지난 9월 28일 재미동포중남부연합회(임춘성 회장)는 월례 사랑방 행사를 가졌습니다. 이번에 가진 사랑방 모임에는 박문재 재미동포전국연합회 의학과학자 위원장을 모시고 시카고 지역과 인근 지역의 회원과 한인들 상대로 행사를 가졌습니다. 지역의 한인동포들과 함께 행사를 가진 사랑방 강연회는 매우 모범적인 활동으로 여겨지며 자세한 내용은 최성용 재미동포중남부협의회 사무국장게서 작성하신 기사로 대처하겠습니다. - 재미동포전국연합회 웹사이트

일제의 강점으로 빚어진 한일 민족간 비극의 역사를 청산하고 양 민족 간 화해와 평화를 상징하는 "청산탑"(가칭)을 세우자고 28일 내과의 박문재 박사가 재미동포 중남부 연합회(임춘성 회장) 가 주최한 월례 사랑방 강연회에서 제안했다.

박문재 박사는 ‘일본군 위안부 실상과 한?일 역사의 미래’를 주제로 한 이날 강연회에서 화해와 청산을 상징하는 청산탑에 지난 세기 양 민족간 얽힌 고난의 역사를 기록해 양국 정상이 함께 탑을 참배하고 국가간 현안도 정례적으로 논의해 인접한 이웃으로서 한일이 새로운 미래를 열어가는 이정표를 만들자고 말했다.

박 박사는 청산탑을 계기로 양국 청소년들이 참석한 가운데 서울과 도쿄를 잇는 다양한 문화행사를 열고 우호와 협력의 기초를 다지는 방안도 덧붙였다.

이날 박문재 박사는 지난8월말 일본을 방문한 결과를 전하면서 “고이즈미 총리이후 일본우익정권 등장으로 재일동포들은 마치 지난 1960년대 흑인들 같은 인권 유린과 차별을 당하고 있다”고 말하고 ‘재일동포 인권 탄압 반대위원회’를 한인사회에서 결성해 미주와 일본의 동포들이 함께 일본 정부의 부당한 인권탄압을 저지하자고 제안했다.

박 박사는 이 특별위원회를 통해 지난7월 연방 하원을 통과한 ‘일본군 위안부(성노예) 대한 일본 정부의공식 사과 요구 결의안(HR #121)’이 실행되도록 일본 정부를 적극 압박하는 한편 재일?재미 한인 학생, 변호사 등 차세대 젊은이들의 상호방문 등 동포간 교류와 협력도 강조했다.

한편 이날 강연회에는 재미동포 중남부 연합회 회원을 비롯한 전 시카고 평통 황정륭회장, 민족예술인 협회 김송기 박사, 이재구 전 시카고 한인 마당집 사무국장등 30여명의 한인들이 참석해 남북정상회담과 6자회담 전망등 한반도 통일 문제에 대해서도 활발히 의견을 나누는 시간을 가졌다.

아래의 원고는 박문재 박사가 지난9월 재미동포전국연합회 윤길상회장과 함께 재일동포 일본 방문 당시 일본의원들에게 제안한 내용입니다.

Korean Americans

(2007)

General;

• Population, approximately 1.5 million-increasing 2^nd and 3^rd generations with professional back ground and gaining political clout in the US society
• Organizational interest was on the protection of Korean American civil rights, however have not experienced any significant ethnicity based discrimination; progressive and satisfactory integration into main stream US society had been achieved in general,
• Major thrust of interest thus became; Support for Peaceful Reunification of Korean Peninsula and emergence of a politically and economically strong and advanced “Korea”

Recent Events and Activities;

• Korean American political action has become pronounced since the emergence of Bush Administration and subsequent deterioration of the US-DPRK relation/”Axis of Evil” remark by Bush, et.al., since it runs counter to one of its important general objectives-(see above) as well as the fact that as US citizen, Korean Americans see it as a foreign policy doomed to failure/i.e., the emergence of DPRK as a regional nuclear power!
• Increasing concern over seemingly worsening Japan-Korea relation with the advent of Prime Minister Abe and his Party; 1. Japan-North Korea relation 2. Statements contrary to the historical facts on some unfortunate events between the two countries in the past century 3. Seemingly increasingly negative attitude against Korean Japanese residents

Korean Americans and Japan; Its Recommendation and Agenda for Their Continued Political Action Work in the US Society.

• US HR#121(copy attached): Korean Americans have strongly supported the resolution, actively lobbied for its passage through the House committee and worked very closely with the bill’s sponsor, Congressman Mike Honda. The example of its advocacy work in the US society, New York Times Full-page AD, April 27, 2007, page A-11.(copy attached)

• Continue to be active in urging Mr. Abe and his administration to support the February 13, Six-Party Talk Agreement for the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and Fareast.
• Urge Japan to be more conciliatory in its foreign policy dealing with DPRK, recognizing as a fact that the peaceful, reunified strong Korea friendly to Japan is the long term benefit to Japan.
• Recommend Japan to ease pressure on Korean Japanese organizations in Japan recognizing the fact that many mutual problems could be resolved in time with basic acceptance of the obvious fact that they, the Korean residents in Japan are here to stay in Japan as contributing members of the society therefore, continued pressure, mistreatment and discrimination against them is contrary to the Japan’s interest and run counter to the generally accepted and admired Japanese people’s virtues i.e., fairness, civility, tolerance and humanism.

A Korean American’s Specific Recommendation for the Final Resolution and Reconciliation of the Japan-Korea Historical Relationship.

• Need to establish a firmly established material evidence that is “Carved in Stone” and stands the “Test of Time” indicating that :
  1. All the sad and unfortunate incidences, events, misunderstandings that had occurred between the countries of Japan and Korea had been “Resolved” (Seisan; Chungsan)
  2. With this resolution and acceptance of apologies and recognitions, the two neighbors will start a new relationship conducive to extremely close, peaceful and uniquely brotherly international alliance, “Reconciliation” (Wakai; Hwahae)

3. Therefore establish in Japan a significant Monument structure funded and designed jointly between the two countries which might be called “Sei-Wa Doh” (Chung Hwa Tap)

• The Monument will carry the list of all the incidences, events, that had occurred between the two countries in the past two centuries, and statements of regrets, apologies, where appropriate by either of the countries and also a pledge that it will not be repeated.
• The Monument will also carry names of all the historical individuals of both countries related to the international relationship between Korea and Japan, both sad and happy, nevertheless to be remembered, e.g., Itoh, Hirobumi, Ahn, Joongkeun, Empress Min, her assassin, Yoon Bongkil, Syngman Rhe, Kim, Ilsung, Lee, Joon, etc., etc., recognizing and accepting the fact that one country’s hero could be other’s villain.
• The heads of Japan and Korea will carry out annual official visits to the Monument and use the occasion of the summit to discuss mutual matters of pending concerns and renew the pledge of friendship.
• The annual official ceremony will be also attended by #100 of each youth representatives from both country, they will hold week-long cultural events alternating annually between Seoul and Tokyo, celebrating this unique international relationship.

Respectfully submitted by;

Moon J. Pak, M.D., Ph.D., Member

Rev. Kilsang Yoon, President

Korean American National Coordinating Council (KANCC)

August, 2007

Contacts:

M. J. Pak; (248) 656-0177-(O), (248) 894-3064-(Cell.)

mjpak1000@yahoo.com

www.ko-amleague.org

www.koreapeacenetwork/info

K. S. Yoon; (951) 243-2761-(O), (909) 919-6233-(Cell.)

Kancc_ceo@yahoo.com

www.kancc.com

[기사 작성: 최성용 재미동포중남부협의회 사무국장]