Park Eung-kyuk, seventh from left, president of the Korea Institute of Public Administration (KIPA), poses with Barbara Stamm, sixth from left, president of the Bavarian Parliament and vice-chair of the German Political Party CSU, and Prof. Ursula Maennle, second from right, deputy chairwoman of the Hanns-Seidel-Foundation, prior to the start of a forum on anniversary of German unification and federalism at KIPA in Seoul, Monday.
/ Courtesy of KIPA |
A noted German scholar suggested Monday that South Korea should be more detailed in preparing for unification to minimize the ill-effects arising from the integration of the two ideologically different states, which have long been technically at war.
Speaking to a forum on the theme of the "20th Anniversary of German Unification: Achievements and Prospects" at the Korea Institute of Public Administration (KIPA), Prof. Ursula Maennle, deputy chair of the Hanns-Seidel-Foundation, warned that the cost required in unifying the divided territories would be extreme in the absence of social integration.
Organized by KIPA, a state-run think tank under the wing of the Office of the Prime Minister, the forum was attended by KIPA President Park Eung-kyuk and scores of research fellows. Prof. Maennle is currently on a visit to Seoul along with Barbara Stamm, president of the Bavarian parliament and vice-chair of the German Political Party CSU, for a week-long stay.
In his introductory speech, Park called for closer cooperation in such sectors as politics, economics, and culture between the two countries which have unique and bitter experiences of territorial division. Stamm spoke on "German Federalism and ParliamentRole."
Recalling the aftereffects resulting from German unification on its 20th anniversary, Prof. Maennle cited human rights infringements and secret police rampant in such a totalitarian state as former East Germany as grave issues that existed in the process of territorial unification. She predicted more seriousness in the case of Korean unification in light of North Korea's closed stance, incomparable to other countries.
Maennle admitted much difficulty in the post-unification process especially to create social harmony between the two Germanys, referring to former West German Chancellor Willy Brandt's remark that "now grows together what belongs together." She pointed out much difficulty in setting new values for capital, labor, marketing and labor ethics which had been unfamiliar in the former East Germany.
In a poll in September 2009, Maennle found that 63 percent of former East Germans felt differences rather than commonality with West Germans. This indicates that more time would be needed for complete social integration, according to the survey results.
Stamm, referring to Germany's federalism and parliament, noted the need for effective role division among parliaments at all levels of federation, state and the provinces in the era of globalization. During their Korea visit, the two German politicians will meet political and female leaders before their departure Thursday.
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