On May 2nd, ahead of the early presidential election last year, former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who visited the May 18th National Cemetery in Gwangju, pleads for permission to pay his respects after being blocked by Gwangju citizens and representatives of social organizations, saying, "I am also from Honam." [Photo=Yonhap News]
If we wish to cleanse ourselves of the grudges and tragedies of regional discrimination that have persisted for a thousand years, we must first understand the sorrow (한, *han*) of the people of Jeolla. However, if we ignore the deep-seated *han* accumulated in the hearts of Jeolla residents, this issue will never be resolved.

The author believes that where there is poison, there is also medicine. Difficult problems may exist, but I firmly believe there are no unsolvable problems.

Let's Break Free from the Shackles of the Ten Edicts and "Pungjeon Seru"

The solution for Honam is no different. While it may be a difficult problem, we cannot afford to leave it unresolved forever. The question is, how sincere is the entire nation in seeking a solution for Honam?

And we must have the courage to solve the problem. The 8th article of the Ten Edicts of Loyalty left by King Taejo Wang Geon of Goryeo includes the phrase, "Do not appoint people from south of Cha-hyeon and outside Gongju River," which became the origin of discrimination against Honam.

However, historical scholars propose a forgery theory, suggesting that this passage was inserted by a specific political faction to exclude Honam during the period after Wang Geon's death when records were lost due to invasions by the Khitan and other events.

Yes. We must now courageously state that the Ten Edicts are a false fabrication, and that "Pungjeon Seru" (a metaphor for a slender willow swaying in the wind, used to describe a person who is agreeable and intelligent but changes their attitude based on circumstances or is opportunistic), which describes the character of Jeolla people, is also a misinterpretation.

Whatever we seek to resolve, courage is essential. Therefore, we must not avoid the gaze of the people of Jeolla but face them directly. And we must not forget the young people of Jeolla in the 1960s-1980s who said, "We cannot die for South Korea."

Do not shy away from the resentful gazes of the people of Jeolla; confront them. And we must acknowledge that the Ten Edicts, which have torn their hearts for a thousand years, were a fabrication. We must be able to candidly speak of "Pungjeon Seru" as the noble elegance possessed by the scholars of Honam.

Acknowledging the Historical Errors of Regional Discrimination Will Reveal a Solution to May 18th

If we truly acknowledge that the history of regional discrimination is wrong and approach with a desire for forgiveness, there is no reason for the people of Honam to close their hearts. If we look at May 18th with those same eyes, perhaps it will offer a solution.

Through this, we can finally expel the impure forces and fake patriots who have infiltrated under the guise of democracy activists. This is because individuals like Lee Seok-ki are the true culprits who tarnish the honor of May 18th and Gwangju/Honam. We must genuinely condemn the situation where, due to them, May 18th Gwangju has become a stronghold for Juche ideology and the breeding ground for pro-North Korean organizations.

And we must highlight the dire reality of Lotte Chilsung leaving Gwangju recently, with commercial vacancy rates reaching 48% not only in the commercial areas in front of Chonnam National University but throughout Gwangju.

We must inform them that the reason Kumho Tire, a leading company in Honam, is moving to Poland is due to the "Gwangju-type job" initiative. We must make them keenly realize how hollow the claim of being a labor-centric company is.

Lee Seok-ki is clearly a traitor who threatened to commit terrorism for North Korea. However, Lee Seok-ki is also from Mokpo. As he was born in 1962, he would have lived through the period of intense discrimination against Jeolla.

Therefore, Lee Seok-ki may also have been a victim of his time, having experienced firsthand the discrimination against Jeolla. He, too, would have been someone who could not die for South Korea. Thus, we must be able to share the pain of the people of Jeolla. This also applies to the pain embedded in the background that led Lee Seok-ki to choose the path of betrayal.

However, if we view Jeolla through the lens of the Ten Edicts, which designated it as a traitorous land south of Cha-ryeong, or as fickle and frivolous like "Pungjeon Seru," there is nothing more that can be done.

Facing the Unfortunate History Directly Opens the Path to a Solution

Therefore, even if it is an unfortunate history, we must face history directly. With sincerity and courage, we must openly discuss the wrongs of the past. Solutions begin in the heart, and bear fruit from the heart.

Most people from Yeongnam may not be directly involved in this issue of regional discrimination. During the Joseon Dynasty, when the Sobaek Mountains and rivers blocked interaction, when did they ever meet people from Jeolla?

Reading the records written by the Yeongnam Neo-Confucian scholars who achieved official positions and settled in Hanyang, it is likely that among their disciples and later generations, there were those who led the discrimination against Honam. It is presumed that the people of Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Chungcheong regions also had a minority of scholars as perpetrators of discrimination.

The 60-year reign of the Andong Kim clan and its abuses are not the responsibility of those currently living in the Andong region. All of it was the deed of the Andong Kims who moved their base to Hanyang in Seoul.

Regional Chauvinists Are Blocking the Path of the Right Wing

There is a reason why the conservative right wing has been unable to clear its past and evolve.

The elders of the People Power Party who experienced the period of national modernization may have been the instigators of regional discrimination. They are the ones who enjoyed political success by exploiting regional animosity. They are the ones who stood by with folded arms during the impeachment of President Yoon.

These individuals, who presented themselves as moral paragons living without soiling their hands, are currently blocking the path of the conservative right wing. Because they are spoiled individuals filled with a sense of superiority stemming from their privileged backgrounds, generational change is absolutely necessary.

Some may advocate for Jeolla's independence, but such foolish talk comes from a lack of understanding of Jeolla. There are no people as resilient as those of Jeolla.

They are the ones who faced over 300 Japanese warships with only 13 ships. They are the ones who endured the era of discrimination with their entire being. Therefore, the independence of Jeolla would be the final outcome of national division.

Gwangju May 18th... A Product of Pain Born from the Era of Honam Discrimination

There must be a solution to resolve national division. First, do not avoid the lonely gaze of the people of Jeolla. Also, face the unfortunate history of Honam discrimination head-on. Do not shy away. May 18th is also a product of pain born from an era of extreme discrimination against Honam.

By first understanding and sharing each other's emotions, we can overcome this difficult problem. The solution to regional conflict lies in understanding history and sharing emotions. Again, there are no unsolvable problems.

The first quality of a hero is courage. President Park Chung-hee was a man of immense courage. And he completed the path of national modernization, a long-cherished aspiration of the nation. Similarly, we must all have the courage to solve the problem of regional conflict.

I can only pray. I, the author, will soon have to leave this world. Before I die, I wish to see a beautiful world where the nation becomes one. Surely, this is not my only wish, people!

※ The opinions of external contributors may differ from the editorial direction of this publication.

◆ Poet Jeong Jae-hak

Poet, National Meritorious Person, Columnist, Park Chung-hee Presidential Public Relations Committee Member, 36 years of teaching experience in Jeolla.