During Hyundai Group Chief Hyun Jeong-eun’s recent visit to North Korea, South and North agreed to hold reunions of family members separated by the Korean War. The result of Hyun’s visit could provide a new breakthrough in South-North relations. Hyun returned to Seoul on Sunday after a weeklong visit to North Korea where she succeeded in securing the release if Hyundai Asan worker Yu Seong-jin. Yu had been detained in North for over four months. Hyun also met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and the two agreed on five issues regarding South Korean projects in North Korea. According to the joint press release, tours to Mt. Geumgang which had been halted temporarily following the shooting death of tourist Park Wang-ja by a North Korean soldier, will resume; the restrictions on South Koreans crossing the Military Demarcation Line on land will be lifted; tours to Gaeseong will resume and business in the Gaeseong industrial complex will be reinvigorated; and the reunions of separated families will be arranged at Mt. Geumgang on Chuseok, which is Korea’s thanksgiving holiday. The South Korean government has also agreed to proceed with the initiatives. That’s why some think that Hyundai chief Hyun may have been, in fact, a special envoy sent by Seoul to bridge the ruptured relationship between South and North Korea. Professor Yang Mu-jin from Gyeongnam University’s department of North Korean issues explains the result of Hyun’s recent visit to the North.

The result shows the strong tie and mutual trust between North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and Hyundai, which was proved through the joint press release. The meeting between Kim Jong-il and Hyundai chief Hyun Jeong-eun was to confirm Kim’s thoughts on the resumption of Hyundai’s businesses in North Korea. We must think of Hyun’s role from two perspectives. Regarding Yu Seong-jin’s release, she can be considered as a special envoy sent by the government because she must have in some way collaborated with the government prior to her visit. But she must have worked simply as a businesswoman when she reached the five agreements with North Korea, unless she really discussed the matter with the government before her visit.

The Hyundai chief was able to reach the agreements with the North by extending her stay in Pongyang five times. Since the suspension of tours to Mt. Geumgang, Hyundai Asan has been under great financial difficulty. So the company was desperate to hold the meeting with Kim Jong-il. Hyun’s strong will to break through the hopeless situation is believed to have contributed to turning the South-North relationship around. Amid Hyun’s visit to Pongyang, President Lee Myung-bak proposed a new vision of peace for the Korean Peninsula through his Liberation Speech on August 15. He promised great financial support to boost the North Korean economy.

Professor Yang also stressed the need to take notice of the president’s speech regarding the North’s denuclearization as well as his proposal to cut conventional arsenals and troops through inter-Korean talks.

President Lee’s remark on his willingness to hold high official inter-Korean talks in order to build an economic community across the border and to cut conventional arsenals and troops to ensure peace on the Korean peninsula is a very positive statement worthy of notice. Until now, the South Korean government has insisted on building trust between the two Koreas before reducing arms, but this time we can see the change in the government’s attitude as it suggested an arms cut prior to building trust. I think these changes are positive and meaningful.

Some speculate that the recent developments could help improve the inter-Korean relationship that has been deadlocked for more than a year and a half. North Korea had been taking a provocative approach, risking further isolation and more sanctions, but has replaced its former policy with peaceful diplomacy by presenting “gifts” since August. North Korean experts say that North Korea is reorganizing its strategy. In particular, when North Korean leader Kim Jong-il met with former U.S. President Bill Clinton, North Korea emphasized the need for dialogue in addressing North-U.S. issues. A change is also occurring in their South Korean policy.

Two American journalists were freed through former U.S. President Bill Clinton’s visit to North Korea, and Korean worker Yu Seong-jin was released through Hyun Jeong-eun’s recent visit to North. In particular, the five agreements reached between Hyundai Group and North Korea’s Asia-Pacific Peace Committee will in a way break the ice between the two Koreas. In order to improve the inter-Korean relationship, the will of both Koreas is important to consider, as well as the world situation surrounding the Korean Peninsula. If the North’s recent agreement with Hyundai was made in response to President Lee’s new peace plan, the two Koreas can expand the consensus through high official meetings and working-level talks.

Therefore, the South Korean government’s role is very important for improving the inter-Korean relationship. Since North Korea has tossed the ball into the South’s court through the Hyundai Group, the government’s next step will become the decisive factor in whether inter-Korean relationship improves or continues to disintegrate. In particular, the agreements reached between Hyundai Group and North Korea’s Asia-Pacific Peace Committee require further arrangement between the two Koreas. Whether both sides’ next move will serve as a breakthrough for improving inter-Korean relationship or turn into a mix of controversial issues depends on the follow-up measures of both countries.

I think South Korea, which has greater national power than North Korea, should first show flexibility. The government should adopt different strategies toward North Korean issues. While the North’s nuclear issue could be solved through close international cooperation, the issues related to separated families and businesses in the North can be solved through inter-Korean talks. Therefore, if we change the previous notion and understand that improving the inter-Korean relationship first can eventually lead to the North’s denuclearization, peace on the peninsula will be established in no time. But if South Korea insists on North Korea’s denuclearization first and North Korea continues to insist on the implementation of the 6.15 and 10.4 agreements first, we won’t likely see any improvement in the inter-Korean relationship.

Now is the chance for a turnaround in the confrontational relationship between the two Koreas. The government should ensure the agreements made between North Korea and Hyundai are carried out smoothly, so that they can eventually serve as a stepping stone for solving the North’s nuclear issue. It’s necessary to develop a new policy for a positive inter-Korean relationship.


[Interview] North Korean Defectors Open “Happiness-Sharing Restaurant”
North Korean defector Han Chang-kwon begins his day at Garak Agro-Fishery Wholesale Market where, on July 30th, he opened an eatery called “Happiness-Sharing Restaurant” with other North Korean defectors. Although it looks like a regular restaurant, it’s actually a resettlement community for North Korean defectors. Han is the representative of the restaurant.

We opened this restaurant to help North Korean defectors who have hard time settling into South Korean society. Some 70-to-80 percent of them are jobless or work in the so-called 3D industry. We wanted to work and make money to improve the living condition, so we opened this place called “Happiness-Sharing Restaurant.” Sharing is happiness, don’t you think? By sharing with others one can feel happiness.

Here, some 12 North Korean defectors are running the restaurant as well as a factory making food for lunchboxes and side dishes. They not only take orders from schools, churches, companies and more but also offer free lunch for the homeless. And all the items served at the restaurant are only 3-thousand won because the merchants selling farm and marine products at the Garak Agro-Fishery Wholesale Market offer the ingredients for free. Housewife Kim Soon-ae who has been volunteering for North Korean defectors helped set up the restaurant.

I’m not really wealthy enough to offer this place, but I wanted to share warmth with the North Korean defectors. I thought just offering a venue would be enough, but there are so many issues that have to be taken care of until they settle down properly to run the restaurant. So, I still work here to help them with various matters. Hopefully, they settle well and set a model for other North Korean defectors.

The restaurant is established in the form of a state-supported factory for neglected people. The North Korean defectors receive a base salary of 800-thousand won from the Ministry of Labor. The financial support usually continues for the first six months but can be extended to three years, depending on the prospect of the business. So, this venue is a welcome solution for North Korean defectors who have been looking for a stable job.

- I used to work at an office before I came to work here. But the firm went bankrupt due to financial difficulty. This is a very good firm. We can share with needy people and we also have the opportunity to start a business. I’ve worked in many places before, but it’s important to have co-workers with whom you can share same thoughts. So, here I’m having fun and feel like I can have a dream.
- We feel happy to work when we want to, but not when we are told to. I tried to emulate what others did here and I found it interesting. And I felt proud, too, for doing something worthwhile in South Korea.

Since they have just started running the restaurant, there are many issues that need to be taken care of, such as delivery and restaurant management. Since the wholesale market is closed on the weekend, Han Chang-kwon hopes to open a bazaar-like open market and spend the proceeds to help North Korean defectors and needy people. If the restaurant is successful, he plans to open chain stores nationwide and expand the spirit of sharing. When he talks about his future plan, his voice is full of hope and passion.

If this business prospers, we will take this as a model and open more chain stores to help many North Korean defectors who have hard time adjusting to the Korean society. We will open chain stores in Incheon, Bucheon, Anyang, Ansan and so on. Then other North Korean defectors can work in the same way we do and also volunteer to share with people in need. We are going to do a lot of advertising.

The North Korean defectors at “Happiness-Sharing Restaurant” are striving to become independent and also share genuine happiness by helping neighbors who are in need. Hopefully, this venue continues to serve as a starting point for many North Korean defectors hoping to settle down in South Korea.