Seoul on Edge

The three-way conversation between South, North and the United States is part of a complicated post-war legacy. (Alan Mittelstaedt/GroundTruth)

The three-way conversation between South, North and the United States is part of a complicated post-war legacy. (Alan Mittelstaedt/GroundTruth)

This week’s historic meeting of South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at Panmunjom — the blue-boxed “truce village” in the Demilitarized Zone — is the first time the South will welcome a North Korean leader past the border since the Korean War, which reached an armistice but not a treaty in 1953.

The rather abrupt shift from animosity to diplomacy brokered by President Moon around the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics is intended to lead to a one-on-one meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Kim sometime in June.

The three-way conversation between South, North and the United States is part of a complicated post-war legacy defined by military might, economic transformation and religious fervor that might finally be moving toward peace and renewal. GroundTruth in partnership with USC Annenberg‘s Knight Program in Media and Religion explores stories of faith, change and skepticism at a pivotal time for the peninsula.

— Kevin Grant and Kelly Kasulis

Wonyoung Sohn visits the 1,200-year-old Bongeunsa Temple. He has been advocating for inter-faith understanding, after incidents in which radical Christians vandalized Buddhist temples. (Chris Damien/GroundTruth)

SEOUL ON EDGE

Why some religious leaders see resolving inter-faith conflict as a step to Korean reunification

Military vehicles are among the sights seen in Tongil Chon, a South Korean village on the demilitarized zone.

SEOUL ON EDGE

Military vehicles, bunker supplies and propaganda have been facts of life for this DMZ village

A worshippers stands outside of Seoul Central Masjid, the heart of the Muslim community in Korea. (Razzan Nakhlawi/GroundTruth)

SEOUL ON EDGE

Life on Seoul’s ‘Muslim Street’

The circle is the symbol of Won Buddhism, representing the enlightened mind and the interconnectedness of all beings. (Sherry Simpson/GroundTruth)

SEOUL ON EDGE

Followers of a Korean sect of Buddhism have kept up a decades-long anti-nuclear fight

Rev. Craig Bartlett leads the Open Doors Church in Seoul, one of the few LGBT-affirming congregations. (Erin Rode/GroundTruth)

SEOUL ON EDGE

Amid anti-gay sentiment, LGBT-affirming churches provide fellowship and advocacy

With political instability and an economic downturn, Koreans are turning to traditional shamanic ceremonies. (Miranda Mazariegos/GroundTruth)

SEOUL ON EDGE

Amid economic and political tensions, shamanism regains popularity in South Korea

Around 50 students from elementary to high school attend the Durihana International School. Students take classes in math, history, science, Korean, English, music, art, and moral studies. The school was founded by the Rev. Chun Ki Won. (Rachel Cohrs/GroundTruth)

SEOUL ON EDGE

Why do South Korean Christians support North Korean defectors?

Religious beliefs, and the lack of it, help explain the political views Koreans hold. (Alan Mittelstaedt/GroundTruth)

SEOUL ON EDGE

Introduction: Religious divisions in South Korea inform attitudes on North Korea, social issues

Because of the emphasis on family lineage, Korean parents are unenthusiastic about adoption, and orphans are socially stigmatized. Pictured, a volunteer holds a baby abandoned at a church's "baby box." (Paulina Cachero/GroundTruth)

SEOUL ON EDGE

Korean orphans languish in system as tradition, new laws make adoption difficult

Rev. Sungsuk Kang is a third-generation Methodist pastor and an advocate for legalizing medical marijuana. His sign reads, "Marijuana is a matter of life and death." (Tom Carroll/GroundTruth)

SEOUL ON EDGE

An unlikely advocate for medical marijuana legalization

A#MeToo flyer was posted outside campus center at Yonsei University, inviting students to a discussion on the movement. (Tommy Brooksbank/GroundTruth)

SEOUL ON EDGE

Churches filled with Korea’s youth embrace the #MeToo Movement

When asked about their favorite pastime, most students at Hanguk University mentioned spending time with friends. Unlike their parents, a majority of young South Koreans don't have a religious affiliation. (Ashley Vazquez/GroundTruth)

SEOUL ON EDGE

Korean churches lose young congregants, who view religion as irrelevant