Today’s “Unification Table Talk” segment will focus on the influence
of media on Germany’s reunification as well as its potential influence on
Korean reunification. We are joined by Park Sang Bong, who is the former
director of the Institute for Unification Education as well as the current
director of the German Reunification Research Institute.
1. Professor, you are a leading authority
on pre and post-reunification Germany. Is there a special reason why you became
so interested in this subject?
I wouldn’t say there was a particular
reason. The Berlin Wall fell while I was studying abroad in Germany, and so I
witnessed West Germany’s dreams of reunification become reality with my own
eyes. After witnessing such an event, a Korean can’t help but develop a
considerable interest in reunification. Of course, many international students
also observed this event, but as I was studying I came across topics on
reunification, so I ended up focusing my studies on German reunification.
2. Germany’s reunification did not come
about easily. What are your opinions about Korea’s own reunification?
At the time of reunification, Germany had a
population roughly the same as that of present day Korea, and it was an
economic powerhouse more prosperous than Korea. However, one should consider
that just like the construction of the (high-speed railway) KTX line in Korea
was easier because the ICE line in Germany and the TGV line in France had
already been built, we can hope for things to be much easier because there is
already a precedent. Admittedly, Germany experienced many unseen difficulties,
due to the unexpected and rather abrupt timing of reunification, and rectified
these mistakes at a great cost. But if Korea can avoid mistakes by observing
Germany’s own mistakes that were made through trial and error, Korean
reunification will be much easier.
These are not thoughts limited to myself.
Professor Bloom, who is in the department of economics at the University of
Bamberg, wrote a piece titled “North Korea’s Reconstruction” for Die Zeit. Die
Zeit is a highly respected German national weekly newspaper. In the piece, he
discusses the “Korean Catalogue”. In brief, he states that the German
reunification process was never experienced before, and if Korea avoids the
mistakes made by Germans, they would have a much easier transition into being a
united country. This statement is echoed by German Professor Frank who is at
the University of Vienna. This is why I look favorably upon the “follower
effect” when addressing Korean reunification. One should not get caught up in
the belief that Korea’s reunification will be much more difficult than
Germany’s.
3. I believe that the media through
platforms like television and radio played an important part in German
reunification. Can you describe the media’s role at the time?
We regard German reunification as a
miracle. This view is held not only by Koreans, but also by numerous German
experts and politicians, and it is reflected in many books. It was considered
that miraculous to many. The unexpected nature of German reunification teaches
us that even in a divided state, there can be peaceful coexistence. In reality,
there was already much exchange and cooperation between East and West Germany.
There were programs of mutual exchanges and cooperation between the two
countries. Among them was an exchange of TV programs. West German viewers could
watch East German programs that were more sophisticated and provocative than
those of West Germany. However, a surprising truth is that most East Germans
West Germany’s 8 o’clock news as a source of dependable international news.
This largely stemmed from the distrust people slowly accumulated about the
East’s communist party.
Despite the division, the mutual exchange of television programs kept the East
Germans well informed about what was happening in West Germany, and that is
arguably one of the biggest influence that the media had in Germany. The media
also played a very important role in the bloodless revolution that caused the
falling of the Wall and eventually led to reunification. For instance,
Schabowski, the East German communist party spokesperson announced in a press
conference that a new regulation would allow East Germans to freely travel to
West Germany.
Yet, the exact details were not yet determined, and when asked
when exactly this regulation would become effective by an Italian reporter, he
mistakenly responded that it would happen ‘without delay’. East German viewers
immediately flocked to the Berlin Wall, so much so that the guards could not
contain the massive crowds. This announcement led to the fall of the Berlin
Wall, and the defeat of East Germany — another important example of what role
the media played.
4. Which, do you think, among the many
forms of media, had the most influence upon the East Germans’ mindset regarding
reunification?
West Germany had two public programs: ARD and ZDF. These two channels’ 8 o’clock news
arguably had the greatest influence on East Germans. It was broadcast in East
Germany essentially in its entirety. Of course the East German government had
its own alternative broadcast, called the Black Channel. Their purposes were
similar to contemporary North Korean programs, by providing a different and
more favorable North Korean spin on international events. However, the East
German programs were less influential than the Western news programs.
5. I believe one of the great strength of
the East Germans was their desire for change and freedom. Could media act as a
bridge, forwarding the reunification efforts in Korea, as it did in East
Germany, by giving people more hope for reuniting?
Of course. Media helps convey information.
Today, North Korea is completely separated from the rest of the world. Although
there is a flow of information, it is very obstructed due to North Korea being
a closed society. There are, of course, other illicit channels of information,
but it is hard for it to be passed around because the North is so closed off.
If the media is unrestricted, then continuation of the regime will be very
difficult. Therefore, media can play a very important role in speeding up
reunification.
6. In order for the media to properly
function, it seems that efforts from civilian groups and government policies
need to come together. What is the South Korean government’s support policy on
media for reunification?
Before expecting governmental support for
the media, it is important to ensure that the current media such as the
Unification Media Group, Far East Broadcasting Co., and KBS Radio Korean
Network, are continued. North Korean marketplaces also have an important function
as conduits of information. They are not simply locations where goods are sold,
but also important centers of information exchange. This is why spreading
information in the form of flash drives, broadcasts, flyers, etc., must be done through the
marketplaces. Propaganda flyers targeting North Korea might not seem like much,
but many, including officials at Seoul’s Ministry of Unification, anticipate
that it will yield great results. This is because during negotiations with
North Korea, time after time it demands for an end to leaflet distributions.
In other words, it means that the effects
of the flyers are quite large when placed properly. These flyers contain truths that North Koreans
could never imagine. Despite the size of these flyers, they contain universal
messages of truth, human rights, hope and freedom, and that, when fitted well
together, will have a huge impact.
7. Just as media played a large role in
German reunification, what kind of programs must be directed at North Koreans
in order to foster hope and desire? What should the contents broadly be?
In my opinion, the contents should show
something along the lines of the value of liberal democracy or universal human
rights, especially because North Koreans cannot conceive such truths. It is
important to show them what kind of system they are living in, and to make them
aware of the twisted nature of their living conditions. I’ve heard from first
generation defectors that they were shocked after reading these flyers. One
person was taught that the Korean War was started by South Korea in an attempt
to invade North Korea. However, after reading the leaflet and learning that it
was not so, but rather the very opposite she made the immediate decision to
defect. Even minute details can leave huge impressions on the isolated North
Korean citizens, which is why I think it is good to include such details in
media.
8. North Korean authorities are extremely
strict in controlling the flow of information. As a result, the chances of our
broadcasts being heard are pretty low. Under such circumstances, what means can
we use to awareness in North Korea?
The North Korean authorities cannot block
the flow of information forever. No matter how strong a dictatorship, it is
simply impossible. We already know that present day North Korean society is not
the same as it was under Kim Il Sung’s rule. Many citizens have complaints and
express their thoughts. Statistically the Kim Jong Un era has yielded an
incredible amount of public executions and purges, all under the public eye,
and this is probably changing people’s perceptions as well.
As previously
mentioned, the content of the flyers, flash drives, shortwave broadcasts and
America’s Radio Free Asia, Far East Broadcasting Company and the likes being
directed at North Korea may seem to contain little, but it can have huge
impacts on North Korean citizens. Regardless of the method, I believe that all
activities are beneficial.
9. For a very long time, you’ve researched
German reunification and applied your experiences to Korea. If you have a few
words you’d like to share with people listening up North.
I understand things must be difficult at
the moment. It must be hard to get by and work but on top of that having to
attend self-criticism sessions and group events. Life at state-run enterprises
will probably be extremely tough as well. But I remember at one meeting
that I attended, someone said, “North Korean people, please, just stay alive.”
No
matter what hardships you are going through, if you do not lose hope, then I
would say that a reunified future is waiting for you. Even though you are living
in pain, I want to say that you must experience freedom and human rights, and
the abundance brought by capitalism. You must experience what it is like to
live in a society where you can go without being hungry and not constantly
looking over your shoulder. That is what I’d like to say.
