Cranes, 38th Parallel and ReconciliationReading this short story by Hwang Sunwon really opened my eyes to the reality of the conflict between North and South Korea. Since I live in the United States, a lot of my initial views on the separation of the Koreas were more geared toward how the United States did it. Many opinions surrounding me growing up favored the United States as the “hero” of the Korean War. But from the perspective presented in this short story, the United States was not the hero but rather the instigator of the conflict alongside the Soviet Union. As time passes and Korea's separation remains unresolved, the question that often arises is whether or not there is any hope for future reconciliation between these two sides of the 38th parallel. In the short story Cranes by Hwang Sunwon, he illustrates the situation between two childhood friends who find themselves on opposite sides of the Korean War and meet in a confrontation. His story carries the underlying message that reconciliation will only occur under circumstances in which the two Koreas can reject the external forces that played a role in their conflict, understand each other, and conclude that they are the same. same race, same people. .Metaphorically, this reconciliation between the two characters Songsam and Tokchae also implies a future reconciliation between the two Koreas. In the story, it illustrates the past between the two friends and how their current conflict was due to forces beyond their control. Before the Korean War, Korea was freeing itself from Japan and rebuilding its government and this is where the initial conflict broke out. While one group favored more communist modes of government and the other favored a middle of paper...... two characters realized themselves and they came to forget their current conflict and situation of enmity and to return to their initial situation. feelings of brotherhood that they shared. Hwang Sunwon subtly introduces the idea that they must come to understand and return to the past that the two Koreas shared. Another factor that will bring the Koreas to reconciliation is that they have a deep-rooted history that cannot remain separated forever. Koreans on both sides of the 38th parallel speak the same language, belong to the same ethnicity and have separated from one people. Hwang Sunwon compares the cranes to the Korean people in the sense that through understanding the other side and rejecting any outside influence, they will become free and united as one nation, similar to how the cranes were released at the end and took flight together. meeting.