North Korea's Heterogeneous Nationalism and Unified Identity: Revisiting the Korean Peninsula on the 80th Anniversary of Liberation

YIKUS Issue Brief No. 173

Kwon Ji-min (Senior Researcher, Institute for Unification Studies, Yonsei University)

The year 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the Republic of Korea’s liberation. Over the past eight decades, the Korean Peninsula has experienced a tumultuous transition from the suffering of Japanese colonial rule to liberation, the subsequent division, and the consolidation of the North-South Korean system. This historical process is not simply a series of political and military events; it also serves as a mirror that reveals how the South and the North constructed and internalized national identity and state legitimacy within their respective systems. Particularly, given that both Koreas have relied on nationalism as the basis for their legitimacy, understanding the nature of this "heterogeneous nationalism" is essential to examining the issue of unification today.

South Korea has developed a relatively open and pragmatic nationalism within a political and economic order based on liberal democracy and a market economy. Particularly since the 1980s, as South Korea actively participated in the globalization movement through democratization and economic growth, South Korean nationalism shifted its focus from cultural pride to the formation of a pragmatic, civic-based identity. While this fostered greater inclusiveness and flexibility toward others, it also relativized the concept of "nation" as an identity. Within South Korean society, nationalism gradually shifted toward emphasizing individual freedom and rights, and attitudes toward unification also became predominantly pragmatic, taking into account realistic conditions and the international situation.

In contrast, North Korea has maintained a closed, ideologically driven nationalism centered on the Juche ideology. North Korean nationalism, characterized by strong nationalistic tendencies centered on anti-imperialism and anti-American slogans, has functioned as a means of protecting the regime and strengthening the legitimacy of the three-generation hereditary regime of Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-il, and Kim Jong-un. This nationalism has resulted in extreme distrust of the outside world and strengthened internal control, and even the discourse of national community with South Korea has been used as a means of systemic competition. Ultimately, this suggests that while South and North Korea share the same concept of "nation," their meaning and content differ significantly. This difference has deepened mutual misunderstandings and created a significant gap in the perception of the justification and necessity of unification.

Even within South Korea, the approach to unification has varied significantly depending on the era and regime. Prior to the 1990s, "anti-communism" and "unification through absorption" dominated the discourse. Later, a gradual unification approach emphasizing exchange and cooperation emerged. However, even this discussion has shown signs of wavering with changing regimes, resulting in a lack of consistent messages for the public and growing fatigue. In particular, recent generations increasingly perceive unification not as a romantic ideal but as a tangible cost and risk. The economic disparity between North and South Korea, the heterogeneous social systems, and security risks highlight the uncertainty surrounding unification, further emphasizing the need for strategic thinking to achieve national consensus.

Nevertheless, given that the Constitution of the Republic of Korea seeks unification and that the pain of division still structurally permeates our lives, unification remains a national task we cannot abandon. Division is not simply a matter of military confrontation; it imposes structural constraints on various aspects, including social resource allocation, diplomatic strategy, education policy, and identity recognition. These constraints, in turn, limit the Republic of Korea's national capacity. Unification should not simply be a symbolic event that realizes past national aspirations, but a springboard for a structural leap forward for future generations.

The unification debate now needs to move beyond partisan interests and approach it with a nonpartisan, long-term strategy. The key here lies in how to construct a "national identity for a unified Korea." The 80 years of division have not simply created a spatial separation; they have also created a disconnect in mindset, identity, and cultural experiences. Therefore, any attempt to unify the post-unification identity through the existing South Korean or North Korean nationalism is bound to fail. A new national identity must be based on mutual understanding and respect, and this must be achieved simultaneously across multiple domains, including education, cultural exchange, and historical narratives. For example, the development of a joint South-North history textbook, inter-Korean cultural and artistic cooperation projects, and youth exchange programs can serve as practical means of realizing this identity integration.

Young people, in particular, must become the agents of this new identity. Today's youth are more familiar with the experience of global citizenship than with the memory of division, and they tend to value practicality and diversity over political ideology. The national identity they can embrace should not be the nationalism centered on blood ties and regionalism of the past, but a new civic nationalism based on peace, human rights, and sustainability. This identity can be further concretized through communication through digital networks, multicultural experiences, and international cooperation projects. Creating venues where young people from both South and North Korea can participate jointly is essential.

The journey toward unification cannot be accomplished through short-term political events or diplomatic agreements alone. It is a long-term national project, complexly intertwined with identity, mutual understanding, institutional design, and cultural integration. This process will require considerable time and patience. However, if we do not begin this process now, future generations will inevitably face greater disconnection and conflict.

The 80th anniversary of liberation in 2025 is a precious opportunity to reflect on the past and plan for the future. Having experienced division and conflict during the Japanese colonial period, the Korean Peninsula must now prepare for the next 80 years. This begins with recognizing the differences in nationalism fostered under different regimes and designing a new, unified identity that transcends them. Unification is no longer a fantasy of "oneness," but a complex task of realizing "coexistence amidst differences." Only by jointly envisioning this vision of unification can peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula become a reality.

By Kwon Ji-min (Senior Researcher, Institute for Unification Studies, Yonsei University)

● The Issue Brief is based on the author's views and does not represent the official position of the Yonsei University Institute for Unification Studies.