War's Redemption: The Possibility of a Park for Peace in the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea

Abstract

In 1998 the DMZ Forum was formed with the goal to create a Park for Peace in the Demilitarized Zone between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the Republic of Korea (South Korea). Parks for Peace are created by two historically opposing countries in order to improve the relationship between the two and to protect an area with cultural and/or environmental signficance. This thesis examines the positives and negatives of such a project. It consists of an academic paper and a non-fiction book, Middle Ground: Between the Koreas, of the popularizing science genre.

The academic component of this thesis discussed the likely effects that the environmental, economic and political statuses of North and South Korea would have on the implementation of a Park for Peace, and looked at case studies of previously created Parks for Peace. It found that a Park for Peace might be a viable option in the future, once the relationship between North and South Korea has improved, a Park for Peace would be beneficial to the environment, and has the possibility of helping to improve the relationship between the two nations, and the park could have economic advantages as a Park for Peace in terms of eco-tourism. Possible barriers to a Park for Peace include continued hostility between the nations, the push for development threatening plans for an ecosanctuary in the Demilitarized Zone, and a possible imbalance in the advantages that the Park may give the respective parties, which could cause a reluctance to contribute on the part of the party less benefited.

Middle Ground was written to inform the general public about the history, current status, and possible future of the Demilitarized Zone, as well as giving the necessary background information on Korea's history and culture. The book's discussion of the possibility of a Park for Peace exposes similar discussions and conclusions as in the academic component. However, Middle Ground was written for non-academics, utilizing the tenets of science communication for popularizing issues such as the environmental and cultural ones represented here. It is written in a colloquial style and includes journal entries and interviews to help retain reader interest and give a more immersive look into the culture of Korea. Current events have put Korea into the public eye and as such the book may be be seen as extremely topical.