[INTERVIEW] 'Next government must revive ties with N. Korea'

Longtime historian Kang Man-gil, emeritus professor at Korea University's department of Korean history, speaks during an interview with The Korea Times, April 11. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

Renowned historian backs peace treaty with NK

By Choi Ha-young

Kang Man-gil, emeritus professor in Korea University's department of Korean history, has led the study of the nation's history after liberation from Japanese rule (1910-1945).

The historian, 83, has seen the ups and downs of Korean modern history, observing its progressions and regressions. After holding a chair at the university in 1967 when ex-President Park Chung-hee was consolidating his iron-fist rule, Kang was expelled from the school in 1980 during ex-President Chun Doo-hwan's reign, as part of government efforts to "purify" Korean society.

Initially, he majored in the germination of capitalism here but later established the history of division ― how the two Koreas have evolved based on hostility since they were divided in 1945 and experienced a three-year war. As a public intellectual, he headed a project to look into the truth of pro-Japanese collaborators' activities, recruited by former President Roh Moo-hyun.

Facing yet another inflection point in the nation's evolution ― this year's May 9 presidential election after the peaceful street rallies that led to scandal-hit President Park Geun-hye's removal ― the scholar urges the next president to break through the deadlock in inter-Korean relations.

"Above all, security in the right direction is possible under reconciliation between the South and North," he said in an interview with The Korea Times at an office in central Seoul. "For peace, the two parties should open channels, including more industrial complexes in Haeju and Wonsan, in addition to the one in Gaeseong. Unification should begin with frequent exchanges such as tourism and train connections."

This remark came amid swirling military tensions around the Korean Peninsula. A Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile battery is being deployed here citing North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence implied a possible pre-emptive attack against North Korea by saying "all options are on the table" during his recent Seoul visit.

In sharp contrast, inter-Korean exchanges and unification plans were not on the table during the television debates between presidential candidates. Instead, they quarreled over whether the North is the "main enemy" of the South or not.

Kang, as a historian who observed the bitter ideological confrontation after liberation, has agonized over ways to heal the historical trauma. He led a group of colleagues in an excavation at Gaeseong to discover relics of the Goryeo Kingdom (918-1392). And he was the sole historian at the inter-Korean summit in 2000 between former President Kim Dae-jung and former North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.

"We can invite North Korean students to explore cultural relics in Gyeongju, the capital of Silla (B.C. 57-935 A.D.), and Buyeo, the capital of Baekje (B.C. 18-660 A.D.)," Kang said. "Why don't our students visit the ancient tombs of Goguryeo (B.C. 37-668 A.D.) in the northern region?"

The veteran historian is now interested in publishing a joint history textbook, like the divided Germany did. He believes the two Koreas' joint moves will enrich their shared culture. "South Korean historians used to hand materials to the North to help them redeem cultural assets sacked by the Japanese during the occupation," Kang said.

For Kang, the division of the peninsula is a fundamental reason for the endless confrontation. While liberal parties and over 80 percent of citizens were in favor of the scandal-hit president's ouster over her massive corruption, some older people are still flocking to the streets calling for her reinstatement.

"Even including things that evidently violated laws, people are polarized: liberal versus conservative," Kang said. "Because of the ideological battle between two systems and their exclusion against each other, Koreans tend not to tolerate opponents. To leap to the next step, Koreans should dispel the divided system."

As a practical measure, Kang advocates a peace treaty to reinstate Pyongyang in international society. "If North Korea recovers its relationship with the U.S. and Japan, it will drop its nuclear ambition," Kang said. "Seoul should facilitate the process."

Regional alliance

Seoul has been cornered by Beijing's economic retaliation over the THAAD deployment and Tokyo's outrage over the "comfort woman" statue in front of the Japanese Consulate here.

Studying the modern history of the peninsula, where superpowers intersect, Kang has envisioned a regional alliance like the European Union and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) among Northeast Asian countries: Two Koreas, China and Japan.

"If Japan allies with the United States, it necessarily locks horns with China," he said. "Asian countries need to gather together. Lately, more and more Japanese scholars are pushing for joining hands with Asian countries out of the nation's diplomatic tendency leaning to the U.S."

The idea is looming, leaving behind the dwindling Cold War and 20th century imperialism. "Down the road, the world will aim at co-prosperity, and peaceful inter-Korean relationship is our priority," Kang said. "Japan has committed atrocities during its imperialism, but from now on, we should not put forward hostility against each other."

In a final word, Kang had a suggestion for foreign journalists and experts flocking here to cover the regional instability and unprecedented political events. "The confrontation of the two Koreas is a division of Asia and a division of the world," he said. "As a contribution for peace, please shed light on ways to promote peace on the peninsula, rather than confrontations and rising tensions."

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