First Anniversary of the 6.15 Summit-Talk: Performance in the Cultural Field?

Last November, the film `Joint Security Area` (JSA) was delivered to North Korea. Kim Jong-Il North Korea’s National Defense Commission Chairman requested for the film.

One year has passed since the 6.15 South-North Summit Talk. The delivery of the `JSA` can interpreted as the indirect outcome of the 6.15 declaration. The South-North summit talk has influenced not only on the augmentation of the cultural exchange between South and North, but also on the cultural phenomenon and consciousness of our culture. First of all, quite a number of cultural exchanges have been carried out; the first South-North Ministers of Culture summit talk, visitation to North Korea by the presidents of the press companies, live broadcasting at the Mt. Beikdoo by KBS, the performance of `Choonhyang` in Pyongyang, and the performance by singer Kim Yeon-Ja in Hamheong. South-North historians held a conference together in Pyongyang and criticized the Japanese history textbook distortion. North Korean culture has been introduced to South Korea as a way to understand North Korea correctly. North Korean publications like `Leejo Shilrok` (a true record of the Yi dynasty) and `Chosun Moonhak` (Chosun literature) were imported through the formal contract. `Daihoon Book Store`, which specializes in North Korea, was opened in Seoul. A North Korean local historian published `Story of Gaesung` through the contract with the South Korean publishing company. `Historical tale 3000 ri`, a South-North joint publication, was another outcome.

North Korean pop culture was introduced; `We are One`, produced jointly by the South-North composers, `Tongil Sonyu` (Girl of unification), a pop record, and North Korean films, such as `Ahn Joong-Keun shoots Ito Hirobumi`, `Yim Kkuk-Jung`, and `Bulgasari`. These cultural phenomena can be interpreted as efforts to know North Korea correctly moving beyond the vague rejection of North Korea.

However, cultural exchange in the government level has not reached the expectation because the cultural exchange was affected by the difficulties involved in the political and the economic exchanges. The religious leaders’ visitation to North Korea, which was agreed by both South and North, was not realized. Although the joint excavation of the site of the Shingaesa at the Mt. Keumgang was greatly expected, it did not make progress. The numerous plans by the private organizations were dispelled. Some criticizes that this was the outcome of recklessly issuing plans simply to `demonstrate benevolence` without an accurate judgment of the situation. Some also pointed out that a close cooperation between the government and the private organizations is necessary in future. Experts point out that both South and North need to have more concrete and professional preparations and discussions. For this reason, people are concerned with regard to the Gaesung industrial complex that enforcement of the development without examination on the cultural properties is to destroy the cultural assets.

Lee Kwawg-Pyo kplee@donga.com