[INTERVIEW] 'NK economic growth, democracy should go hand in hand'

Cho Jung-hun, director of the Institute of Unification at Ajou University / Courtesy of Cho

By Choi Ha-young

Talks are rampant about investments into North Korea, Asia's least-developed nation, along with international efforts to denuclearize the North, which are expected to involve lifting of economic sanctions against it.

Amid speculation whether North Korean leader Kim Jong-un would follow the path of China or Vietnam, Cho Jung-hun, head of the Institute of Unification at Ajou University, calls for "political liberation" as a factor that needs to be considered in any development plan.

"Economic growth and democracy should go hand in hand," Cho said in a recent interview with The Korea Times. "If our government says it's ready to adopt the Vietnamese or Chinese model, this means we are okay with maintaining a very authoritarian regime unless Pyongyang opens up its market."

He views such arguments aren't healthy in consideration of the unification of the peninsula. "Some differences in economic development level are a lot more conducive for unification, rather than having a different government structure," he said.

"If we bring the perspective of unification to the calculation, our choice will be different."

During 15 years at the World Bank, Cho worked in the field of international development in Kosovo, India, Bangladesh, Palestine and Uzbekistan. Looking back on the development paths of these countries, he concluded achieving democracy and economic growth simultaneously is possible, as proven by East European countries that broke away from the Soviet Union.

Based on his experiences, he is now devoted to touting unification through the university institute. Cho, a member of the Presidential Committee on Northern Economic Cooperation, believes unification would be the last chance for Korea to overcome its deepening social stratification.

That's why he put emphasis on equal "initial opportunity" in developing the North. To avoid the economic and social polarization that the South has undergone, it's essential to break down the North's Pyongyang-centered system, he said.

"Workers from Pyongyang would be more educated, more workable than those from rural areas. However, if we continue the pattern the North will be more polarized. I don't think that's a sustainable model. We should be more mindful to help the most vulnerable population."

Cho admitted the path to ensure equality will not appeal to the Kim regime and Pyongyang elites. "Therefore, Seoul should persuade and convince the North, using its economic power as leverage."

Still, there's a long way to go before investments are possible in North Korea, as shown by the recent friction raised by the North. Cho viewed U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's May 13 remark about investment, without mentioning the lifting of sanctions, would have annoyed the regime.

"While North Korea is eyeing the lifting of sanctions, the U.S. wants to allow some exceptions to allow investment. This is a huge and fundamental difference."

Even though related parties are on a denuclearization mission, it would be highly difficult for North Korea to attract investments from international banks such as the World Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank or Asian Development Bank, he noted.

"Therefore, partnerships between the state and private sector is necessary to cover all the costs to build infrastructure, including education, energy, medical facilities, sewage and so on," he said. "Society should begin the talks immediately, regarding how to mobilize money in the private sector that is wandering with nowhere to invest. It requires policy support."

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