평화는 있다

군사분계선을 가로지르는 판문점 회의실 안에서는 남북간 통행이 원칙적으로 자유롭다. 하지만 대부분의 경우 거기까지 가는 것 자체가 불가능하고, 설사 가더라도 특유의 엄중한 분위기 때문에 그 자유를 있는 대로 다 누리다 오는 사람은 거의 없다.
 
군사분계선 위에 탁자가 있고, 탁자 위 검은색 마이크선이 더욱 정밀하게 군사분계선을 표시한다. 정확히 군사분계선을 따라 탁자 옆으로 흘러내린 마이크선. 이쪽 혹은 저쪽으로 한 치도 임의로 치우칠 수 없는..
 
운전병이었던 나는 막상 판문점에 도착하면 딱히 할 일이 없었다. 일할 사람을 데려다주는 게 임무였던 나로서는 당연한 일이기도 하였겠지만, 정말 아무 일도.. 하루는 군사분계선상 그 회의실에 나 혼자만 한동안 감금된 듯 우두커니 남아있게 되었다. 밖에 나가 함부로 돌아다니는 것은 역시 상상도 할 수 없는 일이었고..
 
어느 순간 여자아이들이 고무줄놀이를 하듯 마이크선을 깡충깡충 뛰어넘으며 나름 놀기 시작했다. 남자아이들 뜀박질하듯 회의장 이쪽 끝에서 저쪽 끝, 저쪽 끝에서 이쪽 끝을 셀 수 없이, 또 정신없이 뛰어다니기도 했고..
 
생각해 보면 참 별것도 아닌데 나는 정말 마음껏 누렸다. 자유! 평화! 통일!
 
You have absolute freedom to cross the inter-Korean border in the buildings of Joint Security Area, JSA, over the Military Demarcation Line, MDL, though you rarely have access to the extremely sensitive area. Even though you may go there, you can hardly enjoy the full freedom owing to the uniquely rigid atmosphere of Panmunjom.
 
The microphone wires on the conference table exactly mark the border which cannot be crossed elsewhere. The wires are even fixed to the table and floor so that none may move them this or that way, not even an inch at one's own will.
 
One day nearly 30 years ago, as a driver of a soldier, I gave someone a ride to one of those buildings of Panmunjom, after which I had literally nothing to do quite a while, de facto confined alone in the building, strictly prohibited from going outside. So very strictly!
 
Suddenly I started to skip the microphone wires like the girls skipping ropes and then I made countless inter-Korean runs just like the boys playing out in the field, over and over again, from this side to that side and from that to this.
 
A very unique experience of enjoying freedom, peace, and reunification to the full for a good while, wasn’t it?