Spring arrives in Seoul and the cherry trees share beauty and grace with the world. But if you ask an elder Korean the cherry blossoms mean more than just spring. The Japanese occupiers are the ones who planted Cherry trees all over Korea. It's the national tree of Japan and was a symbol of their military and cultural might. There were national debates after the Japanese were driven out, if the Koreans should cut down all the cherry trees. Could the Koreans see the beauty of the trees or would they always remain a symbol of repressions and foreign occupation?
North Korea wants and struggles to fight against all foreign interference. They are sworn enemies of the Japanese and the Americans. They argue if that everyone would just leave them alone they could have a peaceful unified country. (Of course, they want that unified country to be communist.) They rightfully argue that most of the two Korea's problems were created by outside countries and influences.
History and symbolism are messy. And this picture shows it perfectly. What is beauty? Is it the American military's barbwire and presence which enables the democratic South Korea to thrive in the shadow of North Korea? Is it the cherry blossoms planted by the exploitative Japanese at the beginning of the 20th century? Is it the Korean spirit that enables them to build a vibrant city despite their history and current border disputes?
