The South Korean government's unification doctrine is deeply disappointing

 

*Ribbons of hope for reunification tied to the barbed wire along the armistice line. @iStock 

Il Young Jeong

Research Professor_Institute of Social Science_Sogang University

August 15th marked the 79th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese imperialism in 1945. On this day, President Yoon Suk-yeol unveiled the "Unification Doctrine" that had been in preparation for two years, presenting the South Korean government's vision for unification. What exactly does Yoon's unification vision entail, and what are its limitations?

What Does Yoon's Unification Doctrine Contain?

In his speech commemorating the 79th anniversary of National Liberation Day, President Yoon Suk-yeol declared, "For us, complete liberation is still an unfinished task. Only on the day when the entire Korean Peninsula becomes a unified country, where the people are the sovereign in a free and democratic state, will complete liberation be realized," and thus announced the Unification Doctrine.

According to explanatory materials provided by the Ministry of Unification, Yoon's Unification Doctrine is structured as a '3-3-7' framework, consisting of three major unification visions, three unification promotion strategies, and seven unification action plans. The three major unification visions describe the future of a unified Korea as: ① a happy nation where freedom and security are guaranteed, ② a strong and prosperous nation driven by creativity and innovation, and ③ a nation contributing to global peace and prosperity.

Next, the three unification promotion strategies are divided into domestic, North Korean, and international approaches. First, domestically, the strategy is to cultivate values and capacities that promote free unification. Second, in North Korea, the aim is to foster the North Korean people's desire for free unification. Third, internationally, the strategy is to secure global support for a free and unified Korea.

Finally, the seven unification action plans are: ① activating unification programs, ② carrying out multi-dimensional efforts to improve human rights in North Korea, ③ expanding the North Korean people's access to information, ④ promoting humanitarian aid to ensure the North Korean people's right to survival, ⑤ reflecting the role of North Korean defectors in unification capabilities, ⑥ proposing the establishment of a dialogue council between South and North Korean authorities, and ⑦ creating an 'International Korean Peninsula Forum' to garner international support for a free and unified Korea.

A Unification Vision that Lacks Proper Preparation

When the Yoon Suk-yeol administration took office in 2022, the Ministry of Unification announced plans to develop a new 'Unification Plan' by 2024, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the 'National Community Unification Formula.' In line with this, the 2023 Ministry of Unification's work plan included a schedule to announce a new 'Unification Vision' within the year, centered around the 'Unification Future Planning Committee,' composed of authoritative experts from various fields.

'The National Community Unification Formula' is the official unification plan of the South Korean government, established in 1994. Over the past 30 years since its announcement, there have been suggestions that it needs to be revised to align with the changing environment surrounding unification.

*'The National Community Unification Formula' presents independence, peace, and democracy as the fundamental principles that must be upheld in the pursuit of unification. Additionally, the plan outlines that the unification of the North and South should be approached progressively and in stages, aiming to build a single national community. The process of unification is set out in three stages: the Reconciliation and Cooperation Stage, the South-North Confederation Stage, and finally, the Completion of a Unified Nation Stage.

The so-called 'Unification Doctrine' that President Yoon presented in his Liberation Day speech was the result of two years of discussions. For this reason, I, too, had my own expectations for a new unification vision and eagerly awaited the speech. However, disappointingly, there was no new unification vision that would build upon and develop the 'National Community Unification Formula.'

For something that was supposedly prepared over two years, the result is far too inadequate. It is difficult to find any deep consideration of the changing unification environment, both domestically and internationally, or any contemplation of how to build upon and develop the 'National Community Unification Formula.' It lists policy tasks that seem like a summary of the Ministry of Unification's project plans. It seems hastily put together, without a properly prepared unification vision.

Insincere Dialogue Proposals and Divisive Rhetoric

According to the 2023 Unification Perception Survey conducted by Seoul National University's Institute for Peace and Unification Studies, only 43.8% of South Koreans believe that unification is necessary, the lowest figure on record. Conversely, 29.8% of respondents said that unification is not necessary, the highest figure recorded. Particularly among those in their 20s and 30s, the response that unification is not necessary exceeded those who said it is. This is likely due to the deteriorating perception of North Korea following its provocations, but it is also reasonable to attribute it to the South Korean government's hardline policy toward North Korea.

So far, the Yoon administration has maintained a hardline stance on North Korea. It has also failed to show any sincerity in its efforts to engage in dialogue with the North. This is why the president's proposals for dialogue and humanitarian aid in his Liberation Day speech seem hollow. If President Yoon were truly sincere about inter-Korean dialogue, he should have proposed forward-looking measures to restore trust, such as reviving the September 19th Military Agreement and halting loudspeaker broadcasts across the border.

What is even more regrettable is that President Yoon, while explaining his unification vision, mentioned 'fake news' and labeled those who oppose him as 'anti-freedom' and 'anti-unification' forces. It is questionable how much this aligns with the values of liberal democracy that President Yoon himself emphasizes when he dismisses differing opinions as 'fake news' and criticizes those who disagree with the government as 'anti-freedom' and 'anti-unification' forces.

What if the Yoon administration had created a forum for discussion from the outset, where political parties and social groups with different viewpoints could discuss a new unification plan together? Given that verifying each other's views through dialogue and exploring new alternatives through debate is the most basic process of democracy, the discussions and outcomes of this unification vision process are ultimately disappointing.

*IL-Young Jeong is a research professor at Sogang University in Seoul. His key research interests include North Korea's social control system, inter-Korean relations, and peace on the Korean Peninsula.