North Korean serial ‘Echo of Hallasan’ spins Jeju massacre into tale of unity

The 2002 TV production showcases a shift in tone toward South Korea during the Sunshine Policy era

Tatiana Gabroussenko July 7, 2021

North Korean serial ‘Echo of Hallasan’ spins Jeju massacre into tale of unity

Image: KCNA (edited by NK News) | The protagonist Ko Chinhi (left) and antihero Sinryol from the North Korean serial "Echo of Hallasan"

Former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung’s Sunshine Policy promoting engagement with North Korea enjoys a mixed public legacy, with critics pointing to its failure to bring about immediate rapprochement between the two Koreas.

Yet that appraisal, while understandable on an emotional level given the Korean Peninsula’s long division, overlooks the policy’s real success in easing the political mood between the Koreas and preparing the soil for their future reconciliation.

About the Author

Tatiana Gabroussenko

Tatiana Gabroussenko obtained her PhD in East Asian Studies at the Australian National University. She is currently a professor of North Korean studies at Korea University, Seoul. Her latest book, "Soldiers on the Cultural Front: Developments in the Early History of North Korean Literature and Literary Policy," was included in the Choice magazine list of Outstanding Academic Titles of 2012.

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