Towards an ethics of Korean reunification

Abstract

What ethical understandings must guide the work of reunification? What are the central elements of an ethics of Korean reunification? In this dissertation I study three Korean theologies, minjung (the people), sangsaeng (lifesharing) and tongil (reunification), The term minjung is a combination of two character, 민(min) translated as people, and 중(jung), translated as mass the word sangsaeng is comprised of 상(sang), meaning mutual and 생(saeng), meaning life the term tongil is comprised of 통(tong), meaning coming together and 일(il), meaning one. searching for these elements. The contribution of this dissertation is to examine minjung and sangsaeng theologies in view of what they can contribute to an ethics of reunification. A second contribution is to propose that the central understanding of tongil theology - reunification - has to be understood as the building of a Korean community, not just the creation of one nation. Basic to this understanding of community is a deep sense of justice, which comes from minjung theology, and of resolution of resentment (reconciliation), which comes from sangsaeng theology. The goal of the dissertation is to propose an ethics of reunification that guides us, not only in the work of creating a single political unit, but also in the construction of a new society in which all people are able to live together in peace and with justice. Minjung, sangsaeng, and tongil theologies can enrich the theo-ethical basis for the full participation of the churches in the reunification movement. The churches must “join people of other faiths and civil society groups in the common cause of peace and unification.”Ibid.These three theologies provide the churches a very specific hermeneutics for reading the Gospel in Korea in the 21st century, and for working ardently for the reunification of our country.