Why Do Swallows Fly to the Korean DMZ?

95 points51 comments7 days ago
octaane

You can tell who did and who did not read this article. In it, sparrows are a metaphor for Koreans and their descendants who were displaced by the Korean War.

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shellfishgene

Kim asked me, “Do you know what the function of an estuary is?” [...] “This is where salt and freshwater meet and purifies the water so that it can flow as freshwater into the country,” Kim explained. “Isn’t that remarkable?”

That would indeed be remarkable if it were true, do I just not understand what this is supposed to mean?

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1317

more accurate title (from the page <title> tag): Legacies of War and the Estuary Crossed by the Korean DMZ

kwoff

"She wrapped her arms around my shoulder and said, “My father too.” She gently reached for my hands and introduced me to the group. “She’s a third-generation sirhyangmin (실향민). She’s traveled across the ocean to join us here today. She is a jebi (제비).”" - who's cutting onions?

sim7c00

what a wonderfuly written article imho.

i first thought it was about the birds only, not knowing any history of the region really, but its nearly tied into eachother via metaphors, weaving them together to describe a single thing (human experiences within this conflict zone, i think?).

Likely i understand only half of it, knowing nothing about Korea or Koreans, but from what i taste in the article, i'd like to learn more.

ggm

Migratory birds seek food and breeding. Nostalgic Koreans seek spirit of place and the road not taken.

It's pleasing how many militarised zones are also oasis for wildlife. British SSI abound on tank practice areas, the fortified border with the FSU and neighbouring states has become a wildlife superhighway, the DMZ (such an odd name when the sole occupants are .. military) likewise.

Wildlife as metaphor. Hope springs eternal.

bux93

TIL there are people living inside the Korean DMZ. Or, at least, I think that's what the article implies. It raises a lot of questions, none of which are answered by the article. A quick chat says there's no permanent inhabitants in the Han estuary neutral zone, and that there's a South Korean village and a North Korean (Potemkin?) village in the DMZ somewhere else.

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analog31

Because Capistrano was booked?

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DonHopkins

  I know an old lady
  She swallowed a fly
  But I don't know why
  She swallow the fly
  I guess she'll die
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salvage7111

how else would the coconuts end up there?

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saretup

What do you mean? An African or a European swallow?

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rkagerer

Because they don't care about politics and borders?

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