Dreaming of Pyongyang

Dreaming of Pyongyang and Disneyland North Korea

I’m back in Changwon Korea again. Changwon, the young industrial city designed to be a modern model of Canberra Australia. Few foreigners observe any resemblance to an Australian city save for the downtown location of the Canberra Hotel and Outback Steakhouse. But a deeper dig under the surface reveals Changwon’s differences from traditional Korean cities: streets that are straight and wide, numerous parks and open spaces, convenient access to shopping, museums, and transportation. Taking the time to look under surface appearances is the best way to enjoy the traveling life.

Whenever I am in Korea, I dream of Pyongyang and North Korea. The attitude here is far different than I ever suspected. Our American government and leaders are intent on painting North Korea as a rogue nation that must be brought back to the community of nations. Whenever I come to Korea I have the surface idea of millions of people worried about a possible catastrophic war starting again. Both sides of Korea would be devastated within days. I arrive here worried about that. But I sense no worry among the people of South Korea.

The people here are not so worried. Hundreds of thousands of people are moving into homes adjacent to the DMZ. Tank traps are being removed. Life goes on. Korea is growing quickly and evolving into a fully modern country. People here know that there is only one Korea. North and South Korea will be reunited soon. How soon is soon? Ten years? Twenty years? Fifty years? No one knows the time, but soon. Korea has a 5000 year written history. The two Koreas have been separated for 50 years. 50 years is like the blink of an eye, only 1%, of Korea’s long history. For Americans, 20 years is a long time. For Korea, 20 years is soon.

In the meantime, most Koreans know it would be tragic to fight a war and kill their brothers and sisters, cousins, nephews, aunts and uncles on the other side. Somehow war must be averted while we wait for the inevitable reunification. South Korea’s military has all the latest technology and is fully armed, trained, and prepared to prevent hostilities. In the meantime, Korea calmly waits and prepares, like Germany 20 years ago, for the happy day when the two regions unite again.

So I dream of Pyongyang. I dream of touring Pyongyang, visiting the historical sites in the northern part of Korea. I dream that hopefully I can take a small role to participate in building new factories and companies that provide good jobs to that impoverished region. Soon my dream will come true…10 years, 20 years, 50 yearss, or some other blink of an eye in Korea’s long lifetime.