Online Journal Mundo Asia Pacifico

The Korean war in the Colombian literature

Andres Eduardo Vivas Díaz — 2024-09-02

When Colombia sent an infantry battalion and three frigates in 1950 to participate in the Korean War, this event along with the future of the veterans was a central part of some Colombian literary works over the years. Although no detailed studies have been carried out in this regard, this text seeks to delve into those works written by Colombian’s writers that address the issue of war and the future of veterans, and thus contribute to a topic that has so far been little worked on in the country.

Translating Jang Jin-seong: The country immage of North Korea reflected in the verse of a refugee poet

Andrii Ryzhkov — 2024-09-02

Like many other refugees, North Korean (NK) intellectuals, i.e., poets and writers did witness the NK reality. After having left their home country, they quite conceivably turn to their homeland in their works. Literary image shaping studies have discovered a notably varied significance in presenting the images of native countries. In this regard, the North Korean writers living outside DPRK have an extraordinary role in addressing the universe of North Korea. Their literary works convey complex inner issues to the wider world outside, introducing them in a more forceful and apparent for reader way. In this light, this here paper is an endeavor to analyze how and by what means North Korean refugee poet Jang Jin-seong refers to DPRK in his verses. Thus, on the way to the stated goal the paper aims at examining of the images of NK met in literary discourses of a famous author. His verses published in South Korea served as material to achieve the purpose of the study, meanwhile corresponding examples were translated from Korean into Spanish.

Student movements of 60s, 70s and 80s in South Korea, and their input the country's democracy

Angelica Méndez Ospina — 2024-09-02

The objective of this research is to show the similarities and differences between the student movements of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s in South Korea. Also, it explores the reasons why civilians decided to march to protest against the government. In addition, it will describe the role of students in these years, what were the consequences, and what happened to democracy. Finally, it will show if there was any type of organization in these movements and if they left any legacy that can be seen in the present.

Peronism and Kimilsungism: An analysis of the representation of Argentina in the North Korean press, as well as the influence of the Argentinian delegations traveling to North Korea in the framework of the cold war

Camilo Aguirre Torrini — 2024-09-02

Although scholarly and journalistic accounts have extensively documented the establishment and subsequent termination of bilateral relations between Argentina and North Korea during the Argentine military dictatorship, the underlying factors enabling alignment between two nations initially positioned within antagonistic Cold War blocs remain underexplored. This article aims to elucidate the alignment between Argentina and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) that culminated in bilateral relations. It argues that while the global diversification of the early 1970s facilitated their encounter, ideological affinities and historical exchanges preceding formal diplomatic ties were pivotal. Drawing upon North Korean press articles accessible through the Information Center on North Korea at the National Library of Korea, this study reveals previously overlooked connections, shedding light on early links between Peronism and Kimilsungism.

Getting to know Korea through its history

Camilo Rodriguez Gómez — 2024-09-02

One of the processes that have marked the world in recent times had undoubtedly been globalization, which, through the bonds of interconnectivity and interdependence that it had generated between nations and peoples around the world, have created the need to generate different methods for the understanding and cooperation between the thousands of different cultures that coexist today.

On this occasion, prompted by the 10^th Meeting of Korean Studies in Latin America and by my passion for history, I have asked myself how influential Korea’s history has been on its unique and special culture?

This paper seeks to find the answer to this question by recalling different historical periods in the Korean peninsula, beginning with the settlement of the first peoples and the subsequent founding of the kingdom of Gojoseon, as well as the rise and fall of the subsequent Goreyo and Joseon kingdom and their importance in the rich culture that Korea possesses today.

The numerous wars and invasions endured over the the centuries such as the Mongol and Japanese invasions in the 13^th and 16^th centuries, the Japanese colonization and finally the forgotten Korean War. Facts that strengthen the definition of Korean identity given at the beginning of the document that characterized them as a nation strong in principles and traditions whose communitarian ideology has allowed them to survive the passing of the centuries.

70 year since the armistice in the Korean peninsula: Diections for peace and unification

Juan Felipe López Aymes — 2024-09-02

In July 2023, the seventieth anniversary of the signing of the armistice that paused the Korean War was commemorated. This fratricidal conflagration began as an internal conflict, but became international when the disputing parties looked abroad for support for their causes, which gave rise to the intervention of foreign interests after the liberation in 1945. The common cause was the formation of a single Korea, although there was more than one vision about the configuration of the political economy of the new nation-state. This article agrees with the argument that the division of the Korean Peninsula is not only the result of external processes, but that the governments and dominant elites in both Koreas are co-responsible. Due to the agency of the protagonists and their interest in survival as the ultimate objective, it is argued that the idea of reunification has a counterproductive impact on the peace process on the Korean Peninsula and is an explanatory variable of the difficulties in changing the regional security structure.

Snow men: Relations between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the left revolutionary movement of Chile (1965-1990) preparatory study

Luciano Lanare — 2024-09-02

The long and winding path of the relations of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) with Latin America and the Caribbean continues to be an issue surrounded by very little visibility. Only in recent years, excellent research works on the relations of the DPRK with the governments of Mexico, Argentina and Chile - during the second part of the 20th century - have shed some light on this exciting plot. However, there are still facts and events that form a nodal part of this great story to be removed from the shadows.

It should be noted that reconstructing this story is very difficult, although not impossible. And it is difficult, first of all, because of the great difficulty that exists in consulting primary sources, both in our region and -mainly- in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. In the first case, many of the actors who have participated in these events have died or remain reluctant to disclose moments of their political life that could be stigmatizing. Despite the years that have passed, there is still a lot of resentment about the open story about these experiences. Secondly, the impossibility, both economically and of free access to North Korean sources, conditions – in part – the reconstruction of this entire enormous historical puzzle. For reasons that are due to the general conditions regarding work in archives or the taking of direct testimonies in the DPRK, the complexity of accessing from Latin America becomes a Dantesque mission.

To the above, we must also add how complicated it will be to try to reconstruct the path along which these channels of relations circulated insofar as they were unofficial and informal contacts - often - without official records or public descriptions.

Notwithstanding the reservations expressed, this research may have a future. To this end, it is proposed – within the large field of inquiry that we will try to cover – to address one of the most emblematic cases: The Revolutionary Left Movement (MIR) of Chile and its connection with North Korea.

The working hypothesis, which is proposed here then, will focus on envisioning the possible existence of close ties between the militants of the Revolutionary Left Movement (MIR) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the search for military training and advice between the decades 1970 and 1980. In particular, we will try to base this hypothesis – with a central axis – on the so-called “Plan 78” within the so-called “Operation Return” that began its guerrilla activities in July 1980 in the southern region of Neltume (XIV Los Ríos Region, Chile).

Policies for innovation in Korea, and their influence in Latin America: The case of KAIST and Yachay Tech

Richard Salazar Medina — 2024-09-02

South Korea is a benchmark in innovation. Its transformation of the productive matrix through the establishment of technological research institutes to develop export products achieved undeniable economic success. Therefore, it is frequently cited as a model to follow in Latin America. And, in an effort to emulate the Korean model, various projects have been initiated, such as technology parks and research institutions in Latin America. This was the case in Ecuador with the creation of the Universidad de Investigación de Tecnología Experimental Yachay (known as Yachay Tech), which was theoretically inspired by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).

This article analyzes the gestation and development processes of KAIST and Yachay Tech from a comparative perspective. Significant differences are evident in the academic and management models implemented in both institutions. In the final analysis, to date Yachay Tech has not succeeded in replicating the KAIST model due to several factors examined in this article.

Public policy for the digital finances in South Korea, and its transfer to southeast Asia

Sadcidi Zerpa de Hurtado — 2024-09-02

The development of public policies for Fintech Startups in South Korea regulated and mandated public access and permission for full operation. Partnerships in the domestic market of different and varied users of digital finance in 2023 responded to the reality of the digital economy. Increased demands for incubation, acceleration and enhancement of financial inclusion induced towards digital infrastructure transfer and positive support for digital financial market shaping in the Southeast Asia region. National policies were expanded to the region through the Shinhan Future's Lab model of support and cooperation. Its contribution was to secure opportunities to sign agreements for the benefit of young entrepreneurs and to solve collateral problems in the region. Using sequential argumentative methodology, the hypothesis of the paper is tested which states: the government policy for innovation and installation of Fintech Startups in South Korea developed South Korean digital finance and supported the transfer of national digital infrastructure to Southeast Asia during 2019- 2022.

Clasics of the Korean antropology: An overview from the inputs to Korean studies in Latin America

Sergio Gallardo García — 2024-09-02

This text aims to highlight Korean anthropology researches, relevant for the development of Korean studies in Latin America. The main objective is identify the anthropology’s knowledge useful to understand Korean culture and their contributions to guide the Korean studies in our academic contexts.

By identifying the possible 'classics of Korean anthropology', we could generate a series of formative readings that help us develop a critical debate on Korean culture or cultures, from the reflective proposals that have been born on the peninsula.

The theoretical and methodological tools of the ethnographic proposals are highlighted to offer contributions considered useful for the improvement of Korean studies in Latin America.

Editorial

Juan Carlos Díaz Vásquez — 2024-09-02

In this second part of the issue dedicated to Korea and its many facets. A wide variety of aspects of this fascinating country are dealt with in depth and rigorously by the authors of the contributions that make up this issue. This issue, like the previous one, also presents part of the topics that were addressed at the Tenth Meeting of Korean Studies in Latin America (X EECAL), held at EAFIT University and led by the Center for Asian Studies, of the same institution.