Guiding the Butterflies that will Bring Peace - Dahyun Jung
작성자/Author
관리자
작성일/Date
2020-02-27 17:59
조회/Views
661
Hello,
My name is Dahyun Jung and I am studying politics and international studies at Chung-Ang University. During the 2020 winter break, I had an invaluable experience as an intern with the Korean Sharing Movement.
I was curious about North Korea after hearing about it every day through the news and through my studies. I felt angry about the reality of division and was excited about the idea of unification, so I had an interest in issues affecting the Korean Peninsula. I studied more and more through reading books but, as my curiosity in the field grew, I had a desire to learn more about the process of unification, rather than just about the expected result. Fortunately, I was able to do so by becoming an intern with the Korean Sharing Movement.
My two months of interning gave me new insight into inter-Korean affairs and the work of NGOs. I had previously considered inter-Korean exchanges in abstract terms but, by learning about the long-standing projects of the Korean Sharing Movement, I realized that inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation require intermediate action through concrete, realistic steps. If this crucial part of the process is not handled carefully, there is a risk of cooperative programs becoming just one-off events or being scrubbed altogether. Personally, I was very impressed with the Korean Sharing Movement’s attitude in creating new and improved exchange and cooperation programs in partnership with the North. I had previously questioned whether sustainable inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation were simply used as pleasant rhetoric to match the international political environment. But, seeing the hands-on work of the Korean Sharing Movement, I gained a fresh view of such programs and was genuinely touched. The NGO is working hard to find breakthroughs in cooperation and I hope that it succeeds in ushering a new era of win-win exchange and cooperation soon.
It was also impressive to see the expansion of peace education through the Football 4 Peace (F4P) program. While KSM mainly works on inter-Korean exchange projects that are sensitive to changes in the external political environment, KSM also has projects that focus on shaping the domestic environment. According to surveys taken by participants in KSM’s F4P program, participants’ perception of peace changed due to the program. Participants had considered peace to be a large and abstract goal but, thanks to the program, began to perceive peace as a concept that average citizens can practice in their daily lives. I also realized that practicing this kind of “daily life peace” is the first step towards real peace on the Korean Peninsula, rather than rollout of a grand system or concrete law. I hope that the purpose of the F4P program will gain wide recognition and that the program will continue to expand.
Working within the Korean Sharing Movement’s planning and public relations team, I took the role of leading a collection drive for old textbooks. The project required collaboration with many more organizations and people than I had initially expected. Much preliminary work had to be done to gather enough used textbooks to contribute to our fund for helping North Korean children and Koreans overseas. Working with my KSM colleagues, I realized that there were many organizations with vested interests. Rethinking what I had previously known, I realized that the work of NGOs is very collaborative. NGOs, though not particularly powerful on their own, can come together to form very strong networks and accomplish a lot. For our used textbook drive, we cooperated with schools, collection companies, collectors, and the education department. An important role of NGOs, I realized, is bringing together diverse stakeholders as partners. Due to KSM’s leadership and the combined efforts of various local entities, the used textbook collection created a beneficial butterfly effect that was felt both across the border and overseas. It was an honor to work with the Korean Sharing Movement, guiding butterflies in the sky.
I will cherish the memories I made with KSM over the past two months and will fondly remember the stories we told each other at lunch, as well as my Tteokbokki farewell party. Though I only played a supporting role, I am happy to have had my experience as an intern, working with the KSM family. I would like to sincerely thank everyone at the office for taking care of me and sharing with me their experiences. My time at KSM felt very natural and I was able to learn much during the past two months. I believe that, if the passion of the Korean Sharing Movement can be spread across the whole Korean Peninsula, peace and unification will not only be possible but also come very naturally.
Once again, I would like to thank my KSM family. I won’t forget the insight and inspiration you gave me each day at work and I pledge to always support you. Thank you.
P.S. <The Korean Sharing Movement, according to intern, Dahyun Jung>
# A place that leads inter-Korean exchange and cooperation projects that are sustainable and mutually beneficial
# A place that assists civil society activists to be more than just workers
# A progressive place that recognizes the limitations of both internal and external conditions but never ceases moving forward
Hello,
