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The great Indian scholar Rabindra Nath Tagore wrote a quatrain in which he described Korea as the "Lamp of the East." The lines of the quatrain are as follows: "In the golden age of Asia, Korea was one of its lamp bearers, And that lamp is waiting to be lit once again, For the illumination of the East."
When this short poem was published in the Dong-A Ilbo in 1929, Koreans were suffering under a brutal Japanese colonial regime (1910-45). The colonial regime not only subjugated Koreans and perpetrated economic exploitation but also tried to completely erase the national identity of the Koreans. This poem of just four lines evoked immense passion among the Korean people. Tagore is therefore widely respected in Korea and some years ago a bust of Tagore was inaugurated in Seoul.
What Tagore imagined for Korea in his poem that it would ‘illuminate the East' has indeed come partially true. Today South Korea is a technological and economic power. Despite its small land area and population size, it is one of the largest exporting countries in the world. South Korea has emerged as a vibrant democracy and its per capita income has put it in the ranks of the richest countries in the world. The Korean wave or hallyu has led to growth in the soft power capabilities of South Korea.
But the "Korean lamp" is partially illuminated because the other Korea which lies north of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) remains in darkness. This is evident from the satellite images from the space. In the night South Korea illuminates with bright lights whereas North Korea is seen as a dark spot in East Asia in the satellite images. The brightness of the lights is evidence of prosperity in South Korea, whereas the darkness in the North reflects the economic poverty in the country.
The contrast between the two Koreas has developed in every sphere, be it political, economic or social. Almost everything is tightly controlled in the North as is evident from the purges, imprisonment and executions of the dissidents and the presence of a large number of labor camps across the country. The human rights situation in North Korea has become an issue of concern for the entire world. Apart from this, the role of the regime in the North in the proliferation of the nuclear and missile technology is threatening the security of other countries including India.
In terms of information and media reports, North Korea is like a black hole. The black holes in the universe do not allow any light to escape. In the same way the regime in Pyongyang strictly controls the inflow and outflow of information in the country. Foreign journalists are restricted and are not allowed to venture beyond certain areas in the country. Even diplomats and tourists from other countries are not allowed to move around freely in the North. The present situation in North Korea contradicts the liberal and humanitarian philosophy of Tagore.
For Koreans living in the South of the DMZ, illuminating the North is a cherished dream. The present government in South Korea under President Park Geun-hye is making all efforts for the reunification of the Korean Peninsula by highlighting the economic benefits of it. The surplus capital and technologies from the South and cheap labor and natural resources from the North would produce synergy which would not only lighten up the Korean peninsula but the entire region.
But to fully ignite the ‘Korean lamp' needs the efforts and pragmatic policies from both Koreas. Korea remains the only divided country in the world and both Koreas are still technically at war with each other. The need of the hour is flexible measures, so that Korea can fully ‘illuminate the East'.
The author is a Ph.D. candidate at the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, India. His e-mail address is rkdhawan13@hotmail.com.
