Hans-Ulrich Seidt on Wednesday, Sep. 29th, 10 presented his insight for the direction of the relationship between two Koreas and the unification. Seidt illustrated the experience of Germany’s abrupt reunification, and based on the experience/ example, he provided suggestions for Koreas to wisely deal with the current and future political, economic relationship and unification.

The Diamond of Korea at the Heart of Inter-Korean Relations

JANICE KIM

Located only slightly above the 38th parallel, Keum-gang Mountain (금강산) is often referred to as the “diamond of Korea” for its scenic beauty. Koreans’ profound affection for Mt. Keum-gang is apparent even from its nomenclature, in which the mountain is called by four different names that describe the varying ways in which the mountain appears in each of the four seasons. This national beauty had been off-limits to South Koreans after the ceasefire of the Korean War, until 1998 when the North Korean government started to allow South Korean and foreign tourists to visit through the private sector. In 2002, the region was made a “special administrative region” to facilitate South Korean tourist activities in the area. To many, such a move made by the North Korean government not only signified their willingness to work towards peaceful means of reunification, but also the potentials of the private sector of improving inter-Korea relations as a new approach to the issue.

2nd MOU Overseas Correspondents

Interviews are now in process for the Ministry of Unification Summer 2011 Internship!

Pulitzer prize winning NYTIMES Journalist: Sang Hun Choe @ Wellesley

Wellesley College

106 Central St. Wellesley, MA 02481

Pendelton West Rm. 212

4-6pm

Light Refreshment to be served

?? gkim7@wellesley.edu or ankhr.firstclass@wellesley.edu

Afterthoughts

GI YOON KIM

(Sorry, this happens to be in Korean. Don’t worry, this will be the only one!)

해외기자단 후기

제1기 해외기자단 김지윤

후기를 쓰려고 하니까 일단 지난 일년 동안 제가 얼마나 성실히 기자 활동을 했는지 생각해보게 됩니다 아..밀린 기사부터 써야하는데….행동보다는 말이 앞섰던 적이 많은 것 같아서 조금 아니 아주 많이 부끄럽다는 생각이 듭니다. 그럼에도 불구하고 지난 일년 동안의 해외기자단 활동은 제게 참 소중하고 유익한 경험이었습니다.

One Page Testimony: On Conversations and Friends

GRACE KIM

My experience as a Ministry of Unification Overseas Correspondent has given me so many opportunities to explore the various issues surrounding the reunification issue, but more valuably chances to get to know people serving in all areas within this cause.

Even six months after the DMZ tour and the rest of the volunteer activities, the late night conversations I had with my North Korean and South Korean teammates still resonate. I had advocated for North Korean human rights on my campus with my student organization for years, but when I shared a beer with a North Korean defector woman ten years my senior did I realize that I was rooting for a better future for people like her. There were faces, names, and personalities to the distant “North Koreans” I was praying for now.

One Page Testimony: What I have learned from being an Overseas Student Correspondent

CHRISTINE LEE

Last summer was the first time I was in Korea for longer than a short visit. It was also the first time I met Korean students, people who worked for the Korean government, and North Korean defectors. In a nutshell, August was a whirlwind learning experience:

1. We attended an orientation, where we met the other interns as well as the Vice Minister
2. Attended workshops on the new social media of Facebook and Twitter
3. Visited the Joint Security Area (JSA)
4. Toured the DMZ (during which we had discussions, heard testimonies from the North Korean defectors on the trip, and learned about the historical sites from subsequent tourguide lectures)
5. Visited Hana Centers in Gyeonggi Province and learned about the settlement process North Koreans go through when they come to South Korea
6. Volunteered and lived amongst the students at the Hangyeoulleh Middle and High School for students who had come from North Korea (Some of us were interviewed for radio programs during this time as well.)