Korean Reconciliation and Reunification for Global Peace:

Korean Reconciliation and Reunification for Global Peace:
The People's Agenda
International Conference
Seoul, August 13-14, 2001

• Introduction
• New Publication: Melting the Iceberg
• The Real Threat, Conference Speech by Walden Bello
• The Seoul Declaration for Korean Reconciliation and Global Peace and Justice
• Press Release
• Conference Programme

Press Release

Historic International Civil Society Conference in Korea Pushes the Korean Reconciliation and Reunification Process from Below

On August 13-14, participants from Korea, the Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America attended an historic gathering at Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea: The International Conference on Korean Reconciliation and Reunification for Global Peace. This was a landmark effort to globalise the struggle to overcome the division of Korea by bringing together the energy of Korean and international civil society movements and organizations. Sponsoring organizations in Korea included the Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation, People's Solidarity for Korean Reunification, Seven Major Korean Religious Groups and the Hankyoreh daily newspaper. International sponsors included ARENA (Hong Kong), Transnational Institute (Netherlands), American Friends Service Committee, Nautilus Institute, Council for Alternative Security Policy in the Asia-Pacific, and Focus on the Global South.

Just a little over a year ago, on June 15, 2000, the historic summit held by the leaders of the two Korea's captured the imagination of the world, offering the hope of dismantling the structures of military confrontation and hostility on the Korean peninsula and of overcoming Korea's division. At the time of the gathering, though, this historic process of reconciliation and reunification was in grave danger. The Bush administrations cool attitude towards the reconciliation process, combined with its shift in global military policy towards the Asia-Pacific region and containment of China, has emerged as key obstacles towards moving forwards on the path towards Korean reconciliation and reunification. Throughout the Cold War period, the future of Korea, Asia and the world have been entwined; today, they once again hang in the balance. The meeting in Seoul, by brining together representatives from Korean and international civil society and follow-up efforts, holds out the promise of giving the reconciliation and reunification process a much needed push from below.

Leading scholars, activists, elected representatives and diplomats came together to engage in a broad dialogue about the progress towards reconciliation and reunification, the obstacles to be overcome, the hopes of moving forward and the need for international solidarity to support these efforts. The two day conference ended with the adoption of a declaration by the participants and the related formation of a Global Forum for Korean Reconciliation and Reunification: Working for Korean Unity and Global Peace.

Many participants in the conference were also invited to take part in the national celebrations commemorating Korea's liberation from Japanese colonialism on August 15 and supporting efforts at Korean reconciliation and reunification. A delegation from the conference addressed rallies with solidarity messages from conference organizers and participants and marched together with Korean citizens through the streets of Seoul. The conference could mark a significant leap forward in the "globalisation of movements for overcoming Korea's division system," to borrow from the title of a paper delivered at the conference. The Global Forum for Korean Reconciliation and Reunification plans to build on efforts such as these, supporting transnational movements working for Korean reconciliation and reunification as part of the larger struggle for global peace and justice in the Asia-Pacific region and throughout the globe.