Study Sess 8, this Sat!
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Sharon Chung
Jun 20, 2013, 12:22:52 PM6/20/13
to keep-d-201...@googlegroups.com
Hello NYC KEER'ers!
Hope everybody is doing well and recuperating after our successful fundraiser last Sat!
Hopefully you haven't forgotten our Study Sess this Sat! from 12-4!
Meejin is generously hosting us again!
Thank you Meejin!
Addy is:
1317 Jefferson Ave, Apt 3
L train to Wilson stop or J train to Halsey stopApologies for the delay in getting the agenda and assigned readings out!
This is posted in our NY resouces folder but i copied the agenda at bottom of this email as well.
We were hoping to have a "hang-out" after this session but since it will be just four of us (inclusing our guest facilitator, Hosu Kim) and other time constraints, we decided to just do a brunch to start off the study again!
I will make some sort of breakfast casserole (think eggs, cheese, turkey bacon and tator tots and spinach mixed up and baked).
Meejin and Rej - perhaps fruit and other sides? toast? english muffins?
or if folks wanna switch it up and do lunch style? whatever sounds good! im game as long as its good food! :D
See you on Saturday!
-sharon
_________________________________________________________________________
NYC Study Session 8
Sat, June 22nd.
12:00-4p
Facilitator: Hosu Kim
Location: Meejin’s apt!
1317 Jefferson Ave, Apt 3
L train to Wilson stop or J train to Halsey stop.
Note: Suzy will not be participating in this study session or the last study session. However, Suzy will submit notes/opinions in writing for each study in order to contribute to the discussions.
Assigned Readings:
1. Baik Nak-Chung: Reunification and South Korean civil society (Rej)
2. Primary Source documents -- Baik Nak Chung supplementary materials-- make sure to read the June 15 declaration (All)
3. Namkoong, Y. (2001). Similarities and dissimilarities: The inter-Korean summit and unification formulae. East Asian Review, 13(3), 59-80. (Meejin)
4. Choi, Jang Jip. (1993). Political cleavages in South Korea. In H. Koo (Ed.), State and society in contemporary korea (pp. 13-50). Ithaca: Cornell University Press. --> we read a portion of this before . Now read pp. 40--50. (feel free to read the middle parts too!) (Rej)
5. West Sea Conflicts (Meejin)
National Campaign to End the Korean War. (2010). West Sea Crisis in Korea (Fact Sheet).
Seunghyun Lee & J.J. Suh, “Rush to Judgment,” (July 2010) http://www.japanfocus.org/-jj-suh/3382
6. Repatriation of Unconverted Long-term Political Prisoners, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpWz7Os8OJo (All)
7. http://paperspaceships.com/films/korean-film-101/repatriation/ (All)
AGENDA
12-1 Brunch!
1-1:20 Debrief fundraiser
1:20-2 Sing songs or practice self-introductions bc we have been slacking on this!
2-3:30 Study
3:30-3:50 Review any logistics/questions. If time left, practice intros again.
3:50-4 Closeout. Decide on location for next study and KEEP-D sendoff location
and time.
Meejin Richart
Jun 20, 2013, 12:38:27 PM6/20/13
to Sharon Chung, KEEP-D 2013 New York
sounds good! can we do something with no dairy/cheese/milk inside of it? i'm lactose. i can make a salad of some type.
also folks please check the weekender to see train schedules. i just heard that the J will run express and not stop at the halsey st station. buses nearby are the b60 and b26. the L train is fine this weekend though. the 7 is crazy (as usual). not sure about others.
I was also very proud to have read for the study session with the bay!
m
--
Meejin Richart
Education & Outreach Admin Associate / CCRjustice.org
New York, NY
"We who believe in freedom cannot rest; We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes. Strugglin myself don't mean a whole lot, I've come to realize; That teaching others to stand up and fight is the only way my struggle survives"
-Sweet Honey In the Rock; Ella's Song
Meejin Richart
Education & Outreach Admin Associate / CCRjustice.org
New York, NY
"We who believe in freedom cannot rest; We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes. Strugglin myself don't mean a whole lot, I've come to realize; That teaching others to stand up and fight is the only way my struggle survives"
-Sweet Honey In the Rock; Ella's Song
Sharon Chung
Jun 20, 2013, 12:43:10 PM6/20/13
to Meejin Richart, KEEP-D 2013 New York
noted.
will use daiya cheese - which is vegan.
would that work?
meejin! good job w readings for sess 7! lets try for session 8 now! haha:)
-sharon
Meejin Richart
Jun 21, 2013, 11:50:08 AM6/21/13
to Sharon Chung, KEEP-D 2013 New York
cool on the cheese. see y'all tmrw!
m
Rej Joo
Jun 21, 2013, 11:52:56 AM6/21/13
to Meejin Richart, Sharon Chung, KEEP-D 2013 New York
I'll bring fruits and English muffins/toast!--
Sent from Gmail Mobile
Sent from Gmail Mobile
Sharon Chung
Jun 21, 2013, 11:54:32 AM6/21/13
to Rej Joo, Meejin Richart, KEEP-D 2013 New York, hosu kim
Ok.
so, for the first hour, it will just be us three! fun fun.
hosu will join us at 2p to begin the study!
see you all tomorrow!
-sharon
Betsy
Jun 21, 2013, 11:53:18 AM6/21/13
to Sharon Chung, Rej Joo, Meejin Richart, KEEP-D 2013 New York, hosu kim
I wont be there tomorrow -- have a good study!! Sorry to miss it!
Sent from my iPhone
Sent from my iPhone
Suzy Kim
Jun 22, 2013, 12:16:26 PM6/22/13
to keep-d-201...@googlegroups.com, hosu kim
Hi everyone,
Sorry I won't be able to join the next couple of study sessions in person, but I am there in spirit, and below are some thoughts I had regarding the readings for Study 8.
After having emphasized the people-to-people meeting and engagement that is such an important part of the KEEP-D mission during our fundraiser last week, it was really helpful to read Paik Nak-chung's piece about the role of civil society in the whole peace and reunification process, and how we might fit into that. It was eye-opening to read about the specific reference to the role of the "Korean people, who are the masters of the country" in article 1 of the June 15 Joint Declaration, and how this declaration really opened up the space for official recognition of the role of the people in the reunification process unlike previous declarations and agreements. This is also the element that marks the Korean reunification process as unique and different from the reunification processes in Germany, Vietnam, and Yemen, one which Paik calls, "Korean-style reunification" because of the emphasis on the role of civil society and a gradual process.
It was also very helpful to see the actual agreements and declarations that have been reached between the North and South, as well as between the North and the US, to see the progression. On the surface, the agreements seem like nice rhetoric, toting a pretty standard line about the importance of independence and peaceful means in the process of reunification; not to slander each other or undertake military provocations (which doesn't seem to be practiced by either side recently); seeking cooperation and exchange in humanitarian issues such as food aid and separated families; etc. But a closer look at the specifics of the agreements from the first Joint Communique of 1972 to the 2007 Summit Declaration really shows how each step involved a more concrete understanding with additional ideas about how to achieve reunification, and that development, I think, is really positive and uplifting. For example, if you just compare the 1972 communique with the 1991 Basic Agreement and then with the 2007 Declaration, there are many more concrete proposals about setting up various joint commissions and offices to work toward reconciliation, cooperation, and eventual reunification (some of which actually materialized such as the opening up of direct government communication lines and meeting of separated families, and others like the joining of railways and roads that had to wait until 2000 for the 6.15 declaration, and others like the free civilian mail and phone communication still left unimplemented).
As for the US-NK agreements, it occurred to me just how important South Korea's role might be in brokering a more positive relationship between the two, looking at the Joint Communique of 2000 that makes specific reference to the "changed circumstances on the Korean Peninsula created by the historic inter-Korean summit" and the timeline of the September 19 Join Statement of 2005 and the February 13 Agreement of 2007, both of which happened under the Roh Moo-hyun administration in South Korea during the decade of progress made in North-South relations from Kim Dae-jung to Roh. Since 2007, the conservatives have been in power in the South Korean government, and there's been little to no progress made in the peace and reunification process. In fact, the Cheonan incident and the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island, both in 2010, created what some called the worst conflict since the end of the Korean War, leading to civilian deaths. (JJ Suh's article on the Cheonan is a bit technical for us non-scientists, but I highly recommend watching the documentary produced by Hankyoreh on youtube - when you actually see the instruments and parts of the ship perfectly intact, you begin to get an idea of just how absurd this whole hypthesis is...) What these latter incidents showed for me was just how fragile and delicate the whole peace and reunification process really is, and how much the process can be derailed and be setback when things go awry despite all the official agreements that have been made. In other words, continuous struggle toward peace and reunification is absolutely necessary to move the process forward.
Finally, just some unresolved thoughts about the nuclear issue: it was really interesting and enlightening to read the discussion portion of the Paik article because it showed so well the different perspectives that South Korean civil society struggles with now that North Korea is a de facto nuclear state. In many respects, these difficulties are not limited to South Korean civil society, but also involves the global peace movement for the reasons that Paik and the others lay out, and I end up sympathizing to some extent with all of the views expressed. Bringing all of them together, though, I do think it is important to insist, as Paik says, on the importance of denuclearization of the Korean peninsula (as well as the world) and not justify North Korea's nuclear program as self-defense (as understandable as this might be). As Paik states so eloquently, "North Korea's nuclear test is not a one-off, an unfortunate incident whose repercussions will be short-lived, since it implicates nothing short of the very principle that enables the continuation of civic and minjung (people's) movements. For example, the slogan of "For Peace, Against War" is espoused by North Korea as well, but the peace movement globally has included the banning of nuclear weapons as a primary goal. Therefore, leaving out the 'antinuclear' stance from an antiwar movement and handing it over to the 'Anti-Kim Jong Il, Anti-Nuclear Movement' would be tantamount to the self-negation of the peace movement and a shortcut to the defeat of reunification movements as well." (159) I think this prognosis is sobering and should be taken to heart. He goes on to say that if nuclear tests continue and the six-party talks fail and sanctions are imposed in a vicious cycle, then that is the worst case scenario. I think that's exactly where we are at today sadly, and I wonder how we are going to get out of this impasse.... Perhaps something for us all to put our heads together, and think about?
I hope I'll get a chance to get a sense of how the discussion went during the study (hopefully if someone is taking notes?).
Peace,
Suzy
CC: rej...@gmail.com; meejin...@gmail.com; keep-d-201...@googlegroups.com; hos...@yahoo.com
From: betsy...@gmail.com
Subject: Re: [NY KEEP-D 2013] Study Sess 8, this Sat!
Date: Fri, 21 Jun 2013 11:53:18 -0400
To: sharon...@gmail.com
Sorry I won't be able to join the next couple of study sessions in person, but I am there in spirit, and below are some thoughts I had regarding the readings for Study 8.
After having emphasized the people-to-people meeting and engagement that is such an important part of the KEEP-D mission during our fundraiser last week, it was really helpful to read Paik Nak-chung's piece about the role of civil society in the whole peace and reunification process, and how we might fit into that. It was eye-opening to read about the specific reference to the role of the "Korean people, who are the masters of the country" in article 1 of the June 15 Joint Declaration, and how this declaration really opened up the space for official recognition of the role of the people in the reunification process unlike previous declarations and agreements. This is also the element that marks the Korean reunification process as unique and different from the reunification processes in Germany, Vietnam, and Yemen, one which Paik calls, "Korean-style reunification" because of the emphasis on the role of civil society and a gradual process.
It was also very helpful to see the actual agreements and declarations that have been reached between the North and South, as well as between the North and the US, to see the progression. On the surface, the agreements seem like nice rhetoric, toting a pretty standard line about the importance of independence and peaceful means in the process of reunification; not to slander each other or undertake military provocations (which doesn't seem to be practiced by either side recently); seeking cooperation and exchange in humanitarian issues such as food aid and separated families; etc. But a closer look at the specifics of the agreements from the first Joint Communique of 1972 to the 2007 Summit Declaration really shows how each step involved a more concrete understanding with additional ideas about how to achieve reunification, and that development, I think, is really positive and uplifting. For example, if you just compare the 1972 communique with the 1991 Basic Agreement and then with the 2007 Declaration, there are many more concrete proposals about setting up various joint commissions and offices to work toward reconciliation, cooperation, and eventual reunification (some of which actually materialized such as the opening up of direct government communication lines and meeting of separated families, and others like the joining of railways and roads that had to wait until 2000 for the 6.15 declaration, and others like the free civilian mail and phone communication still left unimplemented).
As for the US-NK agreements, it occurred to me just how important South Korea's role might be in brokering a more positive relationship between the two, looking at the Joint Communique of 2000 that makes specific reference to the "changed circumstances on the Korean Peninsula created by the historic inter-Korean summit" and the timeline of the September 19 Join Statement of 2005 and the February 13 Agreement of 2007, both of which happened under the Roh Moo-hyun administration in South Korea during the decade of progress made in North-South relations from Kim Dae-jung to Roh. Since 2007, the conservatives have been in power in the South Korean government, and there's been little to no progress made in the peace and reunification process. In fact, the Cheonan incident and the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island, both in 2010, created what some called the worst conflict since the end of the Korean War, leading to civilian deaths. (JJ Suh's article on the Cheonan is a bit technical for us non-scientists, but I highly recommend watching the documentary produced by Hankyoreh on youtube - when you actually see the instruments and parts of the ship perfectly intact, you begin to get an idea of just how absurd this whole hypthesis is...) What these latter incidents showed for me was just how fragile and delicate the whole peace and reunification process really is, and how much the process can be derailed and be setback when things go awry despite all the official agreements that have been made. In other words, continuous struggle toward peace and reunification is absolutely necessary to move the process forward.
Finally, just some unresolved thoughts about the nuclear issue: it was really interesting and enlightening to read the discussion portion of the Paik article because it showed so well the different perspectives that South Korean civil society struggles with now that North Korea is a de facto nuclear state. In many respects, these difficulties are not limited to South Korean civil society, but also involves the global peace movement for the reasons that Paik and the others lay out, and I end up sympathizing to some extent with all of the views expressed. Bringing all of them together, though, I do think it is important to insist, as Paik says, on the importance of denuclearization of the Korean peninsula (as well as the world) and not justify North Korea's nuclear program as self-defense (as understandable as this might be). As Paik states so eloquently, "North Korea's nuclear test is not a one-off, an unfortunate incident whose repercussions will be short-lived, since it implicates nothing short of the very principle that enables the continuation of civic and minjung (people's) movements. For example, the slogan of "For Peace, Against War" is espoused by North Korea as well, but the peace movement globally has included the banning of nuclear weapons as a primary goal. Therefore, leaving out the 'antinuclear' stance from an antiwar movement and handing it over to the 'Anti-Kim Jong Il, Anti-Nuclear Movement' would be tantamount to the self-negation of the peace movement and a shortcut to the defeat of reunification movements as well." (159) I think this prognosis is sobering and should be taken to heart. He goes on to say that if nuclear tests continue and the six-party talks fail and sanctions are imposed in a vicious cycle, then that is the worst case scenario. I think that's exactly where we are at today sadly, and I wonder how we are going to get out of this impasse.... Perhaps something for us all to put our heads together, and think about?
I hope I'll get a chance to get a sense of how the discussion went during the study (hopefully if someone is taking notes?).
Peace,
Suzy
CC: rej...@gmail.com; meejin...@gmail.com; keep-d-201...@googlegroups.com; hos...@yahoo.com
From: betsy...@gmail.com
Subject: Re: [NY KEEP-D 2013] Study Sess 8, this Sat!
Date: Fri, 21 Jun 2013 11:53:18 -0400
To: sharon...@gmail.com
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