As of Tuesday one million people from the South have visited Mount Geumgang. It has been six and a half years since travel there started on November 18, 1998. The number has risen sharply; 260,000 last year and 140,000 so far this year, all since land access became possible in September 2003. The era of Mount Geumgang tourism has begun in earnest.
Few people predicted that the tourism project would continue for more than six years. Most people thought that it might be halted at any time should the political situation on the Korean peninsula become difficult. Indeed, there have been many trials and complications along the way, such as North Korea's detention of a Southern tourist early on in the project and the accumulated debt experienced by Hyundai Asan. At times the project's continuance was threatened because of the fact that the previous government sent funds to North Korea and because of Hyundai Asan president Chung Mong Hun committed suicide. Ultimately the reason the project was able to continue and overcome all sorts of difficulties is because it is beneficial to both North and South. Because tourism to Geumgang carried on even when dialogue between the two governments ceased temporarily, it prevented tensions from rising on the peninsula. Mount Geumgang has warmed hearts that were otherwise frozen.
The peninsula is facing a harder time than ever right now. You cannot tell when it will be hit with a crisis situation over the North Korean nuclear issue. All the more in times like this, North and South need to demonstrate that they trust and support each other. Peace on the peninsula and intra-Korean relations have to progress together. That is why the tourism program has to be made more substantial while projects that connect each side, such as the Gaeseong Industrial Complex and the proposed rail links, need to see more activity. That will require the building of strong mutual confidence. However difficult things may become promises made must be kept. There must not be a repeat of the North's unilateral suggestion that the delegation to the events marking the fifth anniversary of the summit in Pyongyang be made smaller, just because of a worsening of the political situation.
The Hankyoreh, 8 June 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]
One Million to Mount Geumgang |
