뉴스레터

I participated in the 2nd "Duman River Forum" at Yeonbyeon University on October 16 ~ 17, 2009. The conference was held on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the foundation of Yeonbyeon University, where some 80 scholars from China, and South and North Korea unfolded active presentations and discussions under the theme of "plural coexistence and the selection for agile and glamorous appearance." This conference was particularly meaningful to me in that the Chinese government was focusing its attention on "Duman River developmental plan" that had been dormant over the past years.

Every encounter is valuable and conversation is precious. I was able to get clues for transition of ideas and thoughts just with information picked up by the ears. I wanted to argue that space of peace between the two Koreas and China is required in the Duman River area, and such plural spatial strategy is the way for China to secure global leadership. However, my paper was hoarded by North Korea's censorship on the ground that the writing mentions reform and opening. My insistence that "a plan for peace" is urgently needed rather than peace acquired as a result of economic cooperation couldn't but pretend to be an abortion for survival under the cold eyes of the North. I consoled myself by thinking that maturing the circumstances and complementing the ideas are needed, and started to meet my acquaintances and scrutinize book shops in order to listen to their methodology for coexistence as well as the changes in Yeonbyeon.

General Nam Yi, who proclaimed that he would repress Jurchen in his poem which reads: "The rocks at Baekdu Mountain have worn away for honing swords and the water of Duman River have run dry for feeding horses" was executed under the frame of treason. His idea is different from the contemporary approach of "peace based on the order of coexistence," but well being and peace failed to be embodied in the North. Besides, peace here still seems to be at stake today because the North and South are separated. The phrase "where the battle line weeps" by Poet Pa-In Kim Dong-hwan describes the tasteless scenery of the border which hasn't changed much ever since. Nevertheless, there is one difference that the people "in the mountain village who reside at a location where few flowers bloom even after spring time" are crossing Duman River for survival after turning their backs from the eastern land. I couldn't but come up with my family who might be holding their breath for safety under nightmares: "Ah, would they have crossed the river safe and sound? / In this middle of the night, my husband / would he have crossed Duman River safe and sound?"

How we will cross the river of history?

I have recently come to a conclusion that deterioration of progressive thoughts upon the sea, and ignorance and prejudice upon the strategic space in the north have caused numerous setbacks in our history. With the full development of Duman River, this area has risen as the strategic space that will determine the consequences regarding balance of power in Eastern Asia. Accordingly, the "border pressure" that we will have to bear will increase. How should we view the massive historic energy that has been gathering in this region and how should we deal with it? Under the circumstances where South and North Korea are divided, what should we consider seriously and what peace strategy or methodology should we establish? Just like the anxiety of the poet, could we possibly cross Duman River?

I pumped up the volume of the coloring sound from my cellular phone: "The salmons that swim upstream...their own unique reason." Then I leaned back in my seat in a plane for Incheon, embracing my hope of releasing "my salmon" that will lay my dream of peace in Duman River. Then, I opened my planner where stories that I heard and things that I saw were written, I added one line and underlined it: I will ruminate over my adherence toward "a plan for peace," determined that I will never become the Capitaine Lee in an unmanly history.

※ Capitaine Lee is a short story written by Jeon Gwang-yong in 1962 satirizing the figure of an opportunist during the time of changes. Capitaine: the Russian pronunciation of Captain was transformed into Korean style.