This lecture traces the complex journey of Csö In Huan, a North Korean medical student caught in the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. After fighting Soviet suppression, he fled to Yugoslavia and then Switzerland, eventually obtaining South Korean citizenship. Surprisingly, he later sought assistance from Chinese and Hungarian embassies, aiming for political engagement or a return to China. His stance dramatically shifted again, leading him to request re-entry to Hungary to facilitate his return to North Korea. Diplomatic exchanges between Hungarian authorities and the North Korean Embassy orchestrated his complex repatriation, including the confiscation of his South Korean passport. His ultimate fate after returning to North Korea remains unknown, as documented in Hungarian archives.

About the speaker:

Dr. Kim Bogook is an Associate Professor at the University of Miskolc and a Senior Research Fellow at the Academy of East Asian Studies, Sungkyunkwan University. He is also affiliated with the National Archives of Hungary as Director of the East Asian Research Centre. He works between Korea and Hungary, engaging in research on Korea, East Asia, and their global connections, with particular emphasis on Korean–Hungarian cultural and academic exchange. His work includes translation, archival research, and the coordination of international academic collaborations. He is actively involved in promoting Korean language and culture education, contributing to cross-cultural understanding and scholarly exchange.

Language:

English

Time & Location

Monday, 8 June 2026, 14:00

-1.2009 großer Hörsaal, UG (Fabeckstr. 23/25)

Online participation is available. Please register via the email address: Hojye.kang [at] fu-berlin.de

About the Eurasian Foundation lecture series:

This lecture series is organized by Dr. Hojye Kang and offered within the seminar “Bridging Histories, Forging Futures: Lessons from 150 Years of German-Korean Dialogue for the Eurasia Community,” supported by the Eurasia Foundation (https://www.eurasia.or.jp/). It is an annual program that brings together international experts on Korea’s traditional era, the colonial period, contemporary South and North Korea, and international relations. Each lecture presents key research alongside accessible insights into methodologies, primary sources, and conceptual frameworks, offering a structured perspective on the Korean Peninsula in its broader Eurasian context. The series is open to students and all interested audiences.

Upcoming Lectures:

• Mon, 15 June: “North Korea in the Eurasia Community: Rationality, Technological Governance, and Economic Transformation” by Benoît Berthelier (The University of Sydney, Australia)
• Mon, 22 June: “Colonial-Era Korean Socialism: Critiques of the Present and Visions for the Future of Eurasia Communities” by Vladimir Tikhonov (University of Oslo, Norway)
• Mon, 29 June: “Donghak as the Origin of K-Democracy: Toward the Spread and Establishment of Democracy in the Eurasia Community” by Byung-Sul Jung (Seoul National University, Korea)
• Mon, 6 July: “Looking toward the Europe–Asia Community: One World” by Sato Yoji (Chairman of the Eurasia Foundation, Japan)
• Sat, 11 July: “The Culture of Mathematical Science in Korea and the Eurasia Community” by Jongtae Lim (Seoul National University, Korea)