Reflective Essay from Vukašin Žunić of the League of Communist Youth of Yugoslavia (SKOJ) after visiting the “Republic of Korea”
In my two weeks in Korea, I learned a lot—about history, the present, and the countless similarities between Korea and Serbia. These similarities are reflected in our rich histories of struggle for the freedom of our peoples against imperialist powers. During my stay in Korea, I observed how the imperialist United States is doing everything it can today to completely control and occupy our countries, just as the Japanese and Ottoman Empires once did. Imperialists divide us today and pit us against each other, caring only about their profit margins and market expansion.
A place that will remain forever in my memory after my trip to Korea is the Okin-dong Anti-communist Investigation Office. This building stands as a strong symbol of fascism, violence against the people, and repression of all democratic and progressive forces, including my comrades from People’s Democracy Party. Presidents like Park Chung Hee, Chun Doo-hwan, and Yoon Suk Yeol have focused on structures like this one and specialized police branches to target their people for the personal interests of their imperialist patrons. Such politicians, installed and supported by imperialist powers, prioritize warmongering and escalating tensions over addressing the needs of their own people. However, history teaches us that fascist warmongers cannot and will not rule forever. We, the people, will always prevail, as evidenced by Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment.
What amazed me most about Korea was the people’s dedication. It’s truly inspiring to witness a 24-hour demonstration sustained for months, as well as protests that last thousands of days, such as those in front of the US Embassy and the girl statue near the Japanese embassy. The dedication I saw in my comrades was a great inspiration, and I am happy to say that I brought some of this spirit back to Serbia. In this world plagued by the imperialist war drive, we must remain strong and struggle every day, for surely we will create a better and more peaceful world.
US-led imperialism will stop at nothing to achieve its goals. Imperialists appoint and fund dictators and fascists, spread their military bases as ubiquitously as they spread their fast-food chains, lie to us, steal from us, and imprison us. Serbs are acutely aware of this, as the US and its allies bombed Serbia in 1999, killing civilians, causing massive damage to civilian infrastructure, and using illegal weapons such as depleted uranium—all to expand their military bases, steal our resources, and widen their markets. The Korean people have similarly suffered under the weight of U.S. imperialism.
We, the people, strive for a democratic, peaceful, and just world. My trip to Korea has shown me that this goal can only be achieved through a united anti-imperialist struggle. Long live the anti-imperialist struggle!
