Unification Minister seeks support from officials of the German
Parliament and government for the vision of a unified Korean Peninsula
that is free and at peace.
Unification Minister attends a ceremony marking German Unity Day
(October 3)
Michael Brand, Chairman of the Committee for Human Rights and
Humanitarian Aid of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), and Kim Hong
Kyun, Korean Ambassador to Germany
On October 3, Unification Minister Kim Yung Ho attended a ceremony
marking the 33rd German Unity Day held in Hamburg and met with key
officials of Germany.
Minister Kim met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, President of
the Parliament Bärbel Bas, President of the Senate Peter Tschentscher,
President of the Federal Constitutional Court Stephan Harbarth, and
Chairman of the Committee for Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid of the
CDU Michael Brand, expressed his congratulations on the 33rd German
Unity Day and asked for the German government’s support for the vision
of a unified Korean Peninsula that is free and at peace.
Peter Tschentscher, President of the Senate
In particular, Minister Kim held a separate talk with President of
the Senate Peter Tschentscher, the organizer of the event, to express
his gratitude for the invitation and ask for Germany’s interest and
support for Busan’s bid for the World EXPO 2030.
Tschentscher thanked Minister Kim for attending and honoring the
event with his presence, and put emphasis on the importance of close
cooperation between South Korea and Germany on mutual concerns as they
mark the 140th anniversary of diplomatic ties.
Carsten Schneider, Federal Government Commissioner for Eastern Germany
Immediately following the ceremony, the minister met with Federal
Government Commissioner for Eastern Germany Carsten Schneider to
express gratitude for his role as German Chairman of the Korea-Germany
Unification Advisory Committee, and they exchanged views on hosting an
advisory council in Seoul next year.
Evelyn Zupke, SED Victims' Commissioner of the Parliament
Minister Kim then met with Evelyn Zupke, SED Victims' Commissioner
of the Parliament, to discuss the process of reckoning with the
dictatorship and social integration, and highlighted that the German
case holds great implications for the Korean government as it faces
the North Korean dictatorship spanning three generations.
Minister Kim’s visit to the UK and Germany (from September 28 to
October 4, 2023) served as an opportunity to convey the policy
direction of the Yoon administration and strengthen unification
cooperation with the European region.
Moreover, through his visit, the minister was able to enhance
international understanding of South Korea’s policy direction such as
the Audacious Initiative for addressing the North Korean nuclear
issue, share the awareness of the importance of international
solidarity in improving human rights in North Korea, and reaffirm the
European region’s support for the vision of “a unified Korean
Peninsula that is free and at peace.”
The Ministry of Unification will continue to enhance understanding
of the Yoon administration’s unification and North Korean policies
through active unification diplomacy and secure international support
and cooperation for unification on the Korean Peninsula.