[One Thousand Characters a Day] Our Future Learned from Pandas <4>

Editor's NoteThe panda possesses sharp claws and great strength but never attacks first. Moreover, its unique appearance has significantly influenced world history. The panda was the symbol that opened the d?tente (peace) era during the Cold War in the 1970s. The worldwide "panda diplomacy," where pandas are exchanged globally, carries the message of "it's better to be friendly rather than destroy or fight each other." In other words, the panda teaches us to develop relationships through charm and friendliness rather than threatening others with weapons or power. Word count: 1010 characters.

There are few cases worldwide where pandas have become as much of a hot topic as they have recently in Korea. Although Lubao and Aibao are popular, interest surged especially when their baby panda, Pubao, was born in 2020.

It is rare for a country other than China to raise pandas and even have a baby panda born, making this event noteworthy in itself. Furthermore, in the 2020s, Korean culture has grown to appreciate animals much more than in the 1990s. This created an environment where Pubao's appearance could gain popularity easily. Above all, Pubao's activities were widely shared as "pleasant videos" through the internet and social media. Thanks to this, pandas were able to deeply penetrate the hearts of many people.

The second panda to arrive in Korea has been a great economic success above all else. Culturally, it has also significantly influenced and permeated Korean society. A clear example is when Pubao's twin siblings were born, and a naming contest was held, receiving over 20,000 entries. This number is twice the number of participants who named Nuriho, Korea's first domestically developed space launch vehicle.

Globally, evaluations of panda diplomacy have recently shifted. Compared to when panda diplomacy first began in the 1970s, the Chinese government's position has completely changed. China is no longer the "mysterious unknown country" just starting exchanges with many nations. On the contrary, it has become the country that exchanges with the most countries and supplies the most products worldwide. China is one of the handful of superpowers. Therefore, it no longer sends pandas to other countries with the same attitude as before. Likewise, the attitudes of other countries receiving pandas inevitably differ from the past.

Rather, intertwined with political and diplomatic situations, there seem to be incidents where pandas become a source of concern. In 2023, a panda died in the United States. China stated it would investigate the cause of death in China. This led to worries that the panda death incident might turn into a power struggle between the U.S. and China.

－Gwak Jaesik, The Spirit of the Panda, Saenggakjeongwon, 18,000 KRW

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.