Sorry, but I think it’s South Korea that has the most to fear, and lose, from reunification, in the near future anyway.

Just look at Germany - still counting the cost of re-unification with the East. Unemployment remains high, domestic demand slack - though, luckily, exports are strong.

ROK may be an Asian Tiger, but is not the same league as Germany. Can ROK pay the bills of Korean re-construction, without compromising its sovereign pride? (ie, without American, or worse, Japanese aid?)

Politicians may score brownie points with Sunshine policy, or re-uniting sobbing siblings, or talk about dual citizenship. But it’s just playing to the gallery. When it comes to the crunch about re-unification, can ROK really put its money where its mouth is?

Does China fear strong, resurgent Korea? No, it never has. What China fears - or perhaps dislikes - are American troops up close and personal (again!) across the Yalu.

On the other hand, this may work to Beijing’s advantage, as it might rally the country/party against the enemy on the doorstep.

Does America want Korean re-unification? Maybe. American hardliners would love a listening post right on China’s rump, to be a thorn in their side.

But America’s current Public enemy No 1 is global terrorism, not China. Both are allied (sort of) in this war. US thinking (for the moment, anyway)is to engage,not confront, China.

Do USA and PRC want to go to war again over Korea? No.

Conclusion: they don’t care, or lose, that much. SK stands to lose most.

If you really believe that the so-called “Korean wave” is somehow or can somehow be used to “Koreanize” manchuria in order to support Korean claims on territory, I believe you are well off the mark.

So what’s Korea’s option? I think the best option is to stay silent on this and conquer the former Manchurian territory which is now a home to a million ethnic Koreans, through culture and trade. South Korea should exert and redouble the effort to Koreanize the Korean etnic minority enclaves, even give these ethnic Korans, duel citizenships. You can see that the Koreanization of north east China is already happening when you go there and realize how popular South Korean pop culture, food, and travel destinations are. Many ethnic Koreans want to leave and are leaving China, for South Korea - turning entire villages into ghost villages.

I think this is one of the reasons why Chinese government is very nervous about Korean dispora in northern China, and ramifications of Korean reunification. China definitely does not want a Korean reunification - they would be the biggest losers.

I looked at your map a few times. I don’t know if Vladivostok in teh Russian Maritime Province is inside there.

If myhistory is correct, this part of Russia was ceded by China in an “unequal treaty” - tho it was peacefully negotiated.

Do those ROK politicians want to lay claim to that patch as theirs was well? After all, this was Tungusic/Khitan/Manchurian grassland. Up to the late 19th century, the Manchurian court believed that the Koreans were speaking a Manchurian “dialect”.

If the ROK politicians want it, I don’t suggest they speak to Putin at this point, however. A bear with a sore tooth is a nasty one.

This summer you may have seen the Asian Art show that was at COEX. A good friend of mine organized it. She was very disheartened that none of the Chinese artists that were going to have their work shown would be in attendance. They also could not get visas.

This is not just a problem for Chinese people in South Korea. I know first hand that it is getting incredibly hard for Chinese citizens to get into America also. The reason is that 10 years and more ago most Chinese citizens that left China did not return. That is not true any longer. The governments of the world are just a little slow adapting to change.

By the way don’t apologize about your English ability. I thought your post was great.

I met a fellow who says he was UK and US dual citizen. He was born in UK, but his parents are US citizens. Granted, the living standards are similar in these 2, but it would be in the good interest of the Gando Koreans to become dual citizens.