WE MUST UNIFY!!

From the late 19^th century, Korea is surrounded by several Powers struggling to take hegemony. It seems like a sparrow enclosed by elephants. Every minute is a crisis and we could not release the strings of tension. Now, Korea is one of the largest economic power but wasn’t in the 19^th & 20^th C. During the Cold war, two ideologies penetrated weak Korea. Like virus, It made distrust and disconnection, then finally caused the outbreak of 6.25 war in 1950.

The war left not only lots of pains and hurts but also division of Korean peninsula. Korea is the only divided country in the world. Even though this is global dishonor, people with excuse to busy are indifferent about the problem. According to one survey, one of fifth thinks that unification of Korea is not necessary. This is quite serious figure. Then, what is the reason that we have to unify??

There are several good points if unification of the Korean peninsula comes true. First, there will be touching reunion of separated families. Due to the war, about 10 million families were separated.  After 32 years from a cease-fire, first family- reunion had been held by the North and South’s discussion and few reunions are succeeded. However, they were temporary and limited events. In South Korea, according to statistics, there are 129,554 applicants for family-reunion. Among them, just 70,000 applicants are alive. To make matters worse is that they are the elderly. Only unification would be ultimate solution to them. The story of following video is heart-breaking. Young brother and sister is meeting after they become gray-headed old man. Sister says to her brother that our mom always open the front entrance to prepare for case that brother come back.

(http://www.ebs.co.kr/replay/show?prodId=6785&lectId=10239396&gnbVal=1&pageNum=1&srchType=&srchText=&srchYear=&srchMonth=)

Second, there will be economically significant benefit. In North Korea, it is estimated that mineral source of 7 thousand trillion won are buried. Cheap and high level of labor pool is also attractive. South’s technology and North’s resources and labor would exhibit a good synergy. Furthermore, North passage to world will be open. Through the passage, export is activated, Russian natural gas comes in and foreign investments enter hot-spot.

Above figure shows that North Korea’s mineral source distribution. There are lots of metallic & non-metallic resources gold, copper, iron, magnetite, graphite etc. The amount of resource is global scale.

Third, ecology resources would be abundant. Demilitarized zone is located between North and South. Since cease-fire, because civilian’s entry was restricted, the pure nature is preserved. According to statistics, DMZ’s maximum value is about 22 trillion. There are many animals and plants which are rare and critical species. Also the chain of mountains called 백두대간(Baekdu daegan: chain of mountains from top of the North to bottom of the South) would be connected and it would be the root of eco-conservation.

In spite of these advantages, people worry about unification because of some problem. First, there is a large economic gap between North and South so people think that increment of taxes must follow after unification. In severe worldwide economic recession, people are sensitive about unexpected expenditure.

Second, 61 years make big difference in social, cultural and linguistic fields as well as govern system. For example in linguistic field, both linguists meet at 판문점(Panmunjom: the building in border) four times a year and make a dictionary for different words. The dictionary published in 2013 has 350,000 words. It is amazing number and it is not simply a question of language. From now on, Korean cannot help feeling sense of difference.

          Nevertheless, I think The Korean peninsula must be unified. Do we need any reasons for explaining that the Korean race live together? The truth that we have same blood is sufficient as a justification. In the case of Germany, East and West Germany are unified. They suffered transient hardship. It is because they got sudden unification and they didn’t have any countermeasures. However, even before few decades passed, they completely recovered and stand in top class economic status. This is exactly the point. The power of unification is that point. Above figure based on ECS Research shows that GDP forecast for unified Korea. In the middle of 21th C, Korea’s GDP surpass many country and would be second rich country following USA. The following video helps for understanding.
(http://www.ebs.co.kr/replay/show?prodId=6785&lectId=10239395&gnbVal=1&pageNum=1&srchType=&srchText=&srchYear=&srchMonth=)
 Moreover, from the Germany’s case, we slowly prepared many things for unification. Even the whole world support and want it. There is no need to fear. Unification will relieve separated families’ pain and make ecologic resources abundant and will tow Korean economy. Due to these reasons, I think that the only way to be a tiger not a sparrow between elephants is Unification of Korea. If you want more information, click http://www.unikorea.go.kr/main.do

(I tried to find 2 video for english version but i couldn't. Sorry ㅜ.ㅜ)