Let’s Break Down the Wall of Divided Nation

“Giving hope and courage to the North Korean people.”

Four major universities in southeastern and southwestern Korea, who have been playing a leading role to bridge gaps between the two regions, entrusted 2,000 won in contributions to Donga Ilbo on April 28 for helping the North Korean people suffering from the blast in the Yongcheon area.

The staff of four universities, Donga University in Busan, Youngnam University in Daegu, Chosun University in Kwangju and Wonkwang University in Jeonbuk, have raised 5 million won each starting from April 26, and have collected 2,000 won in total.

In a bid to break down the barriers between regions and to strengthen ties with each other, those universities founded presidents’ committees for four major universities of Youngnam (southeast) and Honam (southwest) six years ago. They all agreed on “sharing the burdens of the Korean people” and began a campaign for donations.

“Love for North Korean people” from these universities started two years ago. In a reunification art event in May 2002, they raised 150 million won and bought 6,500 blankets from the money, which then sent to the North’s Chosun Buddhist Union.

By taking this opportunity, presidents of the four universities were invited to Kim Il-sung University by the Chosun Buddhist Union in October last year, and made an agreement on exchange programs for students, sports and academic researches, as well as business for supporting North Korea.

In line with the agreement, they sent out 3,000 blankets and 126 tons of flour worth 125 million won, which had been raised throughout last year, to the North via the port of Incheon last February,

“It was hard to see some 2,000 people in North Korea injured by the tragic accident, and universities in the southern part of the nation eventually decided to take the initiative in giving aid,” the president of Chosun University explained. “We hope to see our compatriots in the North overcome their difficulties as early possible and stand up again.”

Seung-Ho Jung shjung@donga.com