36th Anniversary of German Reunification: '2026 Busan German Night' Draws Attention

[Financial News] The '2026 Busan German Night · Korea-Germany Night of Encounters' event was held on the 2nd at the convention hall of the Busan Tourist Hotel to commemorate the 36th anniversary of German reunification and strengthen friendship and exchanges between Korea and Germany, drawing attention.
The event took on added significance by bringing together people from a wide range of fields—not limited to exchanges between specific institutions or within a single sector—including diplomacy, the economy, academia, education, culture, youth affairs, and maritime affairs, as well as those who share memories of the Korean War and peace.
In his welcoming remarks, Honorary Consul Jin-Sung Jeong introduced the attendees at each table and emphasized the significance of the gathering, saying, "Every single table prepared here is a distinguished guest table that showcases the essence of Korea-Germany exchanges." In fact, each table featured people connecting the past, present, and future of Korea-Germany exchanges, adding to the significance of the event.
The event was attended by German-speaking communities, including the Busan Association of Korean Nurses Dispatched to Germany (BEKIDA), as well as the alumni association of the University of Göttingen, the German Embassy in Seoul, the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea (UNMCK), the European Chamber of Commerce in Korea (ECCK), officials from the City of Hamburg, and professors and researchers from universities in Busan, Jeju, and South Gyeongsang Province.
Students from Korea Maritime & Ocean University (KMOU), Busan University of Foreign Studies (BUFS), and the Department of German Studies at Jeju National University (JNU), headed by Department Chair Kim Maeng-ha, participated in the event, demonstrating the future generation's role in Korea-Germany exchanges. JNU students also visited historical sites in Busan, gaining opportunities for fieldwork and research on relations between Korea and Germany.
The event highlighted not only the historical significance of German reunification but also the ties between Korea and Germany forged through the Korean War, Busan, the United Nations forces, and the postwar reconstruction of Korea.
As a result, a diverse group of people from Korea and abroad who are interested in Germany and Europe, the Korean War, peace, and reunification gathered in one place to share historical memories and discuss possibilities for future cooperation.
In his congratulatory address, German Ambassador to Korea Georg Schmidt reflected on the special significance that Germany's peaceful reunification continues to hold today. He also emphasized the importance of Korea-Germany cultural and language exchanges, university student networks, the Saturday German School, and local research and educational activities taking place in Busan.
One highlight of the event was a special performance by students from the Busan Saturday German School.
The students, who come from diverse nationalities and cultural backgrounds, including Germany, Korea, and China, expressed their various cultural identities through music and performances, earning enthusiastic applause from the audience. Through their activities at the Saturday German School, they are gaining experience in learning the languages and cultures of Germany and Korea while also developing an understanding of the cultural identities of their respective countries and families.
The Busan Saturday German School is particularly meaningful because executive directors of the Korea-German Cultural Exchange Association's LIDO-Korea continue to run it as volunteers. The students' performance showed that Korea-Germany exchanges are not confined to diplomacy or institutional ties but are alive in the daily lives and education of younger generations.
Korea-German Cultural Exchange Association Chairman Jeong Mun-su stated, "While commemorating German reunification, we also confirmed the present state of Korea-Germany relations, which continue through encounters between people in Busan." He added, "We will continue working together so that various institutions and organizations, as well as the next generation, can carry on the history of Korea-Germany exchanges and create new paths for cooperation."
[email protected] Byeon Ok-hwan Reporter