South Koreans impressed with summit, but some skeptical

Interviewees pose for a photo during interviews with The Korea Times, downtown Seoul Thursday. Korea Times photo by Jung Da-min

By Jung Da-min

During his Sept. 18 to 20 visit to Pyongyang, President Moon Jae-in achieved some memorable moments including his seven-minute speech in front of 150,000 in the May Day Stadium there and a visit to Mount Paektu.

South Koreans all had differing views on which were the most distinctive, though.

"The seven-minute speech was the most memorable scene and gave me the impression that we (the two Koreas) are definitely one, in that we are same people who speak the same language," Kim Kyung-min, 70, told the Korea Times in downtown Seoul Thursday. "Korea would be more powerful when unified, with a total of 80 million people," she said.

Lee Dong-soo, 56, also said President Moon's public speech Wednesday was the most impressive moment.

"It is amazing that President Moon could give such public speech in North Korea, which the previous administrations had never done," he said. "The fact that such a chance was given (to President Moon) is itself a big issue."

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For middle and high school students, the car parade on Tuesday left the strongest impression.

"It was amazing that President Moon Jae-in was able to make such moves in public," said Chae Ye-won, 18, a student.

Han Yeo-jung, also 18, added, "In particular, it was impressive that Pyongyang citizens were holding white letters on a blue background to welcome President Moon, instead of the usual red background."

While teens and those over 50 expressed excitement about the summit, saying they wanted to visit the North's famous places including the Okryu restaurant in Pyongyang and Mount Paektu, young job seekers and office workers remained indifferent.

Job seekers said they were too busy studying to care while office workers said they were rather indifferent or busy with work.

"I just saw a headline of the news that President Moon was going to Mount Paektu but that was the only news I saw regarding the summit," said Choi So-yeong, 27. "Such a meeting between the leaders of the two Koreas was not the first, so I just didn't care as much as I did for the first event."

Office worker Ko Il-hwan, 38, said he was too busy to check the news during the week, but was also less interested in the summit than he was in the first one on April 27, because little progress had been made in negotiations with the North.

"Practically, nothing much has been done and it seems North Korea-U.S. relations have also been stuck," he said.

South Koreans also said they did not believe denuclearization of the North would come in the near future, but they still saw hope in the summit.

"I think denuclearization may come, although I am not fully convinced, if Kim Jong-un really comes to Seoul," said Jeong Yong-hun, 29. "There are many media reports about the possibility of denuclearization, but I think it is more likely if Kim really comes to the South to discuss the issue."