[Opinion] Challenges and Opportunities for the MZ Generation and the Korean Peninsula's Leap Forward, 'Peace New Deal'

Published 16 Sep.2021 11:02(KST)

Society's interest in the MZ generation is very intense. They account for 34.7% of the population (about 18 million) and 44.6% of the economically active population (about 14 million). They are the most important generation demographically and economically, and above all, they hold special significance as the generation that must institutionalize peace on the Korean Peninsula and complete unification.

On the other hand, their interest in "peace and unification" is relatively lower compared to previous generations. According to a 2021 survey by the Korea Institute for National Unification, 74.1% of the millennial generation born after 1991 and 68.3% of the IMF generation born between 1981 and 1990 showed indifference toward North Korea. This seems to be due to the MZ generation being free from regional and ideological constraints, prioritizing personal interests and their current lives, combined with the long-term interruption of inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation and the accumulation of negative experiences related to North Korea's nuclear development.

Therefore, the grand discourse of "unification" may only raise concerns about various burdens rather than positive aspects for the MZ generation. How can we connect "peace and unification" to this MZ generation? The clue can be found in our new national development strategy, the "Peace Economy."

Currently, our economy is facing a deepening low-growth structure due to an aging population and a declining working-age population, as well as new challenges such as the post-COVID-19 era and the climate crisis. In response, the government aims to promote a "Peace New Deal" that expands the "Korean New Deal," centered on the "Digital New Deal," "Green New Deal," and "Human New Deal," by integrating it with inter-Korean cooperation across the entire Korean Peninsula. The "Peace Economy" to be built through the "Peace New Deal" will provide a solid material foundation for peaceful coexistence between the South and the North through a virtuous cycle of peace and economy. Furthermore, by allowing the young generations of both Koreas to experience peace and coexistence in advance, it will foster positive expectations for the post-unification era and lead to economic co-growth, offering a rational solution to young people who worry about the burdens of unification.

First, it could start with general industries such as SOC, resource development, and tourism. Once the inter-Korean railway agreed upon by the leaders is operational, freight trains departing from South Korea will pass through the Tumen River, travel via Moscow, and run throughout Europe, while tourist trains will carry our young people through Pyongyang to Eurasia. During vacation seasons, Pyongyang's famous food streets, Baekdusan Heaven Lake, and the Kaema Plateau will become new attractions. The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), once a symbol of division and confrontation, will be transformed into a historical, ecological, and peace experience site. The Korean Peninsula, connecting North and South, can emerge as a tourist destination visited by people worldwide, alongside France and Spain.

Moreover, cooperation and opportunities will open in areas such as climate crisis response and digital innovation. The MZ generation, strong in digital skills and sensitive to the environment and diversity, will shine in this new cooperative arena. Global investor Jim Rogers has also predicted that "within the next 10 to 20 years, the Korean Peninsula will become the most interesting country in the world."

Of course, this future requires the premise that the South and North advance coexistence and cooperation while activating three pillars: "denuclearization," "establishment of a peace regime," and "resolution of sanctions issues and full-scale economic cooperation." Going forward, the government will provide broader platforms and opportunities through inter-Korean cooperation so that the MZ generation can actively engage in the path of peace, coexistence, prosperity, and unification on the Korean Peninsula. We look forward to the bold challenges and achievements of our MZ generation on the path of the "Peace New Deal" that will open the future of the Korean Peninsula.