I.

Socio-Cultural

Before the formal separation of the two Koreas in 1945, the country shared the same
beliefs, in terms of their culture and the everyday aspects of living in the then united country. As
Korea finally decided to separate, it was also the time when the country was still focusing on
agriculture, and the country still has to be industrialized. After the division of Korea, it was only
natural that both the North and South would develop differently, in terms of how both countries
were going to be industrialized. The clash of ideologies between both the North and the South
would also mean a difference in the development of both the North’s and the South’s culture.
Thus, it is assumed that the division of the two Koreas brought about wide-scaled socio-cultural
changes. This also includes the changes in class structure, especially in urbanization and
industrialization since Korea has not undergone the process of industrialization before the formal
divide into two countries. As mentioned in a study conducted by the National Unification Board
in 1988, “thee socio-cultural changes differed greatly in content between South and North Korea
due to their ideologies and systems.” Both countries after the separation, went their separate
ways and made different choices which affected the formation of their socio-cultural aspects.
The works by the National Reunification Board, Gabriel Jonsson, and Mary E. Connor
focus more on the differences of both North and South Korea. In some parts of the books, the
authors and publishers also highlight the proposed and possible reunification of the two.

Changes which led to differences

These works, highlight the differences of North and South Korea in terms of the socio-
cultural systems, such as the cultural ideals as well as their cultural standpoints. It has been said
that South Korea, aims the creation of a wealthy society where all individuals can exercise his or
her freedom. North Korea on the contrary, doesn’t believe this kind of view. North Korea doesn’t
give much importance to the value of the individual, but it gives more importance and emphasis
on sacrificing the life of the individuals. South Korea also inherited the traditional views of the
unified Korea whilst the North changed its viewpoints. Even though some aspects of the
traditional culture might have remained in the North Korean society, there was still a greater
amount of change compared to views that were kept. North Korea, with its Marxist Leninism
view, aimed to changed the history passed on to them by transforming it into something that was
in line with their own beliefs, in line with their leader, which started with Kim-Il Sung and his
family.
The two Koreas underwent large amount of changes and they were able to develop
concrete differences from each other upon their formal divide into two separate countries. These
changes which led to be the differences included many aspects. Among these aspects are: The
cultural, wherein the South viewed man as the most valuable and centered the activities around
him while the North viewed the man as someone who should perform his duty, and stressed on
sacrifice. In general, the individual developed to have more power and freedom in the South
while the man was tied up to the leaders, the government in the North. When it came to ethics
and morals, the North viewed morals in terms of the correct form of conduct when it came to
following their principles and rules of their government. This is an entirely different view from
the South, which follow the universal view when it comes to morality. Before the divide, both
North Korea and South Korea had little difference in beliefs but when it was finally separated,
both countries changed and the circumstances became different. The contrasting belief system in
North and South Korean make the peninsula one of the most diverse places in the world in terms
of religion and thought, these differences inevitably heighten interest in the Koreas, but they are
very problematic for possible reunification. (Connor 2009:156). In terms of religion, there is
complete freedom to express and practice one’s own religion while it is prohibited in the North.
Religion in the North, was imposed on an individual forcefully, in this case, this religion referred
to as is said to be a religion which idolized their leader. No other faith can exist in North Korea
except the loyalty to their leader. In the study conducted by the National Reunification Board,
the North viewed religion as “a tool to beguile, exploit and oppress the people.” When it came to
class structure, North Korea aims for a classless society while the South has a different view.
However, in the work found in the National Reunification Board, North Korea actually goes
against its view of a classless society. North Korea bases one’s status from what family he or she
is born from. It is inherited. An example of this would be that the dictatorship of the former
leader was just passed on to his son, and this will continue as long as the Communist regime in
the North exists. South Korea has a different view, it believes that man can improve his status in
the society by his or her own efforts. Also in education, the South views education as a way to
enhance the knowledge of the individual while the North regards it as a way to make the people
learn about and impose its ideologies and communist beliefs onto the individual. As for media,
the South allows both the freedom of the press but it also expects it to have complete
responsibility. The function of the press in the North, as found in the book entitled: “A
comparative study of the North and South Korea” states that the function fulfilled by the press in
the North is the recreational and advertising function. The press is used only for political
purposes. It has become a tool for propaganda.
As shown above, most of the literature available which concern both the North and South
Korea only highlight and compare the differences between these two nations and the works
present in this field propose strategies so that both countries again be unified and finally exist
again in homogeneity. There are also more underlying factors that should be considered when it
comes to indentifying the sources of the tension between the two Koreas. Despite the efforts for
inter-Korean socio-cultural exchanges, it remains unsuccessful for the concrete differences of
both the North and South Korea go in the way and only contribute to the tension between the two
Koreas. Although educational exchanges such as the putting up of branch schools from the South
to the North are proposed, these are not most likely to work. As it has been previously said, the
two countries have a different kind of educational system. Also the North uses cultural contacts
as political propaganda. (Jonsson 2006:100) Even though there was also an agreement to the
mutual opening of media in 1991, it still didn’t turn out successful for North Korea failed to
cooperate well and it still wanted it to be limited. (Jonsson 2006:99) This failure, it can be
inferred would also be due to the fact that the function of media in both the North and the South
Korea differ.
What these works also fail to address is the fact that these socio-cultural differences
contribute to the tension present in both countries, which fail the attempt for possible
reunification. The role of the actor or the leader should also be put into consideration, for the
North Korean government, is operating in a what can be referred to as a dictatorship, for the
current leader decides on important matters which affects the development of every aspect,
which includes the socio-cultural one. This also supports the claim that Socio-cultural exchanges
during the past 20 years are dependent upon political circumstances. (Jonsson 2006:139) This
shows that the current leader of the North has a great influence on the socio-cultural exchanges
that happen between the North and the South. If one refuses to cooperate, and doesn’t participate
wholeheartedly and has a different agenda, then the possible thought of reunification and socio-
cultural exchanges will not work as well. The expansion of socio-cultural exchanges will not also
work in terms of reunifying the country, for both have already experienced drastic changes in
terms of culture and socio-cultural aspects. These differences must be addressed first, before the
thought of the possible homogeneity should occur. North Korea tends to use socio-cultural
changes to make propaganda for its own political system while looking down upon South Korea.
(Jonsson 2006:132) In a way, the attempt of the unification of both the North Korea and South
Korea can be just the same as mixing oil and water together as long as these socio-cultural
differences, which have become the tensions cannot be addressed. And so it again goes back to
the influence of the actor, or the current leader of the North, for as long as his political motives
remain, and he’s regime and beliefs are still not changed, there will be a less chance of
unification for as it has been found: Socio-cultural changes have basically been pursued in order
to confirm the sovereignty of two different political systems, in addition to reducing tensions.
(Jonsson 2006: 138) As long as the current political systems and tension have still not been
resolved, then the tensions on the socio-cultural aspects will not be solved either.