뉴스레터

As inter-Korean relations and the surrounding political landscape have begun to change recently, we have had to reexamine the meaning of the concept of unification. The era of crisis and change calls for new insights and approaches to the problem, and inter-Korean relations and unification are no exception. There is a strong need to understand the unification problem from a new perspective, while dispelling society's uneasiness related to the astonishing development of the situation. If we do not deeply consider how to tackle the unification problem while keeping in mind certain philosophies and objectives, it will be difficult to grasp the elusive, long-awaited, forth-coming "historical opportunity."

When there is a Need for the General Theory of Unification to Extend Beyond the Particulars

The most fundamental problem we have in regard to the issue of unification is that we understand division and unification as very segmental and fragmented concepts, in a world of ambiguous conceptual abstraction. Therefore, it was not possible to expand the social consensus on the path and methodology of unification, and it was not easy to overcome the resistance of the people who stood by their vested interests in the division. Clear examples include the fact that unification has been reintroduced as a "planted coercion," and the fact that inter-Korean relations have been used as material for political conflict. Resolutions for this dilemma have been mulled over, and it has been realized that nothing is more important than pausing to reflect on our history while sharing our visions of the future. History serves as a guide, telling us what possibilities we have already explored, where we stand, and where we can go.

This book repeatedly highlights the fact that we are in desperate need for new historical awareness that goes beyond "geographic determinism" and "peripheral awareness" that is engrained deeply within our mindsets. Our unfounded sense of superiority about ethnic Koreans in China and the pathological phenomenon to segregate these individuals also reflects this distorted historical awareness.

Within this sense of awareness, this book examines the various problems of ethnic Koreans abroad, especially those of ethnic Koreans in Yanbian, in the context of the development of inter-Korean relations and unification. This book also attempts to suggest alternative ideas that could lead to a partnership of peace and the reunification of the Korean Peninsula. The region of Yanbian is our historical territory and concurrently serves as an important strategic zone that can influence the future order of the Korean Peninsula and East Asia. It is a well-known fact that China, Russia, Japan and the United States are all striving to expand their research and influences into this region. In order for us to pursue the path toward peace and unification, we must fully grasp the historical conditions, and present conditions, of this area from a complex perspective of both competition and cooperation.

Thus far, we have accumulated volumes of research on China's historical distortion, the ethnic Korean society in China, the development of China's northeastern region, Russia's interest in the Maritime Province and the issue of North Korea and unification. However, not enough attention has been paid to the fact that all of these topics are organically connected as one package. Although there are many details and particulars, there is a lack of a general view that strategically synthesizes these issues and problems. This book offers a cursory overview of a methodological approach intended to solve these problems.

Composition and Contents of the Book

This book is comprised of five chapters, along with a preface and a concluding statement. The preface introduces the fundamental problem of awareness and consciousness. In Chapter 1, we examine why the environment for unification changes according to the shifts in the ecology of international politics, and why it is important to pay attention to the ethnic Korean society in China throughout this process. Chapter 2 briefly summarizes the path of ethnic Koreans in China, and explains the crisis and opportunity factors of this society that is on the brink of dissolution. If these issues are disregarded, the discussion on cooperation and solidarity with the ethnic Korean society in China is limited. Chapter 3 sheds light on the transnational space emerging in Yanbian and in the area near the Tumen river from a diagonal point of view: China's "reterritorialization" and cooperation with the international society. In order to address the complexity of this region, it is necessary to distinguish the structure and flow of the interests that compete in this area. In this context, the book emphasizes the need for new concepts of historical and territorial issues. Chapter 4 addresses the conflict between Koreans and ethnic Koreans in China. The rift between these two communities is blurring Korea's strategic vision for maximizing unification capabilities and securing space for the future. While remaining cognizant of this point, this book explains that the division of the Korean Peninsula generated schisms and conflict between overseas Koreans, as well as between the two Koreas, by comparing the overseas Korean policies. The generation of such conflict resulted in negative effects such as the decline in the influence of the Korean people. In addition, we explore the developmental direction of the ethnic Korean society in China, based on other networks of overseas Chinese and Jewish societies. Chapter 5 suggests alternative ideas for maintaining the identities of overseas Koreans, including those in China, in reference to the networking strategies used by overseas Chinese and Jewish individuals. This chapter also emphasizes the importance of future-oriented and progressive historical consciousness, while summarizing the policy direction designed to include the ethnic Korean society in China within the network of peace and unification through the use of diagrams. The concluding statement generally summarizes the content from the previous chapters and stresses, once again, that nothing is more important than recharging historical confidence in such an uncertain period of transition. This section also confirms that progressively resolving inter-Korean relations is a key prerequisite for embracing the ethnic Korean society in China as a partner for unification, while not missing out on the "historical opportunity.”

Additional Remarks

Negligence of knowledge leads to real crisis. In order to resolve inter-Korean relations and solve the unification issue from the perspective of peace and unification, we must overturn our inertial thoughts on history and reality. This book was published, despite the lack of authorship, because of the "urgent" need for change in knowledge about the division and to speak about the severity of the danger that we may confront. This book contains a small concern about how we will pioneer the future in such a stage of survival and competition where the interference and intervention of neighboring countries, and inter-Korean cooperation and conflict, all clash fiercely. It is terrifying to release ideas that are not fully mature into a book. However, in this book, I explain my determination for a more persuasive unification theory full of more advanced thoughts while listening to candid criticism and advice.