To return North and South Korea to the same path, we must push for cross-border athletic exchanges

To return North and South Korea to the same path, we must
push for cross-border athletic exchanges

A suggestion was put forth proposing that North and South
Korea work to overcome their strained relations and lay the foundation for
peaceful reunification by pushing for ongoing athletic exchanges that occur in
a separate realm from political and economic issues. Pointing out the
contribution that athletic exchanges can make towards halting the deepening
identity rift between the North and South Korean people and improving
recognition of unification, Professor Lee Jang Young of Kookmin University
arranged a conference on May 18.

The conference was held at Dongguk University’s Research on
the Future of the Korean Peninsula Institute and entitled ‘The First Colloquium
on Reunification’. At the conference, Professor Lee explained that when Hyun
Chang Hwa and Lee Bun Hee were chosen to participate in the 1991 World Ping
Pong Championships in Chiba, Japan, as a single, unified team, the hearts of
both the North and the South Korean people were deeply touched, and a sense of
kinship between the two nations was rekindled. In a similar way, athletic
exchanges between the North and South would make a positive contribution to
unification.

Although the effects of the athletic exchanges during
Germany’s period of division between the East and the West were not widely
recognized by Chancellor Konrad Adenauer and other politicians, athletes say
that the ongoing push to continue these exchanges played an indispensible role
in bringing down the Berlin Wall. “It is owing to West Germany’s separation of
politics and athletics that this measure for unification could be undertaken so
actively,” explained the professor.

Regrettably, he went on to say, North and South Korea have
stated they will only try to use athletic exchanges as a political measure.
South Korea needs to take the initiative to separate sports from politics, take
a softer attitude towards North and South Korean relations, and push for this
kind of policy.

The Professor continued, saying, “Although there are many
who think that the two countries should reunite, there are not many who think
it is likely to happen in the near future. Regardless of how strong the will to
reunify is, if we see the likelihood of reunification as low, I think it is
appropriate to try even harder to improve those odds.“

The First Colloquium on Reunification covered a range of
topics from North Korean human rights to inter-Korean relations. Experts in the
field of North Korean daily life, culture, sports, and other topics were
invited to speak, and the colloquium featured relay lectures. Scholars from
Kookmin University with an interest in North Korea and unification, along with
students from any other university, were welcome to attend.