Global Korea Forum

(co-host KEC)

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"A Unified Germany, A Still-Divided Korean Peninsula“

September 30, 2025 (Tuesday), 10:00–17:30

Freie Universität Berlin, Weiterbildungszentrum, Otto-von-Simson-Str. 13, 14195 Dahlem

Detailed Program Time:

10:00–10:20: Opening Ceremony

Congratulatory Remarks: H.E. Sang Beom Lim (Ambassador of ROK to Germany)

Congratulatory Remarks: Prof. Eun-jeung Lee (Freie Universität Berlin)

*Moderator : Dr. Il-Seok Oh (INSS)

10:20–10:50 Keynote Speech:

Minister of Unification Time

10:50–11:00 Group Photo & Seating Adjustment 11:00–12:10 Session I: Germany’s Successful Unification and the Persistence of Division on the Korean Peninsula

Addressing the question: "30 years after the Inter-Korean Basic Agreement, why does division persist on the Korean Peninsula?" This session will explore diagnoses and potential solutions.

Moderator: Dr. Gee-dong Lee (INSS)

Presentations:

Dr. Myung-Lim Park (Yonsei University)

Dr. Werner Pfennig (Freie Universität Berlin)

Discussants:

Hans-Joachim Hacker (Former member of the Bundestag)

Dr. Gap-Sik Kim (Senior Research Fellow, Korea Institute for National Unification)

13:00–14:30: Session II: East Germany’s Two-State Theory and North Korea’s Two-State Theory

As East Germany once advocated the existence of two separate states, North Korea now advances a similar stance. This session will analyze and discuss strategies for response.

Moderator: Dr. Werner Kamppeter (Freie Universität Berlin)

Presentations:

Dr. Gap-Sik Kim (Senior Research Fellow, Korea Institute for National Unification)

Dr. Bernhard J. Seliger (Hanns Seidel Foundation)

Discussants: ·

Hans-Joachim Hacker (Former member of the Bundestag)

Dr. Gee-dong Lee (INSS)

Dr. Hyun-ah Choi (Hanns Seidel Foundation)

14:50–16:10: Session III: The role of the cultural sector in German reunification and North-South Korean reunification Exploring the influence of German literature and cinema on reunification during the German reunification process, and exploring the role of the cultural sector and other private sectors in promoting the development of North-South Korean relations.

Moderator:

Prof. Dr. Eun-jeung Lee (Free University of Berlin)

Presentations:

Hae-sung Su (Korean Writer)

Dr. Axel Ruediger (Freie Universität Berlin)

Discussants:

Dr. Jean Yhee (Freie Universität Berlin/ Institut Politik+Kultur)

Director Pierre-Olivier François

Dr. Il-Seok Oh (INSS)

16:20–17:30: Korea-Europe Peace Platform (Co Session) - Is Peaceful Coexistence Between North and South Korea Possible? Germany’s Experience and Geopolitical Approaches

Like division, unification is not solely a domestic matter but also an international issue involving the interests of surrounding countries. In the German case, geopolitical shifts and coordination of strategies among neighboring states were essential. How does this apply to the Korean Peninsula?

Moderator:

Prof. Dr. Michael Staack (Helmut-Schmidt University)

Presentations:

Prof. Hae-young Lee (Hanshin University)

Dr. Ramon Pacheco Pardo (Kings College London)

Discussants:

Dr. Hyun-ah Choi (Hanns Seidel Foundation)

Prof. August Pradetto (Helmut-Schmidt University)