“A History of Heartache”: Korean Reunification through the Eyes of Giseong Sedae

Author

Johanna Avalyn Cooper, University of MississippiFollow

Date of Award

Spring 5-7-2022

Document Type

Undergraduate Thesis

Department

Croft Institute for International Studies

First Advisor

Kate Centellas

Second Advisor

Zachary Adamz

Third Advisor

Gang Guo

Relational Format

Dissertation/Thesis

Abstract

In this thesis, I analyze answers provided by middle-aged South Koreans (Giseong Sedae, ages 40 to 69) to determine what factors have influenced this generation’s perceptions of Korean reunification. Utilizing a survey and interviews, I first measure the general views of South Korean participants within this age range. The survey results show that the majority of respondents want Peaceful Coexistence reunification without foreign influence. In interviews, participants’ answers are divided into six main factors that affect their views of reunification which include hesitancies toward reunification, the tenacity of Han Minjok, familial ties to division, anti-communist education, political affiliation, and religiosity. Regardless whether respondents were for or against reunification, all members of Giseong Sedae in this study wanted peaceful coexistence on the Peninsula. Though there is question of how this translates into pragmatic action, factors from this generation’s upbringing and education, family ties to division, and personal affiliations to religious and political ideas all point to the necessity of North and South Korean reconciliation.

Recommended Citation

Cooper, Johanna Avalyn, "“A History of Heartache”: Korean Reunification through the Eyes of Giseong Sedae" (2022). Honors Theses. 2576.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/2576

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.