North Korean Defectors and Korean Protestant Churches
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University of Dublin Trinity College Otherisation and Polarisation in the Korean Peninsula: North Korean Defectors and Korean Protestant Churches A Dissertation Submitted For the Degree of DOCTOR of PHILOSOPHY By Changhyun Hong Irish School of Ecumenics 2021 Declaration I declare that this thesis has not been submitted as an exercise for a degree at this or any other university and it is entirely my own work. I agree to deposit this thesis in the University’s open access institutional repository or allow the Library to do so on my behalf, subject to Irish Copyright Legislation and Trinity College Library conditions of use and acknowledgement. Signed: _____________________________________ Date: 17 December 2020 20 iii Summary This thesis deals with the relationship between North Korean defectors and the South Korean Protestant churches in light of Emmanuel Levinas’ philosophy. In particular, this research focuses on analysing and criticising the otherisation and polarisation of the defectors that is a direct result of their interaction with the churches. The churches, as the second-largest resource provider after the government to the defectors, play an important role in helping them to escape from the North. The churches also aid them with both financial and psychological support after their arrival in the South. However, the churches’ practice of hospitality towards the defectors amplifies the otherisation and polarisation of the defectors. In other words, the churches approach the defectors for proselytisation through hospitality. This mission-motivated hospitality means that the defectors are forced to convert to Christianity, and it inevitably creates a hierarchical and beneficiary-benefactor dynamic between the churches and the defectors. Furthermore, most of the Protestant churches which are rooted in anti-communist theology utilise the defectors as a propaganda tool to villainise the North and further engender anti-communist sentiments. To survive in the South, the defectors have to assimilate and reduce their own subjectivities and experiences into the logic of the churches. In order to find the trajectory of the otherisation and polarisation, this thesis explores the interconnections between North Korean defectors, the Protestant churches, and hospitality through an interdisciplinary approach, involving socio-political, theological, and philosophical approach. Considering the complexity of the relationship between the defectors and the churches, the socio-political approach provides a more panoramic perspective of the geopolitical and historical context of the relationship. Theological approach helps the churches to realise their attitude towards the defectors, and to apply the Levinas’ philosophical idea to the churches’ work. Most of all, the relationship between the two groups is examined through the lens of Levinas’ philosophy which acts as a theoretical framework. This lens helps to see the root cause of this otherisation and polarisation, and suggests means to an epistemological transformation of the churches. It leads to overcome such otherisation and polarisation, and establish a more ethical relationship between the churches and the defectors. v This thesis has several findings throughout the six chapters. Firstly, the key concepts of this thesis – defectors, the churches, and hospitality – are interlinked with each other. In particular, hospitality of the churches makes the relationship between the two parties ironically more vertical and hierarchical. Secondly, the philosophical concepts of Levinas help to face the churches’ self-centric attitude towards the defectors and to find an alternative relational model. Thirdly, the marginalised social position of the defectors is proved through the evolution of the defectors’ names. Fourthly, the defectors who are regarded as the second-class citizen in the South are seized into the sameness of the churches within the church-centred relation. Fifthly, the church-centred relation contributes to such otherisation and polarisation of the defectors. It accelerates a political tension between the two Koreas and has a detrimental effect on the peace process. Lastly, to overcome the phenomenon of the defectors, Levinas’ hospitality that seeks an ethical relation is proposed as the alternative model of the churches’ hospitality. vi Acknowledgements I would like to extend my sincere gratitude my supervisor, Dr. Jude Lal Fernando, for his guidance and expertise throughout my Ph.D. journey at Trinity College Dublin. Without his mentoring, this thesis would not have been completed. He treated me not only as a student but also as a friend. I cannot thank him enough for his unstinted warmth and love. My heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Andrew Pierce for his encouragement and support throughout this doctoral programme. His classes were inspiring and he was always generous with his confidence-instilling smiles and tea. I would like to thank Dr. Dong-jin Kim for his insights to define the path of my research. In particular, his book proved to be a guiding star for my work. I would like to thank my thesis committee, Professor Sebastian Kim and Dr. Gillian Wylie, for their feedback and insights which were encouraged me to have develop a deeper perspective on my subject. I would like to thank the Somang Church Scholarship and Christ Church Rathgar for their generous support that has made it possible for me to accomplish this work without financial troubles. I am extremely grateful for being able to study in the Irish School of Ecumenics, Trinity College Dublin. In the ISE community, I expanded my narrow perspective through various conferences, trip, dialogue, and interaction with faculty and friends. Yongseop Lim and his lovely family made life in Dublin feel like home, and I am very thankful to them. I would like to especially thank Freya for editing my thesis, and for always being there with her insights. Without her, I would probably never have finished my thesis and life in Dublin would have been much less enjoyable. Lastly, I would like to thank my family: My dear wife Kyungeun Ha and precious baby Narin Hong. Thank you for your love, wisdom, and patience. I am also grateful to my parents and parents-in-law who have always supported and prayed for me. They are a huge blessing for me. vii Table of Contents Declaration ..................................................................................................................... iii Summary .......................................................................................................................... v Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................... vii Table of Contents ......................................................................................................... viii List of Figures and Table ............................................................................................. xiv Introduction: North Korean Defectors and Korean Protestant Churches ................ 1 Chapter 1. Understanding Key Concepts: North Korean Defectors, Korean Protestant Churches, and Hospitality ........................................................................... 7 1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 7 1.2 The Other and Otherness ......................................................................................... 8 1.2.1 The Other who Threatens the Subject .............................................................. 9 1.2.2 The Other who Supports the Subject .............................................................. 12 1.2.3 North Korean Defectors as the Other ............................................................. 14 1.3 The Idea of Hospitality .......................................................................................... 16 1.3.1 Etymological Exploration .............................................................................. 17 1.3.2 Biblical Idea of Hospitality ............................................................................ 19 1.3.3 Philosophical Idea of Hospitality ................................................................... 21 1.4 Hospitality of the Churches Towards the Defectors ............................................. 24 1.4.1 Catalyst for Hospitality .................................................................................. 24 1.4.1.1 Providing Support ................................................................................... 24 1.4.1.2 A Church as a Key Factor for Settlement ................................................ 25 1.4.2 Impediment to Hospitality .............................................................................. 28 1.4.2.1 Anti-communist Attitude .......................................................................... 29 1.4.2.2 Instrumentalisation of North Korean Defectors ...................................... 30 1.5 Rethinking Hospitality of the Korean Protestant Churches .................................. 32 1.5.1 Hospitality as a Central Element of the Church ............................................. 32 1.5.2 Building an Ethical Relation through Hospitality .......................................... 34 1.5.3 How Churches Can Do Hospitality ................................................................ 37 1.6 Conclusion ............................................................................................................