Korea looks to Germany for insight
Defectors can aid in preparations
Mar 24,2014
To realize the unification of two Germanys, politicians in West Germany made bipartisan efforts to maintain an integrated and consistent position that transcended what they stood to gain politically, despite how strong their feelings may have been to the contrary.
Previously, conservatives and liberals stood on opposites sides of a sharp divide and were conflicted over policy-making on the issue. The Christian Democrats (CDU) of West Germany held a strict position of combating the Communist East, while the Social Democrats(SPD) supported close cooperation and reconciliation with the East, Poland and the Soviet bloc.
In 1969, Willy Brandt, the leader of the SPD at the time, began to implement a policy of Ostpolitik, which emphasized rapprochement with East Germany and other Soviet countries. While the CDU was traditionally strongly opposed to reunification, its leaders eventually shifted in their reluctance, increasing their acceptance of some SPD reforms over time while also appearing to adapt some CDU convictions with SPD ideology.
Since then, Germany has maintained its stance on unification policy, regardless of which party has been in the majority.
And analysts in Seoul point out that South Korea should also make bipartisan efforts to implement a consistent policy on unification.
Former presidents have historically refused the policies of their conservative or liberal predecessors when it comes to North-South integration, proposing new or revised frameworks instead. Although there were two inter-Korean summits in 2000 and 2007, in which the two sides declared to work toward overcoming ideological differences and establishing permanent peace, the implementation of the agreements resulting from those talks have remained at the center of a fierce debate between the ruling Saenuri Party and the main opposition.
“Although it is important that the current administration makes achievements in inter-Korean relations, we need to meet the goal of setting up an integrated unification policy that can be inherited to the next generation,” said Chon Hyun-joon, the head of the Northeast Asia Peace and Cooperation Institute.
“For this, the presidential preparatory committee for unification should embrace analysts beyond their age and ideology, and allow them to have enough discussions for a policy that all people can accept,” he said. “However, it would take time.”
Former Unification Minister Jeong Se-hyun added that a long-term vision was also necessary.
“We need a strategist who has a keen sense of foresight into the future and who also is a realist, like former German Prime Minister Konrad Adenauer or Willy Brandt,” he said.
Even though there would likely be ideological differences between the ruling and opposition parties in dealing with North Korean affairs, said Chin Hee-gwan, a unification studies professor at Inje University, a policy for unification cannot be a matter of political squabbling or discord.
“Just like the two Germanys persuaded the public to agree on unification with the goal of unification for the entire European continent, we need a big goal - peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia - and take steps toward that.”
