J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2015 Nov;54(4):353-359. 10.4306/jknpa.2015.54.4.353.

Unification Is Healing : Psychiatric Contemplation of Korean Peninsula Division and Unification

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Medical Education, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea. wtjeon@yuhs.ac

Abstract

Koreans have repeatedly experienced societal traumas, of which Korean Peninsula division and 6.25 are the greatest sources of trauma. Such division and the Korean War have destroyed the concept of "nation community," "town community," and "rational community" in the Korean people. Thus, Korean people have come to 1) live in a society with no recognition of community, 2) obsession with extreme ideologism, 3) lower ability to resolve conflict making societal dissension more serious. For the healing of this trauma, the following projects are needed : 1) foreign case analysis of societal trauma healing, 2) analysis of each subject and healing, 3) rebuilding of nation, town, and ration community in Korean society, 4) creation of artwork that gives introspection to division and its sublimation, 5) take the challenge to sublimate suffering in order to create a higher mental state of individual and society. Thus, the professional role of a psychiatrist is important. First, administer professional treatment to those in need of medical psychiatric help who are suffering from societal trauma resulting from division. Second, grasp the mental and societal difficulties and special help needed for the various traumas. Third, help in creation of artwork dealing with the pain of division. Fourth, create a more culturally sensitive and appropriate psychiatric support method for North Korean Refugees in South Korea. Fifth, help in sublimating pain and finding meaning and maturation through it. It is important to acknowledge that "Unification is Healing."

Keyword

Unification; Korea unification; Societal trauma; Healing; Social healing; Division

MeSH Terms

Hand Strength
Humans
Korea
Korean War
Mercuric Chloride
Obsessive Behavior
Professional Role
Psychiatry
Refugees
Sublimation
Mercuric Chloride

Reference

1. Korea Road Traffic Authority. Traffic Accident Analysis System. Available from: http://taas.koroad.or.kr/reportSearch.sv?s_flag=04#.
2. Park ML. Politics of the sewol sinking: social, institutional reform as/with a human healing. Crit Rev Hist. 2015; 110:8–38.
3. Famula K. Healing societal traumas and transforming collective consciousness: a path to a culture of healing. Austria: Thesis to the European University Center for Peace Studies;2007.
4. Cohen BE, Neylan TC, Yaffe K, Samuelson KW, Li Y, Barnes DE. Posttraumatic stress disorder and cognitive function: findings from the mind your heart study. J Clin Psychiatry. 2013; 74:1063–1070.
5. Alexander JC. Toward a theory of cultural trauma. In : Alexander JC, Eyerman R, Giesen B, Smelser NJ, Sztompka P, editors. Cultural trauma and collective identity. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press;2004. p. 1–30.
6. Hilty A. Jeju Olle and the Korean psyche: healing minds and hearts. The Jeju Weekly [serial online]. 2011. 11. cited 2011 Nov 12. Available from: http://www.jejuweekly.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=2161.
7. Jeon WT. Collective memory and understanding of North Korean society. J Korean Assoc Soc Psychiatry. 2000; 5:179–196.
8. Kang JM. Code of Korean. Seoul: Character and Thought;2006.
9. OECD Data. Suicide rates. Paris: OECD;2015. Available from: https://data.oecd.org/healthstat/suicide-rates.htm.
10. Park J, Kim YG, Lee DW, Kim SB. Social conflicts and economic cost. CEO Inf. 2009; 710:1–21.
11. Park J. Current state of social conflicts in republic of Korea. In : The second national cohesion symposium; 2013 Aug 21; Seoul: Committee of National Cohesion Report;2013. p. 3–14.
12. Jeong YH, Ko SJ. Social conflict index and economic growth: evidence from a cross-section of 7 countries. Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs;2014. p. 1–138.
13. National committee for investigation of the truth about the Jeju April 3 incident. Investigation report of the Jeju 4.3 incident. Seoul: SunIn;2003.
14. National committee for investigation of the truth about the Jeju April 3 incident. White book of national committee for investigation of Jeju 4.3 incident. Seoul: SunIn;2008. p. 113.
15. Kang WT. South-South conflict's ideological characteristics and experience analysis in South-South conflicts - Diagnosis and solution. Institute for Far Eastern Studies. Changwon: Kyungnam University;2004. p. 61.
16. Brandon H. Healing. In : Bloomfield D, Barnes T, Huyse L, editors. Reconciliation after violent conflict: a handbook. Stockholm: International IDEA;2003. p. 77–88.
17. Woodside D, Santa Barbara J, Benner DG. Psychological trauma and social healing in Croatia. Med Confl Surviv. 1999; 15:355–367. discussion 391-393
18. Kang SI, Kim KY, Kim KY, Kim HY, Song SY. New challenge of humanity in 21th century - healing. Chuncheon: Sanckeck;2011.
19. Kang KS, Kim IJ, Yoon IS, Yoon HR, Jung RK. Art and healing of humanity. Chuncheon: Kangwon University;2013.
20. Reddemann L. Imagination als heilsame kraft: zur behandlung von traumafolgen mit ressourcenorientierten verfahren. 2nd ed. Stuttgart: Pfeiffer bei Klett-Cotta;2001.
21. Jeon WT. For the South and North Korea Pelple's Unification. Seoul: Oruem Publishing House;2000.
22. Jeon WT. People's Unification, Land's Unification. Seoul: Yonsei University Press;2007.
23. Müller-Fahrenholz G. The art of forgiveness: theological reflections on healing and reconciliation. Geneva, Switzerland: WCC Publications;1996.
24. Botman HR, Petersen RM. To remember and to heal: theological and psychological reflections on truth and reconciliation. Capetown: Human and Rousseau;1996. p. 47–56.
Full Text Links
  • JKNA
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr