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| ADeko Chairman Kim Hyo-joon, front row fourth from left, poses with German Ambassador-designate to Korea Georg Schmidt, front row third from right, along with other participants of the Korea-German Youth Exchange Program during a press event at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Seoul Sept. 18. Yonhap |
By Kim Hyun-bin
To commemorate the 140th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and Germany, the 140 Years Korean-Germany Partnerships Conference was held to discuss ways to further enhance cooperation between the two countries in Seoul, Monday.
The event was jointly organized by six entities within the Korea-Germany community, including the German Embassy in Seoul and ADeKo, a Korean-German alumni network that brought together approximately 300 professionals from industry and academia.
Prominent figures in attendance included the Ambassador-designate of Germany to Korea, Georg Schmidt, ADeKo Chairman Kim Hyo-joon, and Martin Henkelmann, head of the Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI). They convened to reflect upon the accomplishments and current state of the 140-year diplomatic relationship between the two nations and to explore future directions and collaboration.
The origins of diplomatic relations between Korea and Germany can be traced back to Oct. 24, 1883 when a German negotiating delegation arrived via a military vessel at Jemulpo Port, now known as Incheon.
That pivotal year saw the signing of the Korea-Germany Treaty of 1883, which was aimed at fostering economic ties, thereby setting the stage for ongoing exchanges and cooperation across diverse domains including economics, politics, society and culture.
A significant historical note was also shared by Schmidt. "German field hospitals were established to treat Korean soldiers during the Korean War. Furthermore, six decades ago, individuals were sent to Germany under the Korea-Germany labor agreement, leading to enduring personal connections that greatly strengthened the partnership between the two countries," he said.
Over the course of 140 years, Korea and Germany have engaged in robust economic exchanges. As of 2022, their bilateral trade volume reached approximately 45 trillion won ($33.6 billion), marking a 34 percent increase compared to a decade earlier.
"There has been a tremendously growing economic interconnection over the past decades, promoted in particular by the EU-Korea Free Trade Agreement. Three numbers illustrate this: German investments in Korea have amounted to a cumulative $13.7 billion over the past 60 years. Korea has now become Germany's third-largest trading partner in Asia. And bilateral trade volume in 2022 reached an impressive $33.7 billion, the highest ever," Henkelmann said.
Notably, the number of German students studying in Korea has witnessed significant growth over the years, with Germany surpassing Korea in terms of student exchange numbers since the early days of the Hallyu wave in 2011.
In recent years, the number of German students studying in Korea has nearly doubled compared with the number of Korean students studying in Germany. Korea now stands as the fourth most popular destination for German students in 2022, marking a unique position among non-English-speaking nations.
Efforts are also underway to enhance academic exchanges and cooperation between Korea and Germany for future generations. During this event, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed with the German entities and the Korean government for the Youth Exchange Program, aimed at facilitating interactions between young students from both countries.
This program aims to support academic knowledge exchange and foster friendly cultural interactions among young students from the two countries. The first group of 30 first-grade students is scheduled to visit Germany in 2024. The program is set to expand to 200 students in 2024 and 500 students in 2026.
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