SOUTH Korea is pursuing a new principle called the August 15 doctrine to push for gradual reunification with North Korea based on freedom and democratic values.
Kyung Hee University Prof. Jae Woo Choo made the remark on Tuesday in a forum hosted by the ADR Stratbase entitled “Roundtable on Korean Peninsula: August 15 Unification Doctrine and International Cooperation.”
Present at the forum was Hwang Seunghee, Ministry of Unification director general for unification planning as well as stakeholders from South Korea and policy and military experts from the Philippines. The event aimed to enhance understanding of the August 15 doctrine, which was founded on the principles of peace, freedom and democracy.
On Aug. 15, 2024, during his commemorative address for the 79th National Liberation Day, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said South and North Koreans will enjoy “more freedom and a greater range of opportunities” under a unified Korea.
“Furthermore, achieving this will bestow a blessing upon the whole world of humanity. The government and I will make 2024 the first year of advancing toward a unified Korea based on freedom, peace, and prosperity,” Yoon said.
Jae said Yoon has “realized that the last form of reunification process that the South Korean government has upheld in the last 30 years is somewhat outdated and outmoded because things have changed a lot during the past 30 years.”
He said the August 15 doctrine “presents a new vision and new principles and new action plans for reunification.”
“We would also like to emphasize another aspect in the doctrine that is unlike all these other policies or principles that were presented by previous governments, we very much value the importance of North Korean human rights issues,” Jae said.
“I think this is where August 15th new reunification doctrine distinguishes itself from the past doctrines or policies,” Jae said.
One of the action plans under the doctrine is to improve North Koreans’ access to information. “Access to information for North Korean people is very new,” he said. “With the development in information and technology we would like to have North Korea get much greater access to outside information. We are hoping that it could influence their thinking and views about unification.”
Jae said South Korea hopes North Koreans would “understand the reality of the outside world, where democracy and freedom, and prosperity and development prevail.”
“We want both Korean people to enjoy freedom and democracy that South Koreans enjoy. We want them (North Koreans) to live in better conditions,” he added.
Be the first to comment