Date: Sun, 29 Sep 1996 12:51:33 +0100
Subject: Re: varieties of actually existing socialism


Hong Kyoung-doo wrote:
> 
> Hello,
> I'm a student in South Korea and participating in a youth group named
> Youth Group for Progressive Turning..
> It's my first posting in English (My English is not good, so there are
> some ligustic wall..), but I am interested in this kind of discussion
> and have read other's posting..
> I wanna add something about DPRK, because it's very important topic for
> me and other people in Korea..

> 
> The problem of economy is important, as Mr. Barkley said, in 70s the per
> capita income of North surpass the South and the economy of North was
> recognized as a successful model until 1980..
> But there are a specific point, I think, because that's not only  a
> problem of official creteria such as per capita income but the problem
> of social organization(especially labor organization and labor
> process..) and of the structure of power hierarchy, and some cultural
> problems..
> I think there are many differences between DPRK and western societies.
> That's based on specific historical experience of DPRK, there were no
> modernizing process such as civil revolution,  the ideology of Freedom,
> Equality, Charity, so called democratizing process, the concept of human
> rights(DPRK is notorious by bad human right situation..), and the
> freedom of press etc..
> For example, in DPRK, "You are a individualist" is most abusive language
> , the perfect collectivism is leading ideology for conquest over
> capitalism. It's constructed by 'Juche' ideology made by Kim Il-sung,
> in north Korea they insist that 'Juche' ideology is a creative
> development of Marxism.
> 
> It's really right to say that the situation of DPRK is overdetermined by
> US, but I think DPRK can't be a model of others..
> For anti-imperialism, DPRK can be important, but can international
> solidarity between DPRK and western progressive parties be possible?
> I don't think so..
> 
> Well, I'm sorry that I can't explain many in English and I hope there
> will be misunderstaning. We have some materials about DPRK (in Korean)
> so if you have interests, please inform me..
> 
> comradely,
> 
> Hong Kyoung-doo.
> 

Welcome Hong Kyoung-doo,

We do not get enough voices from your part of the world. Do not worry
about your English. It is good enough to be understood.

Have you viited the DPRK site at:-
http://www.kimsoft.com/dprk.htm ? It has a lot of useful information.

Also on the site of my party, the New Communist Party of Britain; there
is an interview with Keith Bennett, who is a frequent visitor to
Pyongyang.

It would be interesting to know more about the rights of the working
class in your country. We have seen reports of the brutal treatment of
students, the arrest of people who try to make any contact with the
DPRK, and the corruption of the ruling class.

How strong is the workers movement? What chances do they have to change
things? What about the pressure for re-unification of Korea?

There are a lot of questions that I would like to ask. Unfortunately I
cannot read Korean so I must ask you to do your best in English.
-- 
Comradely,

Richard.                     
      New Worker Online http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/2853




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