Robert Badgley(Federal Way Korean School)
Re-Unification of Two Korea's
Imagine for a moment, as a child, your whole world and life is turned upside down.
A child has no idea what’s going on, except losing many dear things close to his or her heart. You may have lost your friends, your family, or maybe even have been physically harmed.
This was exactly what happened during the Korean War that began on June 25th, 1950. I remember this date well because it’s my youngest son’s birthday(many years later of course).
In three short years, the peninsula of Korea was literally torn in half at the 38th parallel.
It didn’t matter if parts of family or friends were on either side at the time. That became a true reality come June 27th, 1953 when the Armistice to seize hostilities was signed.
The sad part of the two Koreas is that technically, the North and South are still at war.
It is now the year 2015, and the armistice is still in effect. There has been much debate and dialogue from both sides on a re-unification of the whole peninsula, but it appears, the north only brings this longing desire to South Korea when the North needs something.
After becoming very close to the Korean Culture and traditions that has been near thirty years now, my heart also cries out for a complete re-unification. For a culture to have the same roots, like mind, and desire to come back together, only to have harsh political agenda preventing this seems a great travesty.
After 50 some years, Cuba is now beginning to open their doors again to outsiders. This is my same hope for the two Koreas. Much must change for that to happen. Ideologies trust, and getting back to the same roots must happen.
This appears to be a game to US diplomats, which I am sorry for. The US has approximately 28,000 troops stationed in South Korea at this time. I was one of those Air Force troops stationed at Kunsan Air Base in the late 1980’s and 90’s.
Except for the military exercises, I fell in love with Korea, and especially the people and language. As much as I try to understand, the North remains a hermit country. Their regime must be selfish and power hungry.
I think most likely; the North’s political agenda purports to eventually wanting to rule the whole Korean peninsula. Unfortunately, this will never happen. Park, Guen-Hye and United States are actively ensuring things do not get out of hand; especially with the nuclear agenda by the North.
Just say for example, there would be a re-unification of the two Koreas? What would it look like? I remember the year of 1989 when the Berlin Wall was torn down. There was a mass exodus from East Berlin to the West Berlin. East and West were finally unified on July 1st, 1990. Families and friends were reunited. Re-unification was such a wonderful experience.
It did take time to adjust, but in the end, East and West have become so much stronger as a country.
In conclusion, dividing the Korean Peninsula was a tough but necessary decision to make at the time. Many people were saved as a result. Political Agenda, war, power, and containment of Communism seemed to be the right action at the time.
We especially cannot forget those who were lost, or died as a result. Unfortunately, many in both the South and North Koreas continue to have lasting sorrow due to their division.
My belief and faith that I hang on to is that the two Koreas will eventually become one once more; maybe not tomorrow, but one day. The Korean Spirit remains indomitable in this endeavor.
