Korean-American woman reacts to summit

LELAND, NC (WWAY) —  Following more than 70 years of division, it seems the world could be one step closer to a unified Korea. As outsiders, some Americans wonder what exactly this means to the people of South Korea.

When North Korea announced in November 2017 that it had successfully tested a ballistic missile that could reach the United States, it began to raise fear in some Americans.

One might assume that fear would be even greater among North Korea’s southern neighbors, but one Korean-American woman who calls our area home says that is not true.

Hyo Jin Osborne Park moved to the U.S. when she was 21-years-old, but still visits family back in South Korea, as she did this spring.

“To America it’s more danger because if they’re going to attack, they’re going to attack to America and not really South Korea,” said Osborne Park.

She says many of the fears Americans have about North Korean nuclear capabilities do not exist among South Koreans.

“I think more American people [are] worried. Still we feel not like danger or anything, and even when I ask my parents, they’re fine.”

The summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un could prove to be historic. Many hope it will help reunify Korea for the first time in more than 70 years.

Osborne Park says that creates additional concerns, like much needed resources becoming spread too thin.

“Some South Korean people [don’t] really like that, because still, a lot of South Korean people [are] not living very well.”

Still, she hopes this summit could help bring loved ones back together.

“I’m looking for actually South Korea-North Korea relationship, because we have long time ago been so much separate, so separate family, hopefully they get see their family.”