Lessons Of Transformation For Korean Unification

Twenty-five years have passed since the system transformation initiated from Central and Eastern Europe in 1989. Since then, studies of social science have focused more on the external phenomenon that caused the collapse of the socialist system. Immediately after building the system, much attention was centered around the ‘revolution of a society and the establishment of the system,’ until it was replaced by the ‘maintenance of the system.’ The disintegrated socialist system was a part of living mechanism that was introduced to manage human societies in the former Soviet Union, including Central and Eastern European countries. The living mechanism has endured in a collective manner through diverse organically-connected fields. Therefore, the theories of socialist system is to simultaneously analyze the political, economic, and socio‐cultural transformations by taking this organic living mechanism into consideration. In addition, this analysis is subject to be established based on a generalized perspective which is commonly drawn from various examples regarding the system transformation. Upon these studies, we have continued on the analysis of the costs and benefits of Korean Unification which was launched in 2011. In this year’s research, we decided to view lessons from the system transformation and integration of the countries that had already undergone similar processes. Scholars from seven different countries were asked to submit papers on the analysis of system transformation or integration on their countries as well as the implications on the unification process of the Korean peninsula. Various implications, concerning Korean unification, are suggested by each scholar. In Poland’s perspective, seeking consensual relations with major powers in the Northeastern Asia seems to be an encouragement of the unification process. Polish case indicates that in the unified Korea, some major economic efforts must be undertaken to lift out the North Korean population from poverty. Romanian scholar mentioned mainly about how the economy should be transformed and how the North Korean totalitarian managements should be dealt with after the unification. Czech and Slovenia pointed out that the biggest obstacle in their system transformation was the ‘socialist way of thinking’ which had been indoctrinated into the population so that Korean must take it into consideration. Ukraine and Kazakhstan cases suggest that South Korea has to take a great caution not to make radical economic reforms in the Northern part of the unified nation which could lead to an anti-unification sentiment among the North Koreans. Irish case puts emphasis on the normalization of relations between North and South Korea, which is not likely to be accomplished in a short period of time. Vietnamese case presents meaningful implications and suggestions on the possible economic reforms in North Korea. Finally, the last part of this book includes suggestions on South Korea’s policy toward North Korea, as well as the South’s foreign policy during the whole process of Korean unification. Some typical points that should not be overlooked are as follows. First, South Korea needs to keep an eye on the North Korean scholars in case of a precocious achievement of reformation, open-door policy, or unification. Second, the South Korean government should persuade the advocates of reform and open-door policy in North Korea to stand independently and gain the majority of parliamentary seats, or join negotiations for unification. Third, South Korea needs to urge the North to undertake a gradual economic reform rather than a radical one when those who favor the reformation and open-door policy seize the power of the country. Fourth, the prompt dissolution of North Korea’s Supreme People’s Assembly is prerequisite for unification of Korea, for it can be an obstacle in the process of North Korea’s system transformation. Keywords: Polish, Romanian, Czech, Slovenia, Ukrainian, Kazakhstan, Irish, Vietnamese, Transformation, Integration ------------- CONTENTS ------------- Abstract Ⅰ. INTRODUCTION Ⅱ. CASES OF TRANSFORMATION AND INTEGRATION 1. The Polish Case 2. The Romanian Case 3. The Czech and the Slovenia Case 4. The Ukrainian Case 5. The Kazakhstan Case 6. The Irish Case 7. The Vietnamese Case Ⅲ. ANALYSIS OF TRANSFORMATION AND INTEGRATION PROCESS 1. Theoretical Types 2. Distinctive Features Ⅳ. CONCLUSION References Recent Publications

"Human rights and the protection of refugees is not a concern of left or right, or of the US only; it is an issue of importance to all Koreans, and indeed all countries. Haggard and Noland provide compelling evidence of the ongoing transformation of North Korean society and offer thoughtful proposals as to how the outside world might facilitate peaceful evolution."--Yoon Young-kwan, former Foreign Minister, Rob Moo-byun government --Book Jacket

Constitutional Handbook on Korean Unification(I): Introduction Constitutional Handbook on Korean Unification(II): Political and Social Issues Constitutional Handbook on Korean Unification(III): Law Issues Constitutional Handbook on Korean Unification(IV): Economic Issues

Mention North Korea to people today and they will conjure up many unflattering images, particularly in the wake of George W. Bush denouncing the state as part of an "axis of evil". Despite this cold war type rhetoric, the state of North Korea has begun to recognise the difficult challenges that it faces and is now trying to get to grips with them systematically. This book brings together a selection of many of the world experts on the North Korean economy and covers such important issues as: *possible unification with South Korea *the significance of China's economic success *Europe and the United States' roles in North Korea North Korea in the World Economy provides an accessible, well-written and comprehensive account of this unique country and its economy. It will be extremely interesting not only for students and academics with an interest in Korean studies, international finance and transition economies but also for anyone with an interest in international economics.

With the coming of so-called G2 era, guaranteeing cooperation with China is a rising strategic task when it comes to the North Korean problem and Korean reunification. There is a clear limit, however, in guaranteeing Chinese cooperation due to the Republic of Korea (ROK) and China’s different perceptions on Korean reunification while economic interdependence between these two states is increasing. In international society, cooperation could be achieved on the basis of shared interests, but issue by issue, shared interests in and of themselves may not be enough. “Strategic leverage,” in other words, might be necessary in order to induce some kind of inter-state cooperation. This research was undertaken in the context of the above-mentioned questions, with regard to building up diplomatic leverage that could lead to possible ways to induce Chinese cooperation. This research was undertaken in the context of cooperation with Florence Lowe-Lee at the Global America Business Institute; Dr. Jae H. Ku at the U.S.-Korea Institute at SAIS, Johns Hopkins University; and Professor David Hawk at the City University of New York. Researchers Kwon Hye-Jin, Moon Mi-Young, Ro Young-Ji, An Hyun-Jung (former member) at the Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) and Wonhee Lee at the U.S.-Korea Institute at SAIS also devoted much effort in making it possible to publish this volume. as did coeditor Dr. Jae H. Ku. As the chief editor of this volume, I sincerely appreciate all these efforts. It is my hope that this research helps academics and experts as well as general audiences better understand the dynamic relationship between core and periphery in China, the relationship between China and its weak neighboring countries, China and international human rights organizations, and North Korean human rights. Jung-Ho Bae, senior research fellow, Korea Institute for National Unification ― Part 1 : China’s Internal Center-Periphery Relations Chapter 1 Middle Kingdom’s New Territory: A History of Relations Between Xinjiang and China/ Haiyun Ma Chapter 2 Diplomacy or Mobilization: The Tibetan Dilemma in the Struggle with China/ Tenzin Dorjee ― Part 2 : China’s Relations with Neighboring Countries Chapter 3 China’s Relations with Mongolia: An Uneasy Road/ Mark T. Fung Chapter 4 China’s Relations with Vietnam: Permanently Caught Between Friend and Foe/ Catharin E. Dalpino Chapter 5 China’s Relations with Laos and Cambodia/ Carlyle A. Thayer Chapter 6 China’s Relations with Myanmar: National Interests and Uncertainties/ Yun Sun ― Part 3 : China and International Institutions Chapter 7 The People’s Republic of China and Respect for International Human Rights Law and Mechanisms/ Sophie Richardson Chapter 8 International Human Rights Law and the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea: The “UN Roadmap” for Human Rights Improvements in North Korea/ David Hawk

The potential for reunification of the two Koreas, whether in the short or long term, argues for a comprehensive look at policy and planning issues that encompass the peninsula as a whole. This book deals with spatial policy issues in both South and North Korea in a broad and non-political way. Part one deals with South Korea, examining cultural changes, the capital city of Seoul, Greenbelt policy, the balanced national (regional) development strategy, and the new mega-regional approach. Part two delves into aspects of development in North Korea, such as the limitations of national statistics, the marketization of the economy, integration with the rest of North East Asia, and the need for a spatial infrastructure strategy. Part three examines the case for reunification in the interests of both the South and North. It argues that a transitional approach would be less costly and less risky than sudden reunification primarily via an early strategy of shifting more capital to the North and later by moderating migration flows to the South. The book also examines whether the capital should remain in Seoul or be relocated elsewhere should reunification occur. Professors, students and public policy officials in the fields of Asian studies, regional economics and planning, urban studies and political science and any reader interested in the future of Korea will find this book very current and enlightening.

Throughout North Korea’s history, it has regarded external relations with suspicion and as a potential threat to its regime. With North Korea working towards denuclearization, there is now hope for an economic opening. This book examines the external economic strategies that North Korea may consider for its reforms and development, which are related to the East Asian economic integration process. This book emphasizes that considering theoretical factors as well as conditions of the North Korean economy, economic opening and integration should have high priority, anteceding or at least being parallel to economic reforms and transformation. Also, among various alternative strategies for achieving the goal of economic reform and development based on economic opening, the utilization of East Asian regional economic integration framework would be the best option for North Korea, because this framework can provide an opportunity for North Korea to overcome structural problems in its external economic relations and to circumvent political conflicts, thus leading to a smoother rapprochement towards economic opening. This book is timely as it shows how a new economic recovery strategy on the Korean Peninsula may be accomplished.