Presbyterian Peace Network for Korea
WHY
Korea was one country for over 1,000 years. In 1945, with the defeat of Japan and the end of its colonial rule, the U.S. and USSR divided Korea along the 38th parallel. In 1950, escalating tensions between the two zones, who wanted to reunify the country, exploded into a outright war. Each side was supported by Cold War adversaries, each hoping to establish their own ideological system in a reunited Korea. After the war was halted with an armistice in 1953, narratives were developed in North and South Korea and in the U.S., each side sanctifying its own motives and actions during the hostilities and demonizing their adversaries. These accounts bolstered each country's domestic and global interests, but have prevented them from agreeing on a Peace Treaty to finally end the War and eventually re-unite the Korean nation.
WE ARE
We are a diverse group of people, many of whom belong to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) who share a common commitment to work for peace in the Korean peninsula. We are inspired to action regarding peace on the Korean peninsula because we have been deeply moved by accounts of the traumatic experiences and painful circumstances that national division has caused for those living on either side of the Korean divide as well as those living in the Korean diaspora. We recognize the complexity of how the Korean War and its legacies have been understood and experienced, as many of us also struggle to fully comprehend the situation and our nation’s role in it. We seek to increase the community’s understanding of the Korean War particularly as it relates to the U.S.A.
WE DO
We provide a space for discernment, education, reconciliation, and advocacy for dealing humanely with both the past and the ongoing conflict. Our purpose is to contribute to current efforts that seek to (1) reconcile opposing parties to help resolve ongoing conflicts on the Korean peninsula; (2) help the two states of Korea move towards peaceful co-existence (3) achieve a formal end to the Korean War through the multilateral negotiation of a durable peace treaty, and (4) secure eventual reunification initiated by Koreans on both sides of the Korean divide and supported by international solidarity work
WE AIM
We strive to contribute to current efforts to reconcile all sides of the Korean conflict through peaceful means. We welcome others who share our passion and concerns to join in our efforts.
