The elderly man, wearing a 12th Division military cap and raking the soil, is a well-known farmer in the DMZ area. He cultivates the land and supports people in Inje, near the Civilian Control Line. His sharp tongue matches his thin frame. He once advised Cho Soon to “stop running for Seoul mayor and return to his hometown of Gangneung to mentor future generations.” He rejected Roh Moo-hyun’s political overtures, leading the Peace and Life Movement with poet Kim Ji-ha, criticizing “civil activism focused solely on protests, filled with lawsuits and accusations but lacking introspection.”
Meeting Chung Sung-hun, who argues that activism should prioritize reason over ideology, at the Korea DMZ Peace-Life Valley in Inje, Gangwon Province. Known for shocking progressives by stating, “Park Chung-hee’s contributions outweigh his faults,” he is recently fixated on building a strong military: “A sergeant’s monthly wage of 2 million Korean won? That’s wrong. Human rights? Important. But soldiers must first speak of a strong army.”
The Army: A Place to Cultivate ‘Great Individuals’
Spring is in full swing in Inje.
“Cornelian cherry blossoms are blooming. The weather has warmed, so I work the fields in just my underwear.”The country is in turmoil due to war.
“Even here, conditions for heating and cooking have worsened. I worry about drought. I await spring rains to soak the earth.”You lecture at nearby military units, including the 12th Division, on the theme ‘The Path to a Strong Army.’
“Only a strong army can deter war and preserve peace.”Aren’t you a pacifist?
“As Sun Tzu noted, true victory lies in winning without fighting.”‘Strong army’ is a conservative term.
“Many activist juniors already mock me for finally losing my mind (laughs). But my ‘strong army’ isn’t about ‘strong fists.’”What is it then?
“A strong army cultivates soldiers with robust bodies and minds—physically fit, broadly knowledgeable, and wise in human relationships. The 18-month service period shouldn’t be wasted.”Should the army become a school?
“Competitive education has long destroyed peace in homes and society. Weak public education and parents’ greed breed petty individuals. It’s so severe that not reform but a complete overhaul is needed. At least the military should educate soldiers to become ‘great individuals.’ Education is the most powerful means to change individuals and society.”
No Weak Soldiers Under a Strong General
How did you become obsessed with a strong army?
“While farming near the DMZ, I met mid-ranking officers who lacked leadership dignity. For most soldiers, the military is just a job—a means to advance without incident, retire, and collect pensions.”Were you shocked by martial law?
“It’s not specific to any regime. As the saying goes, ‘No weak soldiers under a strong general.’ The military must invest fully in nurturing every soldier. Stop squabbling over General Hong Beom-do statues and reform the military’s Ministry of Education.”What can the military teach?
“Basic military training is essential, but humanities, science, and appropriate technology education should be added. Teaching just ‘Yi Sun-sin’ properly would be a success. If the military becomes the nation’s best educational system, youth will want to join.”Is 18 months enough?
“Extend military service.”You also oppose the sergeant’s 2 million won wage.
“It’s populism. The military is buying youth with money. Wages should be performance-based for soldiers who train and study hard.”Many young men resent military service.
“That’s why I have them chant ‘Become great individuals!’ three times during lectures (laughs). Gender conflict is severe, but I think ‘mutual respect between genders’ is more important than ‘gender equality.’ I teach soldiers that misogyny and sexual harassment are acts of petty men.”Soldiers’ human rights are still important.
“Of course. But current ‘rights’—like banning grass-pulling on parade grounds—aren’t real rights. Poor meals are a problem, but so is food waste. With higher wages and phone access, soldiers skip meals and order deliveries, leaving food waste overflowing.”
Would You Avoid the Gyeongbu Expressway Because You Hate Park Chung-hee?
What is the Korea DMZ Peace-Life Valley?
“A village planting trees, farming organically, and cooking with solar power.”It educates on peace, life, and unification.
“My activism began with the Catholic Farmers’ Movement. After the June 1987 Uprising, we shifted to a life-community movement, believing the era was no longer about democracy vs. anti-democracy but life vs. anti-life. Around the time I began the life movement with poet Kim Ji-ha, Inje County Governor Lee Seung-ho and Gangwon Governor Kim Jin-sun shared my vision, and we broke ground. This village was born through cooperation between the progressive Kim Dae-jung government and conservative Grand National Party (GNP) county and provincial leaders.”What programs do you run?
“We learn the DMZ’s history and ecosystem, visit the Civilian Control Line, and the northernmost coastal areas of Goseong. Did you know some of Mount Kumgang’s 12,000 peaks are in South Korea? Participants work physically for two hours daily and farm. They return realizing that heaven, earth, and humanity are one.”Who attends?
“From kindergarteners to soldiers and the elderly. Recently, many foreigners—from 107 countries—have come. Some Swiss middle schoolers visited three times.”I expected more activists.
“I nag a lot, so they don’t come (laughs).”Why criticize the progressive camp?
“Activists, who should be ‘salt and light,’ have become political lackeys. Activism’s essence is becoming great individuals. Without good character, nothing matters.”You were imprisoned three times under Park Chung-hee but later led the Saemaul Undong Central Council under Moon Jae-in.
“The Yushin dictatorship was evil, but the Saemaul Undong, driven by the belief ‘We can do it,’ laid the foundation for modernization and economic strength. Would you avoid the Gyeongbu Expressway because you hate Park Chung-hee? I pity those clinging to the past or trying to erase it easily.”Your refusal to purge upon taking office, dubbed ‘Augean Stables,’ was notable.
“I prioritize reason over ideology. If someone works well, why distinguish sides? During the Sewol Ferry disaster, Saemaul Undong women cooked meals at Jindo Bangmok Harbor until the end. When an oil tanker ran aground off Taean, most volunteers cleaning the oil were Saemaul members.”You received the Minse Sang (2012) for reconciling industrialization and democratization generations.
“Industrialization was ‘let’s eat,’ democratization ‘let’s speak.’ Each drove the other. Why fight?”You said internal unity precedes inter-Korean unification.
“Inje has had many county governors, but they’ve never gathered together. Even at funerals, ruling and opposition party members receive condolences separately.”With leaders like Jung Chung-rae and Jang Dong-hyeok, internal unity seems distant.
“Because they’re petty. The late Father Chung Ho-kyung said the filthiest and most persistent human desire is the thirst for fame.”
Why Climate Is Security
‘Man Sa Ji Sik Il Wan’ (萬事知食一碗) is written at the restaurant entrance.
“It means the principle of all things lies in a bowl of rice. Peace doesn’t begin with grand slogans but with how we prepare a meal for someone today.”Your food is famous.
“We’ve grown all ingredients here without fertilizer or pesticides for 21 years. Fireflies returned after four years, snakes after seven.”You said climate is security.
“The Himalayas’ melting glaciers created over a thousand new lakes in Nepal. If Earth warms further, China will face water shortages. Manchuria, North Korea’s Yalu, Tumen, and Cheongcheon Rivers may become invasion threats.”Does the climate crisis harm peace?
“Two years ago in Icheon, a murder occurred over a few cabbages. During a heatwave, cabbage prices surged from 15,000 to 22,000 Korean won. I don’t take this lightly. The climate crisis won’t stop at destroying nature—it will collapse human relationships.”You advocate ‘unification as a life-community.’
“Political and military borders exist, but all seas are connected, as are lifeforms. The West, South, and East Seas are dying. Dead seas mean dead land. This is a shared problem for South and North Korea, Japan, China, and Russia. Unification discussions must start here.”You survived cancer twice.
“From drinking too much (laughs).”Did battling illness deepen your commitment to life agriculture?
“I realized humans and all creation are connected and fragile without other life. Cherishing grass and insects is cherishing myself.”People call you the ‘Father of Peace.’
“My sons’ names are Pyeong (平) and Hwa (和) (laughs).”Advice for President Lee Jae Myung:
“Regularly meet three people who say things you dislike.”How to practice peace daily?
“Plant trees, farm, reduce consumption, and save electricity. I sold a lot of medicine today, hahaha!”
About Chung Sung-hun
Born in 1946 in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, he graduated from Chuncheon High School and Korea University’s Political Science and Diplomacy Department. Imprisoned for leading anti-Japan-Korea Treaty protests in 1963. Led the Catholic Farmers’ Movement, Democratic Constitution National Movement, and Korean Wheat Revival Movement. Active in the South-North Gangwon Exchange and Cooperation Association. After the June 1987 Uprising, he spearheaded the life movement with Kim Ji-ha. Served as chairman of the Democratic Movement Memorial Foundation and Saemaul Undong Central Council. Received the Minse Sang in 2012.
