제주평화연구원

Peace Begins with the People

  [caption id="" align="alignright" width="150"] Shin, Kang-hyob
Human Rights policy Director, Jeju Peace Human Rights Center [/caption] Seen from the outside, life in South Korea might appear to be under the constant threat of war. Nevertheless, South Koreans manage to remain relatively unperturbed. The fact that people continue to peacefully go about their daily lives amid heightened tensions on the peninsula, conspiracy theories, and news reports of the incessant threat of war must seem perplexing to the outside world. How can we find peace amid this chaos?   War may break out on the Korean Peninsula at any given moment. North Korea has fired missiles and conducted nuclear tests with complete insouciance toward the international community’s condemnation. The United States seems to be prioritizing its own economic interests, no longer performing its traditional role as a global hegemon that negotiates hostilities. The U.S. is only aggravating tensions here with its harsh denunciations of North Korea, a regrettable behavior given its former influence.   Meanwhile China, whose relationship with North Korea is said to be as close as lips to teeth, is now in a troublesome position because of its relationship with its southern neighbor. It would have to grapple with numerous problems if it defends North Korea, but suffer strategic losses if it abandons the North. Extreme tension continues without an end in sight in this region. Then there are those who silently gloat over this situation. Russia, already under sanctions spearheaded by Western countries, could have an opportunity to pursue its interests while keeping a low international profile. Japan, by exaggerating the threat of war, now sees a chance to fulfill its long-cherished hope to become a normal state and utilize those fears to extricate its government from a corruption scandal at home. However, it is the Japanese people who are left constantly suffering from the threats of war.   Then, what does such turmoil have to do with the South Korean government? The past two conservative administrations continuously applied pressure on North Korea. A media view ascribing the continued pressure of the West, led by the U.S. and conservative governments of South Korea, for the North’s pursuit of nuclear armament to defend itself deserves attention. With nothing left to lose, North Korea has no reason to change its behavior. International sanctions pose a rather stronger threat to North Korea, thereby helping it justify its aggressive posture of seeking weapons for attack, in addition to self-defense. The hopes for dialogue between the Moon Jae-in government and North Korea were dashed altogether by its latest nuclear test. The expectations that the government would make peace efforts towards North Korea have evaporated with the deployment of the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) system in Seongju, and thus only prolonging the threats of war.   Deployment of the THAAD system seems to be a demonstration of the firm will of the government to not tolerate North Korea’s provocations amid heightened tensions. However, the hasty deployment of THAAD and the tepid attitude toward dialogue has resulted in the approbation for the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in South Korea. There should be space to talk about the rights of the Gangjeong Villagers and that of all the people of neighboring countries to live peacefully. We need a discussion on a peace regime for Northeast Asian countries in which the rights to peace are guaranteed, not by the state but by the people. In this respect, Jeju Island, the Island of World Peace, occupies a core position to achieve peace but simultaneously faces realistic issues. Hence, we face the task of thinking more sincerely about the rights of Jeju Islanders to peace. The discussion about peace should start with honest conversations by those who truly yearn for it.   With this momentary misjudgment, the situation on the Korean peninsula is headed toward catastrophe. To maintain this perilous peace, South Korea is testing its luck with nuclear deterrence. In addition, South Korea also has a naval base on Jeju Island, posing a potential threat to China. The naval base, a strategic bastion harboring a South Korean naval fleet, could become the greatest menace for China. We are living on Jeju Island, which harbors this menace. Given the North’s threat to launch missiles at Guam and its demonstrated capacity to do so, who can guarantee that tensions in Northeast Asia might not escalate into a bombing of Jeju Island? It is for this reason that the military base is not compatible with the premise of “living in peace.”   Then, how can we achieve peace? Experts from neighboring countries of the Korean Peninsula have talked about a “peace regime.” There have been times ripe for peace and others when heightened tensions were on the verge of military clashes. However, there has never been a time without military confrontation and there has never been a time where the desire for peace was not spoken. Those responsible have discussed peace at the negotiation table, but once away from the table they become engrossed only in diplomatic maneuvering to safeguard the interests of their own countries or governments. Behind the veil of peace negotiations lie the desires for economic gain, regional hegemony and the continued perpetuation of political power. It almost seems that the establishment of a peaceful order through international agreement is not only a distant prospect but impossible.   Is it impossible then to establish an authentic peace regime? As a Jeju Islander and human rights activist, I would like to assert that it rests with the people. In October 2012, the residents of Gangjeong Village declared their rights to peace. According to the village, their rights to peace entitle them “to make a decent society for posterity,” “to always seek the agreement of all residents,” “to live happily greeting each other,” “to not destroy nature,” “to not be stigmatized as Pro-North Korean sympathizers” and “to safeguard all life of Gangjeong Village.” These rights represent the core values of modern human rights such as the rights to live peacefully, to not be involved in war, to independently decide how to develop a community and to form solidarity. These core values faithfully embody the Declaration on the Right of Peoples to Peace adopted at the United Nations General Assembly on Dec. 19, 2016. If it is extremely difficult or impossible to achieve a peace regime through the coordination of national interests, then what about the establishment of a peace regime with the realization of the rights of people to peace? Jeju Islanders have already declared themselves a regime of peace. It is only yet to be recognized as a reality and put into practice.   Jeju Island has already nominally accepted the positive concept of peace. Therefore, Jeju Island, jointly with the central government, should implement practical policies to guarantee the rights of all Jeju Islanders to peace. As a first step toward this end, it should guarantee their rights to live peacefully, resist the government and safeguard self-determination. By guaranteeing their rights to peace, peace could be achieved naturally. The government’s execrable claim for indemnity against the residents should be withdrawn and the military base replaced by a peace zone.   There should be space to talk about the rights of the Gangjeong Villagers and that of all the people of neighboring countries to live peacefully. We need a discussion on a peace regime for Northeast Asian countries in which the rights to peace are guaranteed, not by the state but by the people. In this respect, Jeju Island, the Island of World Peace, occupies a core position to achieve peace but simultaneously faces realistic issues. Hence, we face the task of thinking more sincerely about the rights of Jeju Islanders to peace. The discussion about peace should start with honest conversations by those who truly yearn for it.