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Inminbanjang

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Inminbanjang, typically middle-aged married women, are the heads of housing unit blocks (called inminban). The inminbanjang is responsible for reporting on the comings and goings of residents, monitoring for improper behavior, and mobilizing households for various social tasks.


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Interpreting Kim Jong-un's Statement on the 'Hostile Two-State Relationship' Regarding Inter-Korean Relations

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  *South and North Beyond the Fence of the Demilitarized Zone.  @iStock   Il Young Jeong Research Professor_Institute of Social Science_Sogang University Kim Jong-un's statement on the 'hostile two-state relationship' regarding inter-Korean relations is causing controversy. Starting from the end of last year, Kim Jong-un's remarks on the "hostile two states" have shaken not only the academic community but also the political sphere and civil society in South Korea. The unfortunate aspect is that some experts have hastily defined the 'two-state system' on the Korean Peninsula as an irreversible reality and begun to seek alternatives. I believe that we must be cautious of hasty judgments because Kim Jong-un's "hostile two states" argument differs from the process of discourse formation previously shown by North Korea. In this context, I intend to analyze Kim Jong-un's two-state theory and argue that his discourse remains incomplete. Kim ...
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Let’s Ask the Next Generation About Peace on the Korean Peninsula

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  * South Korea’s Unification Minister Chung Dong-young speaks at the ‘Youth Peace and Future Dialogue’ held on August 12. ⓒ Ministry of Unification Il Young Jeong Senior Research Fellow_Institute of Social Science_Sogang University “A New Era of Peaceful Coexistence and Shared Growth on the Korean Peninsula” This was the vision for the peninsula’s future laid out by President Lee Jae-myung in his Liberation Day address on August 15, marking the 80th anniversary of Korea’s independence. For many, it may feel distant and unrealistic, given how completely inter-Korean relations remain stuck. Yet, when we recall the damage done under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, it’s true that this new vision stirs fresh hope. Inter-Korean relations haven’t even gotten off the ground, but there is no doubt that a different kind of opportunity is opening up. The Lee administration — elected by a people who stood strong against the December 3, 2024 martial law — now speaks of a “people-centered” No...
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How Can We Heal the Wounds of Division in the Inter-Korean Borderlands?

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  * President Lee Jae-myung delivers remarks at the National Planning Committee’s public reporting session. ⓒ Office of the President Il Young Jeong Senior Research Fellow_Institute of Social Science_Sogang University In July 1953, the Korean War reached not an end, but a suspension through the signing of the Armistice Agreement. As a result, the two Koreas established the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), extending two kilometers from the Military Demarcation Line on both sides. The areas adjacent to the DMZ, referred to as the border region, encompass 15 cities and counties across Gyeonggi-do, Gangwon-do, and Incheon Metropolitan City. These border communities have long borne the frontline pain of division, directly experiencing the consequences of strained inter-Korean relations. During the 21st presidential election, President Lee Jae-myung emphasized the need for “special compensation for special sacrifices” made by border residents. Such recognition is not only justified but overdue,...
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