‘Germany, Korea have much to show each other’
Korea has been a major partner for Germany in many aspects, but there is still potential to intensify the already strong relations especially in the cultural field, says Germany’s new Ambassador to Korea Stephan Auer.
“There is too narrow a picture of Germany in Seoul and vice versa,” the ambassador told The Korea Times. “We have a lot more to offer than just beers and cars. And I am aiming to broaden the area of cultural exchanges so that Koreans better understand about our country’s music and art and much more.”
Auer, who officially took office last month, chose the position because he was impressed by Seoul’s growing, dynamic economy and consolidated democracy as well as believing the two countries shared interests and values in international cooperation.
Such “firm, intense” relations had been evidenced by seven meetings between the two nations’ foreign ministers in the past two years, the ambassador said.
“I visited Korea before on a business trip, and I was always impressed by the friendliness of Korean people,” Auer said. “This time as the German ambassador, I have also received a very warm reception.”
Through his previous posts — including director at the European External Action Service and head of the European Coordination Group’s Federal Foreign Office — the diplomat has dealt much with Asia, which he believes is increasingly important to Berlin politically, economically and culturally.
“I have realized that Korea has contributed so much to international affairs and facing and solving challenges,” he said. “It has good personalities at international institutions as well, like Ban Ki-moon, and it is surely one of the biggest advocates of free trade.”
To widen awareness of Germany, the ambassador plans to use special occasions and anniversaries to promote cultural aspects, such as at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics and the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s Reformation next year.
This has already begun with the installation of Berlin’s signature symbolic sculpture — “Buddy Bear” — outside Seoul Square on Nov. 21.
The life-size sculpture, which has become a symbol of Berlin since 2001, has been exhibited around the world representing peace and co-existence. Since it moved its office to Seoul Square two years ago, the German Embassy has made efforts to create a Buddy Bear for Seoul, and artist Jang Yun-hee was the winner of the embassy’s design competition.
“We were initially planning to have the Buddy Bear installed on Nov. 9, a day that marks the breakdown of the Berlin Wall, so the installation symbolized that we wish our Korean friends to have the same historic opportunity to overcome the division and freedom and peace as we have,” Auer said.
Germany was divided after World War II, but managed to reunify in 1990. Korea, which has yet to overcome over seven decades of separation, would like to follow the German example.
“We also had difficult history moments that destroyed many parts of the Europe, which gave special reasonability towards its neighboring countries,” Auer said.
As part of efforts to promote its culture, the envoy believes tourism has the potential to grow.
“Germany is a safe, stable destina- tion for tourists, with many attractions and beautiful landscapes to enjoy,” he said.
Language is also a key area on which the envoy plans to focus during his term, the ambassador said.
“More Koreans now flock to language institutes to take courses outside of school because they want additional qualifications, but also because they want to work in the context of German-Korea relations,” he said.
In June, the German Embassy awarded 72 Koreans with a language certificate, the German-language DSD diploma, which is considered proof of knowledge of the language necessary for students to be accepted at a preparatory college.
Since 2008, eight high schools in Korea have run the DSD with support from the Central Agency for German Schools Abroad (ZfA). This year, 119 students sat the exam. The ZfA supports more than 1,200 schools worldwide and about 1,100 schools in the respective educational systems in which the language certificate can be acquired.
According to the German Embassy, 25,061 Koreans are study- ing the language, and the number has increased steadily since 2010.
Officially starting in 1883 with a mutual contract on friendship, trade and shipment, Korean and German relations have developed and deepened. Unification has been a subject of extensive discussion between the two countries.
In 2011, the two established a high-level unification advisory committee. Since then, the two sides have worked closely to discuss matters related to unification through an annual meeting with the government, universities and think tanks.
In 2014, President Park Geun-hye had a summit with German Chancellor Angela Merkel to discuss bilateral cooperation for unifying the two Koreas.
The two leaders first met in 2000, when Park visited Germany as deputy leader of the main opposition Grand National Party, now the governing Saenuri Party.