"Just... be careful, okay? Dating him"
"I'll keep that in mind. Plus, I'm only fake dating him so..."
"That's not what the world will think"
"It's just for the show."
Summer 2023: 75 years have passed since the Korea War came to an end on 27th July...
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To introduce everyone to the history that has brought them all together in the first place, Mina, the literature and history student, prepared the first presentation of the show:
"Hello, everyone; thank you for attending. And another welcome to all our new friends who have traveled such lengths to be with us here today,"; the blonde-haired girl said with a bright smile as she gestured towards Ayla, Tatho, Faras, and Tala, who all returned her smile.
"To get everything started, I received the task to introduce everyone to our dear country's history as well as your countries' participation.
The Korean War is, to sum it all up in one sentence, more than a conflict between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, known as North Korea, and the Republic of Korea, known as South Korea. The Korean War was, according to Rotondi, a civil conflict that turned into a proxy war between superpowers clashing over communism and democracy. Looking back, over 2,5 million people died in this civil war; sadly, 70% of the lives lost were civilians. Many people know that a peace treaty between both countries was never signed, unlike after the world wars in Europe. [1]
But, in 2021, North and South Korea, the United States, and China agreed to end the war formally. [1]
How did it even come this far? Korea was a kingdom for centuries before Japan took over Korea in the Russo-Japanese War, ruling ruthlessly and terribly over Korea from 1910-1945. However, during World War ll, Japan was forced to hand Korea over to the Allies. Korea was handed over to America and the Soviet Union. Who then decided to divide the country at the 38th parallel, setting up one communist government in the North and establishing a military government in the South. Political tension was intense, and both forces refused to acknowledge the other party. [1]
On June 25, 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea. Backed up with the help of thousands of Chinese troops.
On June 27, 1950, US President Truman ordered the forces to repulse.
After over a million combat casualties and millions of lives lost, the fighting ended in 1953.
Over 15 countries sent help to South Korea through UN forces. [2]
Among them:
Over 14.000 people from Turkey to the Infantry Brigade 1
Over 7.400 people from the Philippines to the Infantry Battalion 1
Over 800 people from South Africa in the Combat flying unit
And over 3.000 people from New Zealand to the Infantry Battalion 1 and Navy Frigate 1
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After the presentation, an upset silence washed over the group as everyone was digesting the history that had unlashed over this country. It was innocent civilian lives that suffered the most in these political conflicts. It was always the innocent civilization that become players in the battlefield. No one on this earth will live forever; immortality does not exist. We will all pass away one day as it is part of the life circle we have been brought into. Disasters caused by nature itself can't be prevented by humanity. But we humans cause the most significant pain and regret amongst ourselves. For what? Power. Money. Selfishness. Confidence?
Who are we even to take away the right of another human being? To even think of taking away their right to live? Out of pure hunger for more power and money. No human being will take their money to the grave; we all die the same. Such brutality amongst humanity does not even exist in nature; it is no instinct to feel and need it.
Human-induced pain and loss are one of the biggest obstacles we face in life.
"Are you alright, love?"
Jonghyun's question brought me back from my thoughts, to us sitting next to the Hangang River. He wanted to show me around Seoul a bit more as he would be busy tomorrow, a booked photo shoot. The sun was already setting when we left our houses in Hannam, and by the time we arrived at the river, the night sky had washed over Seoul. Like in Istanbul, you couldn't see the stars, so the moon was the only night constellation keeping us company.
And hundreds of strangers.
Who were thankfully minding their own life?
"What is weighing on your heart, my love? You can tell me."
"I'm just.. hearing everything that Mina explained today was a lot, you know? I know the timeline, but when the numbers sink in, reality hits you again. Those were over 2 million people. Two million dreams. 2 million smiles, and lives claimed by the political playground. 5 million people that lost their lives in the war, if you include all the soldiers who had a family, who wanted to go back home, who executed the ordered they received from their supervisors with no second look back", I confessed with a sigh as I looked over at Jonghyun. He oversaw me, ensuring he was getting all the words I was saying.
This was what people meant by genuinely listening to someone. It's not easy as it sounds like.
"Being a human in this world is a blessing but tainted by terrible greed," he then said softly.
He and I had known each other for over a month, but especially these past three days proved me how well-spoken Jonghyun was. You might see him as an unserious jokester, but he was full of literature and comfort in his next layer.
"Tell me a poem that has a profound meaning to you.", I then said. He didn't think twice before he spoke up:
"The heart of a man is very much like the sea. It has its storms. It has its tides and its depths. It has its pearls too."
"Who wrote that?"
"Vincent Van Gogh"
The artist? He wrote poetry
"I didn't know that van Gogh also wrote poetry."
"You'd be surprised by his art's beauty and truth it unveils".
My gaze was still set on Jonghyun while the river's surface reflected the moonlight in hundreds of small waves, the sound of young kids and adults shuffling in the back. We were amongst so many people, but somehow it felt like it was just the two of us.
On this moon night.
"One last question for tonight", my eyes were still set on him. Blurring out everyone else around us.
"There are no last questions, Holmes.", he grinned. He loved the Sherlock Holmes references as much as I did.
"Why do you love poetry so much?" I just... needed to know.
"Because it gave me a voice when no one else did.", he answered while looking into my eyes.
Sources for this chapter :
[1.] J. Rotondi, 2021: What caused the Korean War and why did the U.S. get involved? on history.com. Available at: https://www.history.com/news/korean-war-causes-us-involvement#:~:text=The%20Korean%20War%20was%20a,70%20percent%20of%20them%20civilians.
[2] Panmunjom Tavel Center, 2000: a list of countries (UN) that attended the Korean War. Available at: http://panmunjomtour.com/un/un_3.asp
