Argumentative Essays

201421552 Lee Sun Kyu

Should South Korea Engage in Aid projects for North Korea?

You may know that Korea is the only divided country in the world. Sad to say,
currently we cannot figure out how to achieve the reunification of the two Koreas.
Historically Korean people fought together against many intruders such as the
Chinese Qing dynasty and the Japanese Empire. After overcoming these crisis
regarding foreign intruders on our doorsteps, the Korean civil war broke out on the
Korean Peninsula, which divided the nation. After the war, South Korea had a
dependent economy on other nations and the international growth of the population
was controlled and stifled. Similarly, North Korea fell into the closed society and
citizens lost their freedom. (Na 5-16) Despite these differences, we must return to
the era of ethnic peace. To do this, South Korea must undertake aid projects
supporting North Korea for the upcoming unification. The reason why South Korea
must engage in aid projects for North Korea is for the following three reasons; for the
economic development of North Korea, the political harmony between the two
Koreas, and as a humanitarian act.
To begin with, aid for North Korea facilitates the economic development of
North Korea. Narrowing the economic gap between two Koreas is necessary for
unification. In fact, the per capita income of North Korea is just 854 dollars whereas

South Koreas is now above 20,000 dollars. For the unification of the two Koreas,
North Korea must enhance their economic level to the state that North Koreas
economy at least mirrors the giddy growth rates that South Koreas enormous
economy had. Economic development can raise the educational level of North
Korea. North Korea citizens do not have sufficient education because of their food
shortage. Famine is the primary problem to North Korea citizens, so they must
resolve this urgent matter for their future. Aid for North Korea also can be beneficial
for the unemployment problem South Korea has. South Korea creates economic
profits by combining the accumulated capital and technology with the low wages and
high-quality labors from North Koreans. In addition, industrial complexes such as the
Gaeseong Industrial Complex are offering many jobs for South and North Koreans
alike. (Kim and Jeon 104)
Furthermore, aid for North Korea resolves political conflict. The cold relationship
between the two Koreas destroys the chances of peaceful unification and may cause
another war. Understandably, a second Korean War must not reoccur. Helping the
North Korean government means that the South Korean government can feel that
the North Korean government partly accepts its political belief. Mutual
communication should lead to mutual development and finally help in finding a
resolution to the current conflict. Continuous support promotes a reduction in illfeeling between the communist North and its capitalist Southern neighbors.
Furthermore, the co-existence of pluralistic concepts is advisable for the unification
of the two Koreas. (Kim. Y 264) Hard-line policies toward North Korea following
political confrontation are detrimental to harmonization. Besides, the leader of North
Korea often makes unpredictable and unreasonable decisions that influence to the

peninsula. (Williamson 2014) On this situation, the magnanimous friendship policies

can help to warn many North Koreans to South Korean ways.
Lastly, aid for North Korea embellishes the ideal of humanitarianism. The closer
relations we have with North Koreans can arouse the fraternity between the two
Koreas. Many NGOs have tried to communicate with North Korea based on
humanitarianism. This complex and professional aid can find its way deeper into
North Korean society. (Park 74) With this assistance, North Koreans will open their
minds. Strictly speaking, North Korea is now defined as a rebellion group of Koreans
according to South Koreas constitution. Therefore, North Korea citizens are still
considered as part of South Korea society. Unfortunately, about twenty-five percent
of North Koreas population is threatened against the protection of basic human
rights. (Jang 60) For protecting peoples basic human rights, South Korea must
relieve North Koreans. Setting up specific plans for North Koreans is the most
important action needed based on a future-oriented view. North Koreans must
improve self-sustained capacity in their life. (Kim. K 51) Similarly, North Koreans
should adapt to the idea of unification by human-to-human.
Some South Koreans claim that aids for North Korea will help maintain the current
management structure of North Korea. Also, other opposing parties of aid projects
insist South Korea has helped North Korea for about 20 years, but any substantive
results have not occurred. However, South Korea must not gamble with North
Koreans lives just to break down the North Korean government. North Korea citizens
have immediate problems in their lives. According to the view of humanitarianism
and Korean nationalism, South Korea should see aids from not a short-term benefit
point of view but from a long-term point of view. This was originally part of South

Koreas previous Sun Shine Policy. (Kim. J 46)

In a nutshell, it is necessary for South Korea to aid North Korea. In order to
achieve a peaceful Korean Peninsula, South Korea ought to consider the benefits of
economic development, the resolution of meaningless politic conflict and the
realization of a more humanitarian approach over the long run. Surely, aid projects
must not be executed under a unilateral relationship. In addition, one-sided
cooperation will make South Korea just go around in circles. The direction of helping
North Korea should ultimately head toward warm-hearted mutual communication.
Therefore, South Korea should take the lead in the unification process by giving
positive aid, which is more urgent than before, to North Korea.

Works Cited
1. Jang, SeungHun, (The)Food Security and East Asia : The Food Shortages
of North Korea and Humanitarian Crisis, Seoul: Korea University, 2008.
Print.
2. Kim, JongGap, The Political Significance of the Sunshine Policy and
Possible Solutions to the South-South Conflict 12.2(2003): 41-58. Print.
3. Kim, KyurYoon, South Koreas North Korea Policy: Desirable Path for
Future Development 17.1(2010): 37-54. Print.
4. Kim, MinJeong, and Jeon KumLim, Balance of Interests Theory: Analysis on
Gaeseong Industrial Complex 10.1(2012): 101-129. Print.
5. Kim, YoungUk, The Ideologies and Politico-Economic Systems for Korean
Unification - Focusing on the comparison of North-South Korea's Realities,
and three unification cases of Vietnam, Germany, and Yemen 15.3(2005):
249-275. Print.
6. Williamson, Lucy, Why is South Korea plugging unification? bbc.com. BBC
News, 2014. Web. 7 June. 2016.
7. Na, SangNyeol, Effects of the Korean War on situations at home and
abroad, Gwangju: Chonnam National University, 2013. Print.
8.

Park, SungJu, (A) Study on Process and Development of the Humanitarian

Aid Campaign for North Korea: Focused on Activities of Korean Sharing
Movement, Seoul: Sungkonghoe University, 2005. Print.