[imText1]It has been exactly 10 years since Hwang Jang Yop made the decision to flee his motherland. Once a president for the Kim Il Sung University and with various posts as the Chosun Labor Party’s international secretary, Hwang Jang Yop created practically the Juche Ideology. What then was the reason he left his loving wife, family, colleagues, thousands of disciples and acquaintances to head for the South?
His conscience was what led to this desire to resist and criticize the brutal violence amidst deception suffered by the North Korean citizens. It was his conscience which told him that someone had to help the workers and farmers dying of starvation, trapped in a society which it was claimed ideal. It was because of his faith which convinced him that with the strength of the South Korean comrades, dictatorship of Kim Jong Il could be overthrown and the people saved.
After defecting from the North, about 500 family members, disciples and acquaintances were arrested and sent to political concentration camps. In order to escort all the people arrested, a train 15 carriages long had to be operated. Even a young child who was begging his grandfather to buy him a candy had to board the train. Having heard that her husband had defected from the country, Hwang’s wife, Park Seung Ok committed suicide and his daughter jumped from the racing train headed for the political camp.
Despite all this, neither did the Kim Dae Jung government nor the Roh Moo Hyun come to his aid. Rather, they restrained his movement. With a sense of guilt and failure of having achieved nothing to the colossal sacrifices made by his family and friends, Hwang Jang Yop did not cease his struggle.
10 years has swiftly passed as Hwang Jang Yop endured this struggle. When he left North Korea he was 75 years old and now he is 85. Even at this age he places the fight against dictator Kim Jong Il above all things, “I do not have the right to die. My only duty is to spend my every last effort in fighting this battle.” Every time he has a meal, he trains himself by adjusting his thoughts and endlessly, he writes books and fosters people through his lectures.
The struggles experienced by Hwang Jang Yop these past 10 years, is an indication alone that the Sunshine policy cannot change dictator Kim Jong Il. Our government needs to change its attitude similar to that of Hwang Jang Yop. Before it is too late, we must support the battle of an aged revolutionist who has devoted himself to the North Korean people, democracy and unification. We must provide an opportunity and space where we can work whole-heartedly for North Korea’s democracy. This is genuine national cooperation and the right way to unification.
