Fighting for a Voice Against the 'National Security Law'

“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” – Article 19, Universal Declaration of Human Rights

South Korea, famed for developing the world’s fastest broadband internet connection, made large strides in the early 1950’s to promote freedom of speech as an inherent aspect of its new democracy. However, especially in the 21^st century, the press situation has gradually come to reflect Korea’s internal turmoil as it struggles to avoid collision with the threats of North Korea’s capricious monarchy. In 1948, the passage of the National Security Law (NSL) attempted to protect South Korean government from Communist interference by banning all activity that promoted the spread of North Korea propaganda or criticized the South Korean government. If such a law had not been passed through the National Congress, it is likely that South Korean society would be under constant attack by the writings of Northern spies and left-wing enthusiasts. However, the relative peace of today’s democracy comes at the cost of free communication and “genuine exchange of ideas” between the people of North and South Korea. According to analysts including Paul Roderick Gregory, the Korean people hold the key to overthrowing the Northern regime and peacefully integrating the two adverse countries. With the threat of censure under the National Security Law though, bloggers, journalists, and the common people (over 84% of Koreans have access to 3G and wireless internet) are prevented from interacting sincerely with their Northern counterparts. Without the incentive for genuine communication, Koreans lack empathy for one another, and are trapped in a never-ending cycle of separation, misunderstanding, and ever-deepening schism. Current-president Park Geun-hye strongly advocates a unified and peaceful Korea; however, as long as the NSL continues to be enforced, I am not alone in my concerns as to the candor behind her declarations. Under the National Intelligence Service (NIS), the National Security Law has made a gimcrack of the accepted code on freedom of speech. As expressed by UN Watch Director Hillel C. Neuer, “The lifeblood of democracy is… the freedom of press.” The law’s broad application to all publications “praising, encouraging, or propagandizing” on behalf of North Korea has meant that it has been used to justify nearly all forms of media censorship. Yet the consequences of this act reach much farther than social media and online news sites.

Last fall, a member of the far-left United Progressive Party (UPP) was indicted for supporting “an insurrection against the South in the case of North Korean invasion.” The National Intelligence Service has arrested the lawmaker on scant evidence, and taken moves to disband his party, which was originally the third most-powerful body of the National Congress. It’s worth mentioning that the NIS’s actions were greeted by ambivalent responses; lawmakers in the majority and far-right approved and continue to support the security law as a necessary precaution against the dispersion of Communist ideals. However, this enforcing body may also be partaking in the very actions that the NSL was meant to prevent. According to prosecutions last June, the intelligence service planted numerous posts through social media denouncing the president’s far-left opponent as a North Korean sympathizer. I daresay that unless decisive actions are taken to limit the interpretation of the National Security Law, its abuse of human freedoms will cause the Korean political and social sectors to crumble from the inside. 

Frogs in a Well: Proliferation of Small Arms

From the desk of the Spain mission to the United Nations: speaking on the illegal spread of small arms/ light weapons, and ammunition. Though inevitably a dangerous addition to the growing culture of violence and warfare, small arms in the wrong hands can lead to increased cases of human rights abuse, domestic violence, terrorism, and organized crime. In nations such as Somalia or sub-Saharan Africa, it has even led to the culmination of child soldier troops. Take a look beyond the oppressive walls of your world view; how might these "mortal instruments" be viewed in the distinctive Iberian peninsula?

Disarmament and International Security Committee

Spain

Proliferation of Small Arms

The use of small arms, a practice clearly harmful to state security has become much more common throughout the world as an extension of the universal right to self-defense (United Nations Charter, Article 51). In sub-Saharan Africa, the lack of government military protection has forced populations to fall back on this inherent right and take up arms to form local militias; the large quantity of SALW (small arms and light weapons) circulating through towns in countries like Liberia, Somalia, and Sudan constitute only a small portion of the vast international arms trade. Much of the weaponry in circulation is sold by countries in central and Eastern Europe, which arm civilians, terrorists, and combatants alike to earn revenue from their Cold War SALW stockpiles. In Mexico, the wide availability, low cost, and easy concealment of small arms have prolonged the drug war indefinitely, arming drug trafficking gangs and causing over 10,000 civilian deaths in the span of two years. The international community is unable or unwilling to register each of the small arms in storage or manufactured today, leading to a world-wide culture of warfare that is slowly toppling the social order.

 The United Nations holds a policy of non-tolerance against small arms trade, as originally spelled out in the Charter of the United Nations (Article 26). In 2001, the General Assembly passed the Protocol Against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, their Parts and Components and Ammunition (55/255) when it convened for the Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. As the first international agreement addressing small arms, this protocol established the illegal manufacture of conventional weapons as a criminal offense. Additionally, it recognized the need for the marking and tracing of firearms in production. Through the approval of the Arms Trade Treaty (2012), the UN furthered its commitment to regulated trade by setting standards on cross-border checks of conventional weaponry, preventing the transfer of small arms for purposes including human rights abuse, organized crime, or violations of humanitarian law. Efforts to block the misuse and illegal handling of conventional weapons have been supported by the actions of NGOs, including the United Nations International Child Emergency Fund (UNICEF), International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), and the World Customs Organization. Several of these organizations have sent recommendations to the United Nations based on its Firearms Protocol, while UNICEF has also organized the International Action Network on Small Arms, a forum of over 300 NGOs gathered specifically to address the impact of small arms culture on youth.

As a member state of the European Union, Spain condemns the illegal arms trade to unstable countries, especially in the African Union. Despite being ranked from 2001-2008 as a major exporter of SALW and ammunition, Spain references its constant implementation of rigorous law enforcement as proof of its stance. Spain has consistently demonstrated its support of arms regulation through ratification of the UN Protocol on Firearms, and approval of the EU Joint Action Plan (2002/589/CFSP). Spain regards instability due to political conflicts to be the major cause for small arms demand in third world countries. Therefore, Spain implores the UN to develop a legally-binding international committee to monitor of sanctions on light weapons and the illicit trade of raw resources in Africa. This committee would also be tasked with the marking and tracing of all small arms involved in cross-border transfers,so that illegal weaponry is not flown into terrorism, organized crime, and dismantling of state structure. Spain also encourages the UN to take preventive action by providing the African Union and Latin America with the means for effective application of UN sanction regimes. While Spain recognizes the inherent right to bear arms, it proposes that by strengthening law enforcement in unstable nations, local militias will not feel as great a need for self-defense and stocks of SALW obtained from the cross-border smuggling. Spain realizes that countries in the European Union are among the largest suppliers of small arms to international demands, and strongly urges fulfillment of stockpile reduction policies. In addressing both supply and demand for small arms, Spain reiterates that an aggressive policy against small arms proliferation will benefit all United Nations member states, ushering in a world free of these hidden dangers to the social state.

Works Cited

United Nations Peacekeeping. “Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration.” Accessed on 9 June 2014. http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/issues/ddr.shtml

United Nations. Report of the United Nations Conference to Review Progress Made in the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects. General Assembly. Accessed on 8 June 2014. http://www.un.org/events/smallarms2006/pdf/rc.9-e.pdf

Programme of Action. “Firearms Protocol Background.” Accessed on 10 June 2014. http://www.poa-iss.org/FirearmsProtocol/FirearmsProtocol.aspx

United Nations Treaty Collection. “Chapter XVIII 12.c. Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition.” Accessed on 7 June 2014. https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XVIII-12-c&chapter=18&lang=en

Secretariat.  EU Strategy to combat illicit accumulation and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition. Council of the European Union. Accessed on 13 June 2014. http://register.consilium.europa.eu/doc/srv?l=EN&f=ST%205319%202006%20INIT

World Customs Organization. “Firearms / Explosives.” Accessed on 12 June 2014. http://www.wcoomd.org/en/topics/enforcement-and-compliance/activities-and-programmes/ep_firearms.aspx

Frogs in a Well: Revision of the NPT (Treaty on Nuclear Non-Proliferation)

Immediately following the nuclear arms race of the Cold War, the United Nations scrambled to establish a system for regulating the use of these dangerous arms. Though the treaty has been in effect for almost forty-five years, many countries including the US have yet to denuclearize their weapon stores, and nations such as North Korea have steadfastly ignored international pressure against their nuclear activity. (Currently, 4 out of 193 UN member states have not ratified the Treaty on Nuclear Non-proliferation*: Israel, Iran, Pakistan, and North Korea.) The treaty advocates peaceful uses for nuclear energy, but nuclear energy can easily be enriched for aggressive purposes, and several states have opted to become nuclear powers despite the clauses in the NPT. Why is this so pressing of an issue as diplomats claim? Take a look at the conflict from the Spanish point of view, a perspective most definitely outside of our viewing well.

*Nuclear non-proliferation: prevention of the spread of nuclear weapons and related technology, while promoting the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and encouraging nuclear disarmament (UN Office for Disarmament Affairs)

The United Nations General Assembly; the debating floor for all treaties such as the NPT.

Disarmament and International Security Committee

Spain

Revision of the NPT (Position Paper, Model United Nations)

            The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the United Nations’ sole authority for the prevention of international exchange of nuclear weapons, has failed to address the evolving threat of nuclear technology. The NPT was originally adopted in 1970, and sought to a) disarm the nuclear stockpiles from the Cold War, b) provide countries with access to unenriched uranium as an energy source, and c) prevent the proliferation of fissile material to groups with the potential for misuse. Due to its vague clauses encouraging “effective measures in the direction” of nuclear disarmament, the treaty has thus far not brought about successful denuclearization of nuclear states including the US and Russian Federation; additionally, changing international relations such as the 1969 secret agreement between Israel and the United States, and nuclear facilities in neighboring Iran have emboldened Israel’s undeclared pursuit of nuclear weapons. Under the current treaty, many states have sought nuclear energy for “peaceful purposes,” then developed the capability to illegally enrich fissile material into nuclear weapons, while simultaneously evading the scrutiny of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors. Four countries have withdrawn or not acceded to the NPT (Israel, Iran, Pakistan, North Korea), and their nuclear weapon capabilities drastically increase the potential for harm, especially if found in the hands of groups willing to commit crimes against humanity.

            The United Nations acknowledges the need for revision of the NPT, and has held a NPT Review Conference every five years since 1975. At its fifth session, the conference extended the treaty infinitely, and subsequent sessions have focused on fulfilling the treaty’s clause on weapons disarmament, peaceful nuclear energy use, and a “nuclear-weapons-free zone” in the Middle East. Nuclear-weapons-free zones, as declared in the Tlatelolco Treaty (A/6663), are regions where the possession, trade, and testing of nuclear weapons is banned, and can be found in all seven continents. To promote safe and effective use of nuclear energy, the International Atomic Energy Agency is tasked with periodic peer review of nuclear facilities of member states to the NPT, with the most recent Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) mission examining Pakistan’s Nuclear Regulatory Framework in April 2014. Steps toward international disarmament have been countered by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)’s policy of “nuclear sharing,” where member states of the organization use and store their nuclear weapons for the collective security of all NATO states. Communication between the United Nations and the network of non-governmental organizations concerning denuclearization and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons is coordinated by the NGO Committee on Disarmament, Peace and Security.

            Spain stresses that the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons is the most valuable means available for addressing nuclear proliferation and energy concerns. Spain has demonstrated its steadfast support of regulations regarding these matters through its accession of the NPT (1987), its numerous attempts to strengthen Spanish nuclear facility security measures, and its attendance at the G-8 Global Partnership against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction. As the former technology program coordinator at the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism, Spain has drafted a 1540 National Action Plan for the prevention of nuclear proliferation among terror groups, and strongly urges other member states of the NPT to take similar precautionary measures. Spain anticipates the preparatory conference for the NPT review session in 2015, and proposes that discussion focus on improving progress in the disarmament agenda. Spain advises that a separate conference is convened for the development of a non-nuclear Middle East, thereby setting the expectation for non-signatories to the NPT, and pressuring the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to abandon its ambitious nuclear program. Spain implores fellow member states of the NPT to support the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), to counter the relative ease with which nations today are able to develop nuclear weapons capabilities, and to constrain the development of a regional arms race similar to that of the Cold War. Spain is adamant in its belief that possession of nuclear weapons hinders mutual trust between countries, and declares the need for transparency in order to manifest a nuclear weapons-free zone, under the NPT, encompassing the entire world. 

WORKS CITED

US Department of State. “Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty.” Accessed 12 June 2014. http://www.state.gov/t/avc/c42328.htm

United Nations General Assembly. “Delayed Conference on Nuclear-Weapon-Free Middle East among Major Concerns.” Accessed 13 June 2014. http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2014/dc3487.doc.htm

La Moncloa. “Gonzalo de Benito attends 3^rd Nuclear Security Summit in The Hague.” Gobierno de Espana. 12 June 2014. http://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/idiomas/9/gobierno/news/2014/20140325_nuclear_security_summit.htm

International Atomic Energy Agency. “IAEA Mission Concludes Peer Review of Pakistan’s Nuclear Regulatory Framework.” 10 June 2014. http://www.iaea.org/newscenter/pressreleases/2014/prn201409.html

Miller, Marvin, Lawrence Scheinman et al. “Israel, India, and Pakistan: Engaging the Non-NPT States in the Nonproliferation Regime.” Arms Control Association. Accessed 12 June 2014. https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2003_12/MillerandScheinman

NGO Committee on Disarmament, Peace & Security. “NGO Committee on Disarmament, Peace, and Security.” Accessed 15 June 2014. http://disarm.igc.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=54

United Nations. Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Office for Disarmament Affairs. Accessed 9 June 2014. http://disarmament.un.org/treaties/t/npt/text

Frogs in a Well: China's Invisible Grip on Africa

As a quickly rising economy in today's US-dominated world, China is taking a radical approach in securing its international status. Veering away from the traditional European & western markets, the country has been steadily building up its influence in the African continent. According to Reuters, trade between the two regions was $166 billion USD in 2011, with two-way trade increasing by 30% every year for the past decade.Today, it is Africa's largest trading partner, having surpassed the US in 2009. But Sino-African relations do not end with commerce. Last month, Chinese Premier Li embarked on a tour in Africa, and offered $12 million USD in developmental loans to countries including Kenya, Nigeria, and Ethiopia. Additionally, he presented thousands of dollars to fund new infrastructure projects in the continent, including a high-speed railway in Nairobi. Considering African leaders' constant insistence that relations with China are not "a one-way street," what is China receiving from this partnership?

African exports of natural resources are almost entirely directed toward China.

Simply put: oil & new markets. Oil demands in China, needed to fuel its perpetually growing industry, are incredible, and the nation is able to meet many of these requirements through its advantageous relations with African countries. One-third of African raw materials(iron ore, coal, timber) are exported to China, according to Africa Renewal magazine. Cities such as Johannesburg or Cairo are also benefiting from the influx of cheap goods from the far-off nation. For its active role in the continent, Chinese influences can be seen in nearly every aspect of African society. Take for instance Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International airport, the African Union's sleek new headquarters (located in Ethiopia), or the Chinese merchants' brief stint at textile sales. (The low cost of Chinese textiles provoked a crash in local industries, prompting the Tanzanian government to ban Chinese companies from directly interfering within the country.) To accommodate for this foreign presence, many countries have begun incorporating Mandarin in their education curriculum (such as this South African school), and broadcasts from China Radio International & Xinhua News can be heard on all stations, offering positive reinforcements of current Sino-African ties and the Chinese government views. President Obama has responded to China's encroaching presence with the development of programs such as "Power Africa" (funding electric generation) and "Trade Africa" (increase US exports), but the lack of incentive and real action has aroused great suspicion on whether the government is sincere in its efforts.

The African Union headquarters at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The plaque is inscribed in both Mandarin & English, and designates the facility as a gift from the Chinese government.

What does this mean for the rest of the world? By capturing a new market in which most other countries were unable or uninterested in investing, China now has the means and allies to expand its markets and cultural presence. With many young students in South Africa studying Chinese at school, walking past China-funded infrastructure, and constantly learning the Chinese government's stance on such controversial issues as the Tibetan revolts, or its ruling Communist party, we may be looking at a generation of African youth growing up in a cocoon of Chinese influence. Having been surrounded by this reinforcement of Chinese political beliefs, perhaps these students will someday serve to strengthen China's voice in diplomatic proceedings, especially with its neighbors Korea and Japan. Whether or not this will put other world powers at a disadvantage in international gatherings such as the United Nations, we have yet to see. In the words of G. John Ikenberry, "The rise of China will undoubtedly be one of the greatest dramas of the twenty-first century."

The "Gyo-Po": What Facebook Taught Me about Myself

Social media is a mysterious entity. And riding at the crest of this mania is Generation I- a generation of youth that are smarter, quicker, and more interconnected than ever before. Due to such advancements, many adults complain of the public aspect of the network, allowing any to easily breach your privacy on the grounds of social networking. While such risks are undeniably present, the internet has also given the new generation a chance to build a stronger sense of identity, and an awareness of the person behind the computer mouse.

I recently had the opportunity to create a Facebook account (at the constant insistence of my friends), and one of the first pages that popped up contained instructions for creating a personal profile. Based on your motives for creating an account, you could insert anything from family, education, life events, favorite movies, etc. The possibilities were endless, but as I hovered over the first blank, I realized that this was a much bigger decision than I had expected. Millions of internet users around the world would be able to examine and judge the person I breathed life into, purely based off of the info in my profile. So I was forced to contemplate, 'Who is June Lee, or rather, what about her is worthy of posting on Facebook?'

As I pondered the millions of paths my choice of self-description could lead to, I realized that my identity lay not in my hobbies, but in my family roots. I immigrated to the United States with my parents at 18 months old from Seoul, Korea, and while I do not have many recollections of living in Korea, my parents convinced me that only a sense of identity and pride can define a true Korean. While many "gyo-po children" (Koreans living on foreign soil) arriving around this age took on new names and lifestyles modeled after the "Yankee culture," my parents believed firmly that my brother and I could lead a revolution of Korean-Americans equally rooted in two cultures.

Before our move, America had been but a name referenced in my parents' conversations, but immediately after arriving in sunny California, we were immersed fully into the "American Dream." For every new venture that expanded our involvement in American society, a similar one in Korean was sure to follow. Some of my earliest memories of preschool involve working through mini-homework packets in two different languages, one for school, and one for Saturday Korean School, where I graduated this past year. As my interest in writing and public speech grew into a passion, I would never have imagined entering only English tournaments. From essay competitions, district speech contests, to competitive academic summer programs, my life revolved around two different cultures that merged and intertwined until the distinction between them blurred, forming a single heritage unique to our family. As I grew older, the expectation that I would retain an equally American and Korean identity developed until I was expected not only to feel pride in my dual identity, but to become an ambassador for both nations to my peers. Soon, I began giving presentations to my school classmates about aspects of Korean culture in the US. After listening to a lecture given by the Korean Consul General to San Francisco, I was inspired to start my own blog, "The Korea Book," and research the future of inter-Korean relations, in addition to setting the goal of working in the foreign service to increase the US's role in East Asian security. Whether it was flying across the World Championship tournament arena in a crisp white Taekwon-do uniform, or eventually starting my own student-led cultural fairs, there was never a moment in my childhood where I felt far from the heritages my lifestyle represented.

As I reflected on the process that had led to my Facebook-induced self discoveries, I realized 'who you are' comes not just from your preferences for favorite food/ movies/ books, but also the cultural environment that envelopes you through childhood. If we had never moved to the United States, I would probably be blind to everything but schoolwork and study, much less exposed to the diversity of the Silicon Valley, and nowhere near as determined to one day become the US ambassador to Korea. For now though, my blank Facebook profile beckons.

Frogs in a Well: The Sewol Ferry Accident

On the morning of August 16th, 2014, the Sewol ferry sank in a routine trip from the Republic of Korea's southern coast. The vessel was en route to the popular vacation island "Jeju" (a 13.5 hour trip), and was carrying 325 students from Danwon High School on an annual science field trip. The responsible ship company, Sewol's crew, and the Korean government have all faced harsh criticism for poor response to the disaster. But eighteen days following the accident, with little chance of saving the 300 lost passengers and victims, it's time we step away from the 'blame game,' and focus on providing for the affected families and comforting a mourning nation. How has this one tragedy affected parties across the world?

Memorial messages stretch across the gates of Danwon High School. In the aftermath of the accident, many high-profile concerts and events have been cancelled out of respect for the mourning families.

Foreign journalists/ media: Through reports in English news sources such as the LA Times, Reuters, and CNN, journalists have taken this chance to question Korean culture, blaming Confucianism's focus on "obedience to authority" for the high number of student deaths. According to the Dallas Morning News, "If that was a boatload of American students, you know they would have been finding any and every way to get off that ferry. But in Asian cultures…compliance is de rigueur." The fact that the captain and several crew members were the first to exit the sinking vessel has raised several eyebrows, especially as it immediately followed an announcement for passengers to remain in their seats. Many news sources have taken to this theme of "culture blaming" with enthusiasm, but this spirit of stereotyping only places the blame on the actions and beliefs of the victims and their families, the last parties we should accuse in the face of such a tragedy.

Chonghaejin Marine Company: The owner of the responsible shipping company, Mr. Yoo Byung-Un, has come under especial scrutiny for a questionable past. Financial difficulties aside, the CEO of this business is also the head of the Evangelical Baptist Church of Korea, making the family-led marine company a largely religious and private organization. Furthermore, evidence has been uncovered that Mr. Yoo supported the education and employment of several proteges over the past decades to high positions in companies beneficial to his own. It is believed that the Chonghaejin Co. has been able to slide by safety regulation tests due to such favorable connections. These favorable links are no where to be seen though, as the captain and numerous members of the Sewol crew, all employees of Chonghaejin, are currently under arrest and facing charges of murder.

Note from North Korea: In response to this unheard-of disaster, both sentiments of sympathy and tightening of ship safety checks have increased across the globe. Even South Korea's northern neighbor offered a surprising word of condolence. News on the message arrived via the South Korean Red Cross association president: The message expressed deep sympathy as regards the sinking of the ferry “Sewol” in the waters off Jin Island, South Jolla Province on April 16 claiming many casualties including young schoolchildren and leaving many persons missing.

The families of Sewol passengers await news on their loved ones near the port.

Different Voices of Korea

"Poetry is an act of peace." - Pablo Neruda

"The Hermit Kingdom" The Forgotten War De-militarized Zone. Korea's recent history, though embroiled in strife and pain, is largely unknown, forgotten, or ignored by the international community. The following poems highlight the bitter sentiment of Koreans (and people of any other country) through a period of continuous war, and the reality of youth growing up near the 38th parallel. In either case, an entire nation's emotions can be viewed through the depiction of a single cultural object and the commentary of a unique individual. As you scroll first through the following scenes from present-day Korea, take a moment to reflect on the struggle and determination it took to build-up the nation to its status today.

Major international companies originating in the ROK. Hyundai is the world's top ship-building company and a car manufacturer, while last year, Samsung was ranked 5th internationally in International Technology brands.

Exhibit 8.15

A pair of straw shoes hangs in the museum

Its seams are torn,

woven soles near thread-bare

Once upon a time, these shoes were a child’s pride and joy.

When he first put them on, the straw was sturdy and snug

the walls braided skillfully by a craftsman

They carried the boy through his joyful youth,

exploring the Korean mountainside, racing in the dirt path between rice fields

But one day, the boy was called off to war.

He marched to the beat of the Righteous army,

his childhood left behind in the trailing dust

The sandals guided him through smoky fields, between moaning bodies

speckled by flecks of blood from the Red Sun.

other soldiers would laugh at his worn soles

but the supple straw carried him where most steel boots could not

back to the familiar dirt roads, and the warmth of family reunion.

It was peacetime now, or so the news blared

every day, the man stood at the gate, listening to the echo of steel boots in rhythm

he longed for the rush of battle

the thrill of holding a gun, firing for one’s country

Without a word to anyone, he re-enlisted

and the last the straw shoes ever saw of him

was the glint of sunlight on his shiny steel-toed boots

But the shoes never forgot

what dying men sound like

the sight of countless boots, lined up and ownerless

and though it occupies the museum’s stand of honor

the shoes are in eternal mourning,

for the peaceful farm days

when war was but a dream

The Opposite Bank

Every day, I walk

Surveying the bank along the river

Where the water laps at the stones lining its shore

In this alcove, I find security

The violence and pain surrounding life cannot find me here

Or so I was told

On the other side of the Han* River

Is a land where ‘safety’ has no meaning

No one ever walks along those shores

Except with gunfire at their backs, fleeing with their lives in their hands

The river tries to help them

With quick flowing fingers, it pulls them across

Tugging them away from the ‘pinging’ of bullets

Sometimes they make it

And Mother will hurry to clear a spot by the fireplace

But other times, my river takes them into his arms

And envelopes their pain in his soothing current

The same shiny pebbles that line my side of the river

Stretch across the opposite bank

On good days, I can see the reflected sunlight winking from their smooth surfaces

And I imagine another child is standing

In the land that produces shivering souls and whistling bullets

Staring at my own land

Wondering, what lies on the opposite bank

(*The river that marks the boundary between Korea’s North & South)