The world faces a transition period without alternatives in the midst of an economic crisis and a climate crisis that shows no signs of recovery. The imperialist U.S. hegemony has been leading this transition period, but resistance to U.S. hegemony is also formidable. Interestingly, the source of that resistance is changing; It is expanding beyond Europe’s progressive players across Eurasia.

The Cold War was a victory of market capitalism, based on U.S. economic superiority in a tense arms race. A new struggle, dubbed by some the “New Cold War,” brings new dangers because its development is based on overwhelming U.S military superiority in the midst of economic crisis. It is a  collision between Eurasia and U.S. imperialism, the extent of which has grown with the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine War. This is where the second act of the New Cold War began.

Both  global economic crises and war crises have always had a significant impact on the Korean Peninsula, but the New Cold War era demands a different level of change and response. Therefore, the International Strategy Center has prepared the “International Progressive Forum” to examine the world economy, world politics, and the situation on the Korean Peninsula and to explore alternatives. The ISC translation team has translated the book “The United States Is Waging a New Cold War: A Socialist Perspective”, a collaboration  by the Monthly Review, No Cold War, and Tricontinental: Social Research Institute. ISC has also invited Vijay Prashad, who led the publication of the book, to Korea.

The forum will be held with the publisher, the progressive political party, and various civil societies. We look forward to meeting you at the International Progressive Forum. 

Sean Hong (Policy Research Team)  

It is the early morning of October 31st, the second day since the Itaewon disaster. Although less than the day of the disaster, we are still receiving inquiries regarding missing persons and victims: “I think my daughter/son went to Itaewon, but she/he still hasn't come home.” “My friend went to Itaewon that day but I still cannot get through to him/her.” Sticking to the guidelines, I file the report of the missing person and provide the caller with the contact information as to where he or she could find out the names of the victims of the disaster. Today, as usual, as the hour approaches 3AM, well into the early hours of the morning, the phone stops ringing all of a sudden, as if it had been silent all along, as I take a deep breath.

However, after a short while, the phone is ringing again breaking the silence. When I answer the line, I hear a frail voice through the headset. He says he is a nurse who participated in the rescue work at the Itaewon disaster site. He says he is having a difficult time and asks if there is a place where he could receive counseling. In accordance with the counseling guidelines, I provide the contact information where he can receive professional counseling and end the call. However, after taking a short break, as I get ready to take another call, the same number appears again. He says he is unable to get through to the contact number I had provided. The moment I hear his frail voice again, I decide he needs to talk to someone and I ask him what feels most difficult right now. Then suddenly, he says he is sorry for not being able to save them and starts to cry. My heart pounding all of a sudden, and my voice trembling slightly, I tell him that it was not his responsibility but that of the public authorities such as the police who failed to prevent the disaster, and that he should not blame himself. Then I recommend that he call the number again to receive professional counseling. He says he understands and appearing to have calmed down a bit, hangs up the phone. 

The site of the disaster wherein more than 150 people died. At the site of the 10.29 Itaewon disaster, someone loses a family member, as another loses a friend. In the hearts of the survivors who witnessed the death of countless lives are engraved scars that may never heal. Some of the survivors would have witnessed people dying right in front of them.

In this way, the disaster not only leaves large numbers of deceased and wounded victims, but also the unbearable suffering of many who were with them. And as some of them may go on to make a desperate choice of their own they may yet become additional future victims. The survivors of the collapse of the Sampoong Department Store on June 29, 1995, which claimed the lives of more than 500 people, say that after nearly thirty years, they still live in pain haunted by vivid memories of that day. And what about the 4.16 Sewol ferry disaster, in which more than 300 people lost their lives? The truth of the disaster still unknown, the time of the bereaved family members came to a halt on April 16, 2014. The number of victims continues to increase as some of the survivors and bereaved family members have made extreme choices to take their own lives. The number of victims will continue to rise unless the truth is disclosed. 

At present, a police investigation of the 10.29 Itaewon disaster is underway, and a government investigation is being requested by the National Assembly. However, the Yoon Seok-yeol government is not asking anyone for accountability. The day after the disaster, Yoon declared a period of mourning, set up an incense burner without anynames or portraits, and told the nation to grieve. And even as the government’s mistakes come to light one by one, it is clear that they are merely trying to find a scapegoat and ceremoniously cut off its tail. If this tragedy ends without proper clarification of the truth, no punishment for responsible parties, and no genuine apology, more victims may arise from people making extreme choices as in the aftermath of the 4.16 Sewol ferry disaster. At the same time, the danger of another potential disaster lurks on the horizon.

Accidents can occur in any form in our shared spaces of life and work. However, in cases where the accident could have been prevented in advance, yet people are killed from the neglect of corporations or the state, those cases are not accidents but murder. And if there are a large number of victims of the disaster, how is it any different than a massacre?

After Rejection of Constitutional Proposal,
What’s Next for Chile’s Left?    

interview by Dae-Han Song (Networking Team) 

edited by Matthew Phillips (Networking Team)

On November 12, the International Strategy Center participated in the "2022 National Workers' Rally that succeeds Jeon Tae-il’s spirit" held in downtown Seoul. The rally was held to prevent the Yoon Seok Yeol government's gutting of labor policies, including abolishing flexible working hours and an attempt to neutralize the Serious Accident Punishment Act through enforcement ordinances. The demands in the rally were to revise Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act and to stop privatization. It also paid tribute to the 157 people who lost their lives in the Itaewon disaster, and demanded punishment for those responsible and a thorough investigation. Despite the rain and cold, we gathered and shouted the needs of the people with workers, activists, and citizens! Thank you all!

[International Progressive Forum ]

New Cold War vs. No Cold War

The New Cold War is escalating with the Russia-Ukraine War.  What is the essence of this New Cold War? What is its impact on us? What is our role in stopping it? To explore these questions, we want to engage civil society and progressive political parties in discussion. 

That's why we invited to Korea Vijay Prashad, a historian, journalist, and organizer who has been researching, reporting, and organizing global social movements around stopping this New Cold War. 

We will also be connecting online with intellectuals that have actively engaged in this discourse: Noam Chomsky, John Bellamy Foster, John Ross, Deborah Veneziale. 

Session 1: A New Actor to Stop the Economic, Climate, and Nuclear Crisis Driven by the US Crisis of Hegemony 

• Date: Dec. 6 (Tue) 7:30 PM 
• Location: Franciscan Education Center Room#410 
• Speakers: Vijay Prashad (offline), John Ross, John Bellamy Foster, Deborah Veneziale (online)  
• Discussants: Representatives from Civil Society Organizations
• Program: Discussion between speakers and/with audience 

Session 2: The Impact on the Korean Peninsula of the New Cold War Escalated by the Russia-Ukraine War 

• Date: Dec. 7 (Wed) 10 AM 
• Location: National Assembly Main Building 2F Online Conference Room
• Organizers: Justice Party National Assemblymember Bae Jin-gyo, Justice Party Policy Research Center, International Strategy Center  
• Speakers: Noam Chomsky (online), Vijay Prashad (offline) 
• Discussants: Experts on International Relations and Inter-Korean Relations  
• Program: Presentations from speakers following by discussion

Session 3. LIVE Book reading with Vijay Prashad on 'The US is Waging a New Cold War: A Socialist Perspective'

• Date: Dec. 7th(Wed) 7:00PM
• Location: TBD
• Organizer: Second Thesis (Publisher) 
• Program: TBD

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