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ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
Impact of Corean Unification
t's been over a decade since the Iron Curtain came crashing down in Europe. The Bamboo Curtain is little more than a quaint phrase. Yet the Cold War remains very much alive on the Corean peninsula.
Across a 186-mile DMZ glare opposing armies collectively totaling 1.7 million. By all reckoning the Pyongyang regime should have become ideological roadkill following the collapse of communism. Instead, it remains an impregnable roadblock to the economic integration of East Asia, the world's fastest-growing region.
How can an economic nonentity be such a roadblock?
Consider its location at what should have been the crossroads of East Asia. With 56% of the peninsula's land mass, North Corea separates on one side the world's greatest market and labor pool (China) and the biggest reserve of natural resources (Sibera) from, on the other, two of the world's leading technological and manufacturing nations (Japan and South Corea).
But for Pyongyang's intransigence Seoul would already be linked by railroads and superhighways to Beijing, Moscow, Berlin, Paris and London. All those cities would also be linked to Tokyo via a bridge across the 126-mile strait dividing Shimonoseki from Pusan. The savings in shipping cost and time alone could amount to tens of billions of dollars a year. Such a trans-Eurasian land link would accelerate the cultural and economic integration of not only East Asia, but the world. In the process, the Corean peninsula would shed the burden of financing the world's most heavily fortified frontier and become the center of the global economy.
That's the vision dancing before the eyes of farsighted statesmen and business leaders pushing for the political leaps of faith needed to keep Pyongyang taking its unsteady baby steps toward opening North Corea.
But skeptics and pessimists abound. Even a loose confederation with the North would only burden and destabilize South Corea's economy and political system, they argue. For decades to come the impact on the global economy would be entirely negative as investors and customers begin shunning the uncertainties, denying capital and trading partners to hundreds of world-class Corean manufacturers. The ultimate result, argue the naysayers, would be to throw a monkey wrench into an alignment that has allowed three decades of strong growth for East Asia.
What is the likely impact of Corean unification?
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WHAT YOU SAY
[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]
(Updated
Wednesday, Jan 22, 2025, 06:38:55 AM)
Kimche
I am glad that you have sense of humor at least.
I like to see the full flowering of Korean might in our time...I say 'bout 15 to 25 years after beginning of full normalization process. But I hope the Koreans tame some of thier "uber culturalism" (hehehe that's a new one, bows bows...) by then...it not becoming of their ambition.
nyhoeboy
Monday, September 16, 2002 at 20:33:10 (PDT)
[24.90.59.127]
NYhumby,
>>"...it'll keep excess-testosteroned males like kimchae d'evil out of policy making..."<<
That was uncalled for! Are you saying I should go into the porn business? Very well then, LoL. schwing!
I have a better idea, why not stop abortions in corea, hence stopping the selective abortions of girls, thus resulting in a more balanced male/female ratio, to be reflected in the mindset of the elected gov't. Society's problems solved. You're welcome. Now, would this make me a right-wing-nut or a feminist?
Besides, I kinda prefer women supervisors, they tend not to acknowledge a guy's skills as much and aren't as competitive, but are at least fair and play by the rules. Not to mention, much more pleasant to be around ;-) Ouch, don't hit me!! LoL.
Women might be more appropriate for domestic policies (most definately), but for foreign policies, no way! Not interested in seeing corea gettin' jerked around, or kissing another country's arse, or sweat-talked into getting less, EVER. And get that asshole John Wayne army out of mine country, dammit. RAUS!! hehe.
kimchi d'evil
Sunday, September 15, 2002 at 13:52:25 (PDT)
[205.188.208.5]
NK is basically a born handicapped person who is also starving to death.
1. The longer a handicapped person is left alone, the harder it will be to correct them, sort of like...the longer you leave a tree crooked, the harder it will to make it straight.
2. They are staving and dying. No one makes any one to give charity. If SK people and govermnet policies are solely to be based on quid pro quo or short term gains, then I think they are wrong, and the price will be higher in the long run.
The problem don't go away by ignoring it. NK is the next door beggar-neighbour, they will not go away - sooner they are helped - both economically and by psychological decompression, the better for all.
korean man,
Yes, its hurts to re-graft an arm back on, maybe you have to even rest awhile to recover (i.e. loose a little in economic gains) - but that's no reason to postpone it. If SK has done what it has done with one arm, think of what it could do with two arms - after it recuperates.
> Assign at least 50% seats of whole politicians for women before men dominating mind set are all removed from this society.
I agree, this is a possible solution, it'll keep excess-testosteroned males like kimchae d'evil out of policy making but into wealth creation.
NYhmby
Friday, September 13, 2002 at 20:02:45 (PDT)
[24.90.59.127]
holmbouy,
North Corea's problem is beyond any kind of hand out or help. Yup, they've truely earned the title "Hermit Kingdom" from the Corea of old. Sometimes I'd just wish S. Corea would just bribe their leaders to leave (I don't care how many billions it costs). Send them to Tibet where they can just live out their damn lives without causing any more harm. I'm afraid this is not possible with that goddamn John Wayne army located in the South. This is where Russia and China would be prove to be more useful in bringing about unification than the US. The US is just not trustworthy from North Corea's point of view, and mine, hehehe ;-) And only by providing asylum to North Corea's leadership will there be a unification without bloodshed.
I'm generally not a reparationist, but if angry coreans work harder to achieve their goals and dreams than not-so-angry coreans, then by all means they should continue to be angry, LoL.
kïmchae d'evil
Thursday, September 12, 2002 at 07:50:58 (PDT)
[152.163.188.228]
It is too premature to deal with korean unification at this time.
Both sides have very serious problems.
They are not related to financial or political but just about people's consciousness.
You know what i meant?
The most serious problem from current south korea is "the pretty shallow capitalism". Yes the cheapest mind set from very quick economy growth in the past 30 years. they couldn't have time to care for their sophisticated and matured mind set.
The upper class south koreans are the most corruptive people in the world.
Look at the south korean politicians-They are almost tax evaders and illegally exempted from military service.
And over 80% of their kids are following the same routes with their fathers!!! Such trashes!!
You really think they are meant to lead korean people?? absolutely not!
It is very pity that I pay tax for those silly people.
and middle class south koreans are not matured too.
They try to use all means to get into upper class and look down lower class very much -so silly.
But you know that korea is still very stiff society in terms of moving social status.
From the richer family the more possibilities to inherit the higher social status from their parents.
And the parents only teach their children how to get rich or how to suppress others in competition.
Therefore there is no education for caring or fairness for social minorities.
Very little facility for handicapped people,unmarried mom,orphan children.
and still many korean men stick on very old fashoned gender discrimination belief. (even though it is getting changed in modern generation,still far from completion)
So you want to hear my soution for that?
We need to import very strict legalism from Singapore.
Yeah and we need to enact laws against corruptive people who are speread in all south korean society.
Assign at least 50% seats of whole politicians for women before men dominating mind set are all removed from this society.
Well the problems are all harsh in modern korean society.
we didn't have time to reflect ourselves.
but like we succesfully went out from the poverty in the past 30 years,we can make them out but would be difficult but we still have ability!
because we are the people who survived from several wars by invaders in history. i heard the whole number of the wars that happened in korean peninsula in history is over tens of thousands! countless!!
but we survived and now proudly maintain an independent nation.
with just 42 mil people,we are not doing terribly in international society.
but still far away from the level of what we are pleased and other countries acknowledge korea.
German unification in 1990?
guys ,they were totally different from the situation of korea.
West Germany was the most well developed economical country.
South Korea?? well it is doing just ok but not that great level of west germany in 1990.South Korea is still developing country. not developed level yet. OECD membership and such big enterprises are just a little part of representative south korea.
always look at the low class people.
excessive comparion!!
Comparion between east germany and north korea??
oh that is also excessive.
East germany was the most well advanced and economically secure communism country.
Plus they had lots of social contact before unification.
But rare social contact in korean peninsula for seperated familes.
So it is too excessive comparion to put korean unification into german case.
in next coming post-i will say about the most serious problems in North Korea.
korean man
Thursday, September 12, 2002 at 04:05:03 (PDT)
[210.220.73.20]
>> It would be awfully convenient for wrong-doers in the world if nobody dwelled on the past. Is this not true?
For example?
NK demanding (for past few decades) reparations from Japan before beginning of normalization. Are they better off now, or should they have taken what they could have got decades ago (i.e. eat crow) and addressed it later or none at all?
NYhmeboy
Wednesday, September 11, 2002 at 06:41:25 (PDT)
[24.90.59.127]
The unification would be very very nice. For the first time in history, China, Japan and Korea could pull together. The wealth creation possibilities would be awesome and closer to par with northern European.
NYhmboy
Tuesday, September 10, 2002 at 21:26:51 (PDT)
[24.90.59.127]
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