As you could imagine, this is quite a touchy subject in South Korea. It’s one I haven’t even really brought up with my Korean friends, even those I’ve known since just after I arrived. I HAVE asked my students about it in a writing assignment though….they’re less offended by such topics. I believe I asked something to the effect of “Do you think North and South Korea should be united?” The responses were interesting and for the most part what you would expect. Most students said yes, that “we” are KOREA….brothers and sisters, we should be one. Some wrote about how they think North Korea is evil because it has nuclear weapons and wants to kill everyone, and even said they are against reunification because the North Korean economy is in such despair that it would be difficult for the South to take such a heavy hit. (Not in those exact words of course, haha)
And it was sad to hear from a few students who have grandparents and relatives in the North whom they’ve never met, and how they wish they could visit them. On a separate assignment for homework….one question asked “If you could be any animal, what animal would you be and why?” One girl wrote that she wished she could turn into a bird, so she could fly over the border to North Korea and find her grandparents.
I will tell you….that living in Seoul I honestly don’t think about North Korea all that often. It was surprising to visit the border and realize just how close this frightening country is to me!
Our trip began EARLY in the morning….we got to the meeting point in Seoul and hopped on the bus. It was overcast and dreary outside so the weather fit the tour. After leaving Seoul, we looked out the windows at the increasing barbed-wire fencing and blockades passing by us as we listened to our guide tell the story of her parents crossing over the border. She was just a baby at the time, and her mother and father wrapped her up as they crossed the frozen river at the border and into the South. They would never again see or hear from their brothers, sisters, fathers, or mothers. I cried a little upon hearing this story because I could feel her passion and anger.
We arrived at the JSA (Joint Security Alliance) and after being turned away due to the unexpected arrival of some dignitaries, we were finally allowed in after a few hours. It was creepy right away, riding up to the arrivals building we were told that the area around the road we were driving on was scattered with land mines. Also, photography was strictly prohibited at this time….we were told that we were being watched (while riding on the bus!). Once we arrived on the base, we signed a waiver saying that we were aware that we were puting ourselves in a certain amount of danger (yeah yeah, I’ve read/signed these things before) and then we were off.
A North Korean guard watching our every move with binoculars.
We made our way into this tiny blue building you can see, which was built half in South Korea, and half in North Korea. The back door of the building was protected by a guard, because as we were told….if one of us decided to walk out the back door into the North Korean side, we would be shot instantly on site. Kind of creepy. It was especially erie to be told repeatedly that “they are watching us”, and then see them peering through small windows with binoculars at us. Our guide cautioned us constantly not to make any big gestures or make any inappropriate faces, etc. Well, here’s what the inside of that little blue building looks like:
They only recruit the tallest men for this guard post, and they are required to stand with clinched fists and sunglasses in order to perpetuate the look of intimidation. It works when you’re standing next to them, let me just tell you!
Here I am actually standing in North Korea folks! Lol. Notice the “shoot-on-site” door behind me…I was too scared to get any closer to the guard, I’m a wuss…I know!!
So then they took us to a couple different “look out” points where we could view the propoganda village. One of them we could even pay 25 cents to view through binoculars over into N. Korea. It was so interesting to see people walking around and riding their bikes….no cars, no paved roads. They must know they’re almost always being watched by foreigners if they’re outside walking around because it was a really small village. We couldn’t take pictures at the point, but later on I was able to get a shot of me with the “Propoganda Village” behind me:
That flag is enormous by the way, I can’t remember the stats but we were all astonished when they told us. It’s one of those “mine is bigger than yours” games that North Korea is playing.
Well….all in all it was a fascinating experience, and one that I could write a lot more about. Truthfully I have mixed emotions about North Korea. I feel sorry for the people, yet I’m confused by their ideologies and the extent to which they really believe that their leader Kim Jong Il is in fact a heavenly avatar with superhuman powers. Hmm, well anyway. I hope you found this interesting….I’d like to write more about it at some point.
In lighter news, I bought a very special gift for myself yesterday!!
It’s my very own Canon EOS Digital Rebel. I’m so stoked to have a DSLR finally!! I’ve been playing around with it a bit and LOVE it so far!! I’m teaching extra summer camp hours for two and a half weeks next month and will be paid almost double, so it was a good time to splurge. AAaaannd, I’m going to China in less than 48 hours!!
