From Nationhood to Peoplehood: A Crisis of Meaning in South Korea's Unification Discourse*

This article examines the evolving discourse on Korean unification, emphasizing the need for a more contextually grounded concept of peoplehood that reflects the complexities of contemporary Korean identity. Moving beyond rigid, state‐centered frameworks of nationhood, it advocates for a shift toward a more inclusive peoplehood grounded in shared values, democratic principles, and communal flourishing. The ideological divide between President Yoon's recent 8.15 Unification Doctrine and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's two‐state approach underscores the limitations of existing paradigms. In response, this study argues for civic‐based unification narratives that transcend these divisions. At the heart of this vision is a reinterpretation of the 1919 March 1st Declaration as the foundation for a new public ethos that champions human dignity, egalitarian principles, and global responsibility. By broadening the scope of fundamental rights within this reimagined peoplehood, the framework enhances its moral legitimacy and fosters resilience across generational and ideological boundaries. This approach engages deeply with Korea's cultural, historical, and symbolic resources to ensure that unification discourse resonates with the lived experiences of modern Koreans, particularly the Jangmadang generation in North Korea and the MZ generation in South Korea. Ultimately, this article envisions unification not as the imposition of a monolithic state structure but rather as an organic, people‐building process. This process cultivates an adaptive, globally engaged, and pluralistic Korean identity.