Not long ago, I had a serious conversation with some younger colleagues about the current challenges in the field of North Korea and unification. The situation feels heavy and uncertain. Here are the main points we talked about:
- Major Cuts in U.S. Funding
Funding from the U.S., especially from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), which supported North Korean human rights and programs for North Korean defectors, has been cut sharply. Without a new plan, many organizations will likely shut down or shrink within a year or two. These funds—over 10 billion KRW (about 7.5 million USD) per year—helped pay for staff and run important programs. - No Progress in Korea’s Own Support System
When news broke about the U.S. cutting support, people in Korea talked about creating their own funding system. In fact, Korea passed a law to create a “North Korean Human Rights Foundation” 8 years ago, but it still hasn’t started. Many of the programs that used to get U.S. money could easily be supported by this foundation—if it ever became active. - North-South Exchange Has Stopped
Projects that tried to build cooperation between North and South Korea have been frozen for years due to sanctions and other issues. For example, someone who started working in this field during the May 24 Measures (2010) is now in their mid-40s. And next year marks 10 years since the Kaesong Industrial Complex was shut down. Even if it reopens someday, it likely won’t run the way it did before. - Only a Few Activities Still Possible in Korea
Right now, the only work still possible in South Korea is running seminars, educational programs, and scholarship support. Even so, we hope to do these things well. - Political Change Could Push These Issues Aside
There’s a strong chance the current government will be replaced by the opposition. If that happens, there may be investigations into those who supported military action during the last political crisis, and topics like unification and North Korea might be pushed out of the spotlight. The current government did pay some attention to North Korean human rights and defectors, but future leaders might not. Activists working in these areas could also face pressure because of their connection to the past government or their political views. - This Field Is Entering a “Cold Winter”
For the next year or two, it feels like everything related to North Korea and unification will freeze. The old ways of doing things no longer work. When I left a public foundation last year, my goal was to create a new model for this work. At first, it was a personal dream—but now, I feel a deep need to help keep this whole field alive and sustainable.