Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Tiger Beer]

Its always a common feeling among South Koreans.. that the USA wants a divided Korea because they want to watch China.. so thats why Korea hasn't reunified yet..

Anyhow, am I completely wrong about this.. but isn't the real reason that Korea hasn't reunified yet is because they have only had two North Korean leaders in the last 50+ years.. and neither one of them was at all excited about losing their power so that their people could become one country?

So is this all the fault of the USA?

One step further.. if USA ever did attack North Korea.. which they wouldn't.. but if they did.. and I hope they don't... but if that were to actually happen.. wouldn't Korea pretty much be all one country from that day forward.. and isn't this pretty much what the South Korean people want.. and if this is true.. then whats the problem that South Korean people have regarding Iraq.. and the possibility that the war might have also brought North Korea to the verge of the end?

Okay, we all agree that war is bad.. but seemingly.. the USA as South Korea's ally.. has pretty much just let the status quo go on forever because South Korea has this split personality regarding reunification plus no war to end things.. and it just perpetuates the intense status quo.. and realistically North Korea leaders are never going to just walk away from their power of leading a country..

Anyhow.. its hard to say who is at fault that there hasn't been reunification yet.. and that their is intense status quo.. I guess it would have better to let Korea lie dormant and in poverty like Vietnam for the last 50 years instead.. I am not sure if that would have been the right solution or not..

Anyhow.. just random thoughts on the issue.. if anyone else can enlighten or ramble on a bit more.. would be interesting to hear those thoughts as well..

[bucheon bum]

If North and South Korea were to unify anytime soon, the South's economy would be hurt big time. Can you imagine how much money needs to be poured into North Korea? Just look at West Germany and East Germany. West Germany was the 3rd largest economy in the world and East Germany was the most prosperous communist country in the world. Nevertheless, West Germany had to pour billions (and still is to some degree) into former East Germany. Eastern Germany still has a higher unemployment rate than the western areas of Germany. Some feel that unification is part of the reason the German economy has been in a rutt for awhile now.

Now just imagine that with Korea. South Korea's economy is pretty strong these days, but nothing compared to Germany. North Korea is the poorest country in Northeast Asia. Not a pretty picture. I don't think South Korea could afford to rebuild and fix North Korea's infrastructure. There obviously is also a big social gap between South Koreans and North Koreans. The avg. 20something yr old in South Korea has a completely different life from his/her peer in North Korea.

I'm not saying unification is a bad thing. I just think that if it ever happens, it will have to be a slow transition. I also think that outside sources will have to help as well- the two Koreas will find it very difficult to do it by themselves. Of course nothing is for certain.

As for the USA wanting a divided Korea, that seems a bit silly. The reason for the division is Kim Jung-Il and his cronies.

[Tiger Beer]

[posco's trumpet]

[supernick]

Thanks. You just saved me a lot of typing.

A reunified Korea is a threat to Japan and probably Asia. It will have some economic power and military power driven by eagar Koreans who might just be happy to get some revenge. This is what some countries might be thinking, not my opinion of what would happen.

I do get tired of Koreans blaming all of their problems on the US and Japan, though the US has f$cked up a few things, the US did have good intentions. What hurts, is that many people from 17 different countries came to the South's side, and when I see these protesters, i want to remind them that they should not only blame the US for their freedom, but also the other 16 nations whose young people died.

I doubt much would really happen. I just thought I would point out some reasons why the situation is the way it is. Just let the Koreans be and let them sort things out. We are living with too much fear that prevents us from working things out in any reasonable way.

[blackbird]

Uh, yeah, what he said.

[sickboy]

[supernick]

Please, the quote is not what I think will happen; it's what other countries might be thinking.

I've said the same things to my Korean friends; the people in the North are very different from you, but they insist that they are of the same blood. Yes, you are made of the same material, but crafted from a different mold. I can't really think of a time when the Korean penisular was ever a united country without being controled by an outside nation. Being a united country is and always has been a pipe dream.

[The King of Kwangju]

I just spotted this thread. How many re-unification threads can this board support?

[Tiger Beer]

[RR]

Actually the whole thing is pretty simple. For everyone involved (Russia, China, Japan, American, South Korea), the status quo is great. Russia and China get influence in the North, the US has a reason to put troops and have a presence in the South. Japan gets US protection, without all the troops on Japanese soil.

If the Koreas unify the whole equation that has built up and been stable for 50 years, through China's opening up and the USSR's fall, could come crashing down.

The problem is that while everyone in the world can be rational about this the South Koreans can't, they're emotional about it. Understandably. So you get the split response. Sure, every Korean wants unification and unification must be a good thing. BUT: Hell nooooo! I don't wanna pay for it or really risk any of the progress that Korea has made in the last 50 years in a conflict to bring it about.

Now do the koreans (irrationally, but understandably emotionally) blame the US (or Japan, or...) for this?, sure. After all, Koreans naturally want to be one country, so it must be an outside country that causes seperation, right? Except that Koreans don't want unfication. Southerns don't wanna pay, and the Northern government doesn't want to loose power.

So there you are. I mean----who's gonna blame themselves when there is a big foreign army right in the middle of town to take the whipping?

RR

[indiercj]

I don't think Koreans don't want to pay the cost for the reunification or at least for the economical aids needed to stabilize the North. They voted for Kim Dae Jung, and elected Roh to continue pursuing the 'sunshine policy' overcoming all the buzz that major newspapers made to criticize it as an act of "pe ju gi". If most koreans did not want to pay anything they should have elected Lee instead but as we all know they did not.
I think the main reason some people suspect the US for not wanting the two Koreas to get close to each other is that throughout modern history the US government has been continuously supporting the right wing hard-liners including a couple of military dictators. It seems like the protection of free capitalism in the region has always been their #1 priority over democratic freedom or reunification.

[Ajarn Miguk]

[Canadian Teacher]

I hate to wade into this morass but what the heck....

The only thing that we can be sure of is that the relationship between the USA and South Korea is undergoing fundamental change. All of Roh's pre-election bluster was just that: bluster. However, no American wants to be played the fool. Roh made a miscalculation in making America his patsy.

The plans for the reduction and withdrawal of USFK have been in the works for years. Last year's events have served to accelerate it.

I am all in favour of South Korea taking its own course in world affairs, that is its option as a soverign state; however, Koreans must be willing to accept the consequences of said actions without blaming others in order to be seen as a mature nation.

[blackbird]

I am not so sure that the Koreans would be as giving as you imply. I would like to see some links in support if you have them. It is an interesting question.