The aftermath of South Korea’s recent martial law crisis has brought renewed urgency to the pursuit of a free and unified Korea. File Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo
The aftermath of South Korea’s recent martial law crisis has brought renewed urgency to the pursuit of a free and unified Korea. South Korea’s foreign and domestic policies will be upended by the current political turmoil. But Koreans in the North and South, and their supporters, cannot become discouraged and should recommit to their goal of a free and unified Korea. Civil society, as a dynamic and adaptable force, stands as a critical actor in navigating the political and social challenges of this pursuit. This essay explores how civil society can contribute to the vision of a unified Korea rooted in democracy, human rights, and prosperity, guided by traditional Korean principles such as hongik ingan — the idea of benefiting all humanity.
Context: The crisis and its fallout Advertisement
The martial law catastrophe jeopardizes the progress made toward unification under the 8.15 Unification Doctrine. This bold doctrine emphasizes human rights, freedom, and prosperity as cornerstones for peaceful unification, resonating deeply with global democratic values. However, the political instability sparked by this crisis risks undermining the doctrine’s momentum. But its principles and strengths should not be jettisoned because it is associated with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s administration, which has ignited domestic political upheaval. The Korean people should separate their ire for Yoon’s actions from a doctrine that belongs to all Koreans and is key to bringing freedom to all Koreans. Civil society must step up to safeguard these principles and maintain the focus on unification. Advertisement
Civil society’s roles and strategies
Civil society organizations (CSOs) have the agility and grassroots connections to fill gaps left by state institutions. Their multifaceted role includes information dissemination, human rights advocacy, and preparation for unification, ensuring the Korean peninsula moves toward a future free from oppression and division. The Korean-led organization Action for Korea United (AKU), whose philosophy is rooted in hongik ingan, and the Alliance for Korea United, a coalition of Korean-American organizations and individuals, are representative of the premier civil society organizations that are leading the effort in the pursuit of a free and unified Korea.
Information as a catalyst for change
Information is a critical vulnerability of the Kim family regime, which enforces strict censorship to maintain control. By breaking this information blockade, CSOs can empower the Korean people in the North with knowledge about their rights and the outside world, to include the fundamental human right of self-determination of government as stated in Article 21 of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Broadcast expansion: Contributing content to Radio Free Asia and Voice of America can expose North Koreans to uncensored information.
Innovative technologies: Utilizing microSD cards, satellite broadcasts, and encrypted networks, CSOs can penetrate North Korea’s censorship barriers. Advertisement
Networks of the North Korean diaspora: Empowering defectors/escapees in the North Korean diaspora as truth-tellers and messengers creates a credible channel for countering regime propaganda.
The hongik ingan ethos provides a moral framework, inspiring a commitment to uplift all Korean people through advocacy and empowerment.
The dissemination of alternative narratives, such as the “A 10 Point Promise to the North Korean People,” which contrasts sharply with the Kim regime’s Ten Principles of Monolithic Ideology (TPMI), is an example of the type of information that can provide the Korean people in the North knowledge that can contribute to undoing seven decades of indoctrination. The work of the Defense Forum Foundation and Free North Korea Radio should inspire individuals and groups by demonstrating practical capabilities for information dissemination.
Human rights advocacy: A strategic necessity
Human rights are central to both the moral and strategic arguments for unification. Civil society must focus on:
Documentation of abuses: Collaborating with international organizations to record evidence of North Korean crimes ensures accountability.
Education on universal rights: Informing Koreans in the North of their rights builds the foundation for a more informed and empowered citizenry.
Global advocacy: Pressuring international institutions like the UN to prioritize human rights in North Korea elevates the issue on the global stage. Advertisement
The work of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea is an exemplar in these areas.
By focusing on human rights, civil society helps weaken the regime’s ideological grip and empowers the Korean people in the North to envision a different future.
Preparing for unification
Civil society must also plan for the complexities of unification, ensuring a smooth transition and integration process.
Scenario planning: Developing plans for regime collapse or peaceful transition ensures preparedness for various outcomes, with a focus on how civil society can contribute to what comes next after conflict, collapse, or internal leadership changes.
Economic integration: Researching frameworks for integrating North Korea’s economy into South Korea’s and the global free-market system addresses disparities while fostering growth. The research of leading scholars such as Dr. Nicholas Eberstadt provides an innovative look at the huge potential for economic growth in a free and unified Korea.
Grassroots empowerment: CSOs can cultivate resilience by addressing immediate needs such as healthcare and education, fostering real self-reliance as demonstrated by the market activity of the Korean people in the North rather than the false self-reliance of the Juche ideology.
Leadership development initiatives that nurture individuals within the North Korean diaspora such as the North Korean Young Leaders Assembly that are aligned with democratic values are essential for building a unified society based on mutual respect and justice. Advertisement
Strengthening international collaboration
A unified Korea’s success hinges on robust international support, which civil society can help secure through advocacy and coalition-building.
Trilateral cooperation: Strengthening alliances among South Korea, the United States, and Japan ensures coordinated strategies for unification.
Diaspora mobilization: Engaging the North Korean diaspora communities as well as the broader Korean community as advocates for unification amplifies the global reach of the movement.
Cultural exchanges: Although currently seemingly impossible due to the nature of the Kim regime in the North, promoting people-to-people interactions between North and South Koreans highlights shared history and values, fostering mutual understanding. CSOs should prepare for exchanges when the political and security situation exists. While physical, real-life exchanges may be currently prohibited, CSOs should develop virtual exchanges, both synchronous and asynchronous, using creative communication techniques.
Upholding the 8.15 Unification Doctrine amid political shifts
Civil society must act as a guardian of the doctrine’s principles, ensuring that political turmoil does not derail progress toward unification. The 8.15 Unification Doctrine must be accepted as Korea’s doctrine and not rejected because of the current political turmoil in South Korea.
Public mobilization: Engaging Koreans in the South in dialogue about unification to sustain public support and political commitment. Advertisement
Policy advocacy: Collaborating with international allies to pressure governments to maintain focus on human rights and democratic values keeps the agenda alive.
Conclusion: A unified Korea rooted in justice and prosperity
The path to a free and unified Korea is fraught with challenges, from domestic political instability to the North’s relentless propaganda machine. Yet, the enduring principles of hongik ingan — emphasizing the benefit of all humanity — offers a roadmap for civil society to lead the charge. Through strategic information campaigns, human rights advocacy, grassroots empowerment, and international collaboration, civil society can ensure that the dream of a unified Korea remains alive. It is a “Korean Dream” that can and must be achieved by the Koreas for all Koreans. The work of civil society, on the Korean peninsula and among allies around the world, can create a future where all Koreans, free from oppression, contribute to a society that stands as a beacon of hope and resilience for the world. A new Korea — a United Republic of Korea (UROK).
David Maxwell is a retired U.S. Army Special Forces Colonel who has spent more than 30 years in the Asia Pacific region. He specializes in Northeast Asian Security Affairs and unconventional and political warfare. He is Vice President of the Center for Asia Pacific Strategy and a Senior Fellow at the Global Peace Foundation. Following retirement, he was Associate Director of the Security Studies Program at Georgetown University. He is on the board of directors of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea and the OSS Society, and is a contributing editor to Small Wars Journal. Advertisement
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.
