[Dialogue] The Korean Peninsula Today, 80 Years After Liberation
The Quarterly Changbi 208, Summer 2025
Abstract
History Professor Hong Seuk-ryule of Sungshin Women’s University moderated this issue’s dialogue among Professor of History Education Kim Do-min of Kangwon National University, Professor of Korean History Moon Mi-ra of the University of Seoul, and Professor of Korean History Heo Eun of Korea University. This piece offers a historical perspective on the situation of the Korean Peninsula as it marks the 80th anniversary of liberation. It explores the internal and external factors that led to the division, the vision of a “nation deserving the name nation” dreamed of by the people of the time—who regarded Lyuh Woon-hyung as the most outstanding and conscientious politician, and the role of centrist political forces that promoted left-right cooperation and inter-Korean negotiations. By revisiting the history surrounding the division of the Korean Peninsula and discussing its significance, it provides meaningful insights and is an educationally engaging read. It offers important clues concerning how to realize the long-held aspiration of nation-building that could not be fulfilled immediately after liberation.