By Chung Eui-sung’
On the 79th anniversary of National Liberation Day, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol introduced the “August 15 Unification Doctrine,” a significant policy statement that emphasizes human rights in North Korea, the right to survival, and the expansion of access to information. In a direct counter to the oppressive regime of Kim Jong-un, President Yoon outlined his vision for peaceful unification, centered around universal values, democracy, and human dignity. His speech not only reflects South Korea’s commitment to improving the lives of its northern neighbors but also highlights the stark divergence between the two Koreas’ policies.
President Yoon’s doctrine places a heavy emphasis on human rights as a cornerstone for peace and unification. At its heart is the issue of information freedom, aiming to dismantle the North Korean regime’s iron grip on knowledge. By expanding access to accurate and uncensored information, President Yoon hopes to empower North Korean citizens with the truth about their government’s failures and the freedoms enjoyed elsewhere. This focus on the “right to know” is informed by testimonies from defected North Korean diplomats, who suggest that once North Koreans are exposed to the realities outside their borders, the regime’s propaganda would falter. The erosion of this false narrative would likely stimulate internal dissent and foster a desire for change, thereby undermining the regime’s stranglehold on power.
In stark contrast to Yoon’s call for empowerment, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has doubled down on isolation and military power. In December of last year, Kim declared South Korea a “hostile state,” abandoning any pretense of peaceful unification. This declaration, coupled with North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear armament, reflects an ominous shift towards a policy of forceful annexation. Kim’s rhetoric, portraying the relationship between North and South as one of belligerent states, signals a rejection of the shared cultural and historical ties that have bound Koreans for millennia. His posture is not just one of military aggression but a strategic ploy to exploit the emerging geopolitical tensions in Northeast Asia, attempting to destabilize the liberal international order while amplifying the threat of war on the Korean Peninsula.
Kim Jong-un’s fear of South Korea’s influence, particularly the growing admiration for the South among North Korean elites, has led to harsh measures to block the “Korean Wave” (Hallyu). These efforts culminated in the destruction of the Inter-Korean Liaison Office in 2020, an act justified by Kim as a response to anti-regime leaflets. Furthermore, he has introduced draconian laws like the “Reactionary Ideology and Culture Rejection Act” and the “Pyongyang Cultural Language Protection Act,” aimed at stifling any admiration for South Korea and eradicating external cultural influences. The severity of these laws, with punishments including the death penalty, underscores Kim’s desperation to shield his regime from South Korea’s allure and maintain his grip on power.
Yet, despite Kim’s repressive measures, his attempt to fracture the Korean identity is ultimately doomed to fail. The Korean people, both in the North and the South, share a heritage that spans 5,000 years, a common culture, and a language that transcends political boundaries. Kim’s aggressive policies have only served to alienate North Korean citizens further, many of whom now see his regime as an obstacle to the unification they long for. His rejection of national unity, driven by fear of absorption by the South, stands in stark opposition to the aspirations of Koreans on both sides of the 38th parallel.
President Yoon’s “August 15 Doctrine” offers a vision of unification rooted in liberal democracy and human rights, directly rejecting Kim’s divisive “Two-State Theory.” By emphasizing the right to know, the right to survival, and the pursuit of international support for these values, Yoon has positioned South Korea as the moral leader in the quest for peace on the Korean Peninsula. His doctrine is not just a policy; it is a powerful statement of hope and defiance against the oppressive regime to the North, underscoring that the path to unification lies not through military might but through the empowerment of people and the triumph of democratic values.
The stark contrast between these two leaders’ visions for the future of Korea could not be more pronounced. While Kim seeks to tighten his grip through isolation and fear, President Yoon offers a beacon of hope, grounded in the belief that the truth can set people free. The “August 15 Unification Doctrine” represents a crucial step towards peaceful unification, a step that, with the support of the international community and the will of the Korean people, could finally bring an end to decades of division and pave the way for a unified, democratic Korea.
(The writer is North Korean defector highlighting issues pertaining Korean Peninsula and contributor of various international news outlets.)
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