South Korean Reaction to Summit Mixed

Regarding the second South-North summit, South Koreans seem to expect that the summit could help the relationship between the two countries.

However, some see it in a negative way, that it is just an event for the upcoming presidential election.

The secretary general of the Citizens’ Coalition for Economic Justice, Park Byeong-ok, said, “In a situation of tension on the Korean peninsula when it comes to the North’s nuclear program, a summit meeting is needed and I hope it bears fruit.”

He added, “I understood some people are wondering why the summit is being held before the presidential election, but the public will not stand for politicians using the summit for election purposes, and the summit will not have any effect on the election.”

The manager of the Center for Peace and Disarmament at the People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy office pointed out, “Holding the summit is important in that two Koreas take the initiative in the issue of peace on the Korean peninsula. To make the summit a success, the government should hear what people have to say and reflect public opinions.”

A university student, Kim In-sung, 24, said, “This is the right time to go into reconciliation mode between the two countries because the ten-year-old Sunshine policy could be turned over if the Grand National Party comes to power.”

On the other hand, a representative of the New Right National Union, lawyer Lee Seok-yeon, pointed out that, “The summit is planned by the ruling party to take advantage of it for the upcoming presidential election in December this year.”

The general secretary of Citizens United for Better Society, Hyun Jin-kwon, evaluated, “The summit is being held without international cooperation when it comes to the North Korea’s nuclear issues, so it is just an event for the election.”

Lee Hye-yeong, secretary general of the Association of North Korea Defectors, said, “A summit meeting at this point will not be helpful for the two Koreas’ unification. It will rather help the North Korean regime hold the reins of power longer. If the promise made in 2000 was kept, Seoul should have been the venue, not Pyongyang. Now, North Korea will publicize that the South Korean president came to North Korea to see North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.”

An office worker, Lee Dong-wook (38), was suspicious, saying, “Going into reconciliation mode on the peninsula will be welcomed without any doubt, but I have a feeling that the meeting is being driven by the ruling party for the election because they think they are not likely to win.”

However, teacher Choi Young-sun had a different opinion that, “Because the public is much more sophisticated in terms of their view on politics, an event like this cannot turn the table in the elections.”

Graduate student Roh Dong-hwan was cynical, saying, “President Roh is trying to accomplish one last achievement through the summit at the end of his presidency.”

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Central Union North Korean Five Province Committee said, “We are not against the summit, but we are just worried that the president might be making promises that the next government cannot keep. And although it is our dearest wish to visit our hometowns in North Korea again, we are not expecting much.”

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