SEOUL — The recent Korean family reunion in Seoul and Pyongyang was sadly presented to the international media. The Korean War tragedy, as the first outcome of the Cold War era, left many scars on Koreans, persisting even in the 21st century. For the past half a century, the divided families could not send even postcards to each other, nor call. The ideological wall has been represented vividly by the military confrontation along the 155-mile demilitarized zone since 1953.
During the last 10 years, South Koreans sacrificed in assisting and helping the poor North Koreans despite their own economic and fiscal difficulties. South Korean President Kim Dae-jung’s “sunshine policy” proved extremely expensive, as multimillion dollar humanitarian aid such as grain and medicine, and multimillion dollar economic aids such as cement and fertilizer were sent to the North. The South Korean financial market is now undergoing another difficult period due mainly to the liquidity deficiency of the Hyundai Group. The Hyundai Group however has been sending $8 million monthly for its Mt. Kumgang Tourist Project. There may be a close relationship between Hyundai’s investment, to the very uncertain future of profit.
Finally, North Korea hosted the Korean summit in Pyongyang in June, and the family reunion happened in August. However, only 100 South Koreans and 100 North Koreans could visit Pyongyang and Seoul for three days to meet their relatives in the designated hotel rooms. Moreover, they could not see their relatives in their hometowns. Instead, they were forced to watch certain politically tainted shows according to the strict North-South agreement. It is very sad indeed! They were not free at all. Very unfortunately, South Korea accorded the same welcome for the North Korean visitors, because of the reciprocal agreement. The South Korean government spent 3 billion won or more (1 US dollar is 1100 won) for taking care of the 100 North Korean visitors for three days. I do not know who paid for the expenses of the 100 South Korean visitors to Pyongyang. Probably, the South Korean government picked up the tab. Family reunion however should not be a costly event at all, but rather private.
Judging from what I saw, I can say that North Korea still commits a serious crime against humanity. The families were not free to meet their relatives in their hometowns. Why? North Korea dictated the situational clauses of the family reunion, and South Korea humiliatingly accepted their demand.
After the June Korea summit, many hoped something dramatic would happen. No. That was not the case. At this moment, 700,000 South Koreans are yearning to meet with their relatives in the North. Most probably, hundreds of people may visit at a North Korea-designated place for a very limited time under a very restricted condition in the future. Further, North Korea’s Kim Jong-il may discontinue the family reunion after a couple of tries, as he so indicated in his meeting with South Korean media executives in August.
Why is North Korea reluctant to allow the family reunion in the first place?
Unacknowledged though, everyone knows why. He may fear the breakdown of the long-conserved North Korean secretive society. The situation is certainly deplorable. But he has seriously discussed the unification procedures. How could he have done that, while still resisting the family reunion?
It goes without saying that once this family reunion is made difficult, the unification of the nation will become an almost impossible task to achieve. One will lead to the other.
Two Korean leaders at the Pyongyang summit discussed the two or three stages toward the unification, but the current sad family reunion unfortunately proves that the unification is very far. Still, divided families cannot call nor exchange letters. As if fifty years of sorrow are not enough for the North Korean regime.
Nonetheless, despite its faulty postures and adamant stance, North Korea is destined to open its doors to the world. This world should however make North Korea open its door to humanity first and foremost, and impede it from turning the family reunion business into a money-making opportunity. This civilized world should be far from nice to these criminals of humanity, that is, until they acquire the time and learn the appropriate modes of living and functioning within this harmonious and globalizing world.

The writer is a professor at the University of Seoul Graduate School of Urban Sciences.