Over a thousand years earlier much of the peninsula was ruled by the Silla kings. In those days a man's hereditary position determined his place in the social standing. Top aristocracy did not have to sign up for the military. They went instead to the top administrative offices in the land. A practice carried down to today's Korea.

Later came the Koryo State, equally conscious of rank, whose "caste" system rivaled that of modern India and persists in North Korea as well. One third of the nation was actually a slave class in ancient Koryo. This practice was only outlawed in 1894, but was quickly picked up by the occupying Japanese, and of course, by today's labor camp mentality . No one considered it unusual. This is how things had been "forever".

Caste continued in the final Choson dynasty. The different groups wore tags that branded them as high or low in Korean standing. Today's system has changed only in name, and involves 50 or 60 ranks according to class background. There are families that fought the Japanese, veterans of the Korean War, poor peasant farmers etc etc. One's rank determines where one lives and how much one eats and if one lives or dies.

There are many other intriguing similarities between the present oppression and the oppression of his predecessors. North Korea is starved for liberty and truth. Starved.

Can Koreans be free? Where shall we look for hope, for faith that things can ever be different? That's easy. South Korea, and the God upon whom so many South Koreans call every day. South Korea is the constant argument against feudalism, brutal monarchies, Communism, Juche, and the government of the North. Koreans really can be free, given the proper God and the proper leadership.

For this we pray.