Dreaming of Reconciliation on the Peninsula

  The Reconciliation Column in the Catholic times by the priest secretary of the Reconciliation Committee of the Bishops gives the readers some thoughts on the present situation in Korea.

In 1919, Shim Hoon (1901-1936), a sophomore in High School at the time, was arrested for participating in a demonstration for national independence on March 1st. The novel ‘The Evergreen Tree’ published by Shim Hoon in 1935 is remembered as a representative work of Korean peasant literature in the 1930s. The following are the questions and answers recorded in Shim Hoon's preliminary interrogation report of the District Court in June 1919.
 
Q: What is the independence movement? A: We are now annexed by Japan, but we are fighting to regain the rights we have lost to Japan and become an independent country again.
 
Q: Why does the defendant want independence? A: This is because a nation should have independent politics without being sanctioned by other people. Unauthorized politics in Korea by Japan is to hold a sword even to civil servants and be hostile to Koreans. In addition, education and other unequal domination are ultimately making Koreans slaves to Japan, so we hope for independence.
 
 Q: Did you think independence would be achieved if you declared independence and sang (만세)hurrah? A: Of course, just calling for hurray does not mean independence. However, if you inspire the idea of ​​independence in this way, you will become independent someday, so you are doing the independence movement.
 
 Q: Will you continue the independence movement in the future? A: If there is an opportunity, I will do it again.
 
 More than 100 years ago, there were countless people who rejected violence and peacefully shouted hurrah for our nation's independence. The Japanese Empire was too strong for those who believed in ‘power’ to rule the world, and ‘long live independence’ was unrealistic. But those who could not give up on justice and peace cried out for hope in spite of the ridicule of the world.
 
Pope Francis recently said in an interview with South Korean media that he would go to North Korea as soon as he receives an invitation from North Korea. The Pope has already expressed his will to visit North Korea several times, but this time he expressed his will to the North Korean authorities more directly, saying, "I am asking you to invite me." The Pope and the Holy See's efforts to visit North Korea may seem unrealistic in view of the international situation heading for confrontation and the frozen inter-Korean relations. But Christians who believe in the Kingdom of God are not deprived of hope under any circumstances. Let the Korean church wishing for reconciliation and unity of the nation pray more earnestly for peace on the Korean Peninsula together with the Pope.