Virtual Advocacy Week: Reflections
In the first two weeks of June, the staff of Re’Generation Movement took part in a Korea peace Virtual Advocacy Week organized by the Korea Peace Network, Korea Peace Now! Grassroots Network, Peace Treaty Now, and Women Cross DMZ. Over 200 individuals participated in the campaign and met with 84 legislators and their staff from 26 states. After attending multiple training sessions and group meetings, Re’Gen staff met with the staffers of Georgia senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler to advocate for legislation to:
1) officially end the Korean War,
2) reunite families separated during the Korean War,
3) enhance humanitarian assistance to North Korea,
4) prevent any unconstitutional war against North Korea, and
5) make an official statement on the 70th anniversary of the Korean War.
During these virtual meetings, Oscar (Director of Events and Advocacy) and Mary (Director of Planning and Development) made legislative “asks” to the staffers and shared their perspectives on the importance of peace on the Korean peninsula. Oscar and Mary wanted to reflect on their experiences and lessons learned during this advocacy week.
Oscar’s Reflection
Korea peace advocacy week was one of the most transformative experiences I have had in terms of personal and professional growth. It was personal because the Korean peace process is something that I have grown very passionate about, beginning from a class I took on Korea as a freshman at my university. This class marked the very first time I studied the history of the Korean peninsula, and I was especially grieved to learn about how families were separated during the Korean War. The most striking part of the class was how I was left with a desire to take action to see these separated families reunited again. From there, I continued to take more classes on Korea as well as in security and international studies to further my understanding of the present-day dilemma on the peninsula, which led me to spending a semester abroad in Seoul and becoming involved with Re’Generation Movement. The opportunity to participate in the virtual advocacy week--now as a staff of Re’Gen--felt like the culmination of my journey that began my freshman year; I was now able to put into action what I had learned and harnessed these past four years as a student.
The advocacy week was originally planned to be held in-person through a series of meetings and panels in Washington D.C. earlier this year, but it was postponed due to the COVID-19 situation. It was then announced that it would be held virtually, and I initially had questions on how it would translate to an online experience. However, I was very pleased to see the amount of work put forth by the advocacy week coordinators to ensure everything would run smoothly. The first training session, which brought together everyone from all participating states, went off without a hitch. We were then separated into smaller groups based on our states to learn more about each other and our passion for peace on the Korean peninsula, which I really enjoyed. By the end of the training sessions, I was comfortable in sharing my personal story and making the case on why the U.S. should end the Korean War. I felt it was my responsibility to impart what I had learned these past four years to the policymakers who have the power to influence the direction that the U.S. takes towards North Korea.
During the advocacy week meetings with the staffers, I began my part by sharing that I have no family ties to Korea, because I wanted to emphasize that the dilemma on the Korean peninsula affects not only Koreans, but also the rest of the world. For the United States, I highlighted that the lives of thousands of U.S. citizens living in South Korea are at stake if war with North Korea were to break out at any moment, in addition to the nearly 10 million South Korean citizens living in Seoul alone. I shared that it is our responsibility as the U.S. to end the Korean War which we have been involved in since the onset - 70 years and counting without a peace treaty. I also talked about the security dilemma, the ineffectiveness of sanctions, and the path forward through dialogue and diplomacy. Overall, I was able to bring in both my humanitarian take and background in international relations to explain why it is time to change the way we approach North Korea. I am very grateful to have had this opportunity to speak to policymakers, and I hope to build on this experience as I continue my journey in finding the pathways to peace on the Korean peninsula.
Read Oscar’s bio here.
Mary’s Reflection
Participating in the Korea peace virtual advocacy week showed me the power of directly interacting with legislators in advocacy work. Before participating in Korea peace advocacy week, I had little experience directly speaking with policymakers; I was both excited and slightly nervous to meet with a legislator to make “asks” for the lawmaker to support bills. During the training session, the participants were separated into smaller groups based on our home states as each group determined who would undertake the different parts of the advocacy meeting; one person would take notes, one person would make the asks, one would say “thank you,” one would share their personal story, and one person would follow up with the staffer. I volunteered to make the asks. After our coordinator sent us information about the bills we would promote, I spent hours researching all of the issues at stake; I wanted to be completely prepared to make a convincing, well-informed, and logical argument for all of the legislation we were asking the legislators to support. Before starting the meetings, I wrote out sheets of notes to refer to with facts and figures that would convince the staffer of the importance of peace between the US and North Korea.
Knowing that senators we planned to meet supported hard-line policies against North Korea and seemed unlikely to be receptive towards our mission to promote diplomacy and cooperation between the U.S. and North Korea, I was tense before the meeting with a staffer of Sen. Kelly Loeffler. I read and re-read my notes during the hour before the meeting, even recording myself making the asks and arguing for their importance. However, though I was expecting a difficult meeting, the atmosphere between the staffer and my fellow advocates was light-hearted and friendly. When my group members introduced themselves and shared their perspectives, I noticed that they emphasized their personal stories and thoughts alongside hard facts and figures. When the time came for me to introduce the asks, I began reciting my speech that explained the importance of ending the Korean War and removing sanctions against North Korea. The staffer nodded courteously as I recited statistics and made my argument.
At the end of the meeting, I felt inspired by my fellow advocates to share more of my perspective regarding peace on the peninsula. Instead of a stilted and automatic speech like I previously gave, I decided to express my passion for peace in Korea and human rights. I spoke to the staffer about the plight of the estimated 10 million North Korean people who do not have reliable access to food or healthcare. I spoke about the North Korean refugees I have met through my volunteer work, most of whom have family still living in North Korea and are directly affected by food shortages and inadequate healthcare. I showed how deeply I care about peace on the peninsula not as a theoretical concept, but as something that will directly alleviate the suffering of millions and contribute to global peace and prosperity. After I finished speaking, I noticed that the staffer was far more engaged and interested than she had after I previously delivered our legislative asks.
Our advocacy week meetings showed me the potential impact of sharing my story, thoughts, and passions and connecting with individuals who think differently than I do. Though neither senator chose to support the legislation we advocated for, I know this will not change unless legislators hear and understand why peace on the peninsula is so important. They need to hear not just the facts and figures, but our stories, passion, and dedication to the mission for peace and prosperity, and the only way they will hear this is if we tell them.
Read Mary’s bio here.
