By Choe Chong-dae
I enjoyed a fabulous opportunity recently to travel around Germany for two weeks. The trip was arranged by the Korea Heritage Society and its Chairman Choi Ha-kyung and led by Dr. Park Ki-an, a professor emeritus of Kyung Hee University who was educated in Germany.
On the trip were 32 members of the society, enthusiasts of Korean and German culture from a variety of fields such as business, academia and cultural art including renowned photographer Kim Jung-soo.
Exploring many prominent tourist attractions such as Berlin, Hamburg, Bremen, Hannover, Cologne, Aachen, Sankt Goarshausen, Koblenz, Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Stuttgart, Fussen and Munich, I was fortunate to experience diverse cultural aspects. I will long remember every place for its incredible beauty and the rich cultural life.
While in Berlin, I came across a group of young people who were dancing and singing in accordance with K-pop lyrics at a park. Currently, K-pop has gained international popularity which transcends space and time.
In Hamburg, I had the pleasure of reuniting with Dr. Wulf Kopke, head of the Institute for Transcultural Competence at the Police Academy Hamburg. Because he served as director of the Museum of Ethnology Hamburg previously, Kopke visited Korea many times in cooperation with the National Museum of Korean Folklore. He has maintained a close friendship with me. Although I stayed in Hamburg shortly, he kindly invited me to a luncheon with traditional Hamburg food and shared interesting views with associates of the Korea Heritage Society.
Moving to the Loreley, a high cliff in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Sankt Goarshausen, I unexpectedly noticed a pair of Dolhareubang, traditional Korean stone statues made from the volcanic rock of Jeju Island, at its entrance.
The Dolhareubang, donated by Jeju Provincial Government in 2009, represents Jeju inhabitants' desire for God's protection and fertility since ancient times. They are placed outside of village gates for protection against demons. I admired a picturesque view of Goarshausen from the Loreley with the unique towering Katz Castle and neighboring Rheinfels Castle, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Furthermore, the atmosphere on the hills of Loreley was enhanced by the spontaneous singing of the romantic song, "the Loreley" by participants of our tour.
What impressed me most in Heidelberg was the Philosophers Walk, a path located on the northern banks of the Neckar River in Heidelberg. Many German poets such as Joseph von Eichendorff (1788-1857) and Friedrich Holderlin (1770-1843) created their remarkable writings after being inspired by the place. Numerous prominent scholars and philosophers of Heidelberg have enjoyed the impressive path for its solitude, unique beauty and colorful views of the Neckar River as well as the fabulous ruins of the Renaissance Castle, thus it came to be called the Philosophers Walks during the Romantic Period.
A fairytale-like castle, the Neuschwanstein (New Swan) Castle in Bavaria, near Fussen, will be long remembered in my memory. What a fascinating castle! Its construction began in 1869 by King Ludwig II of Bavaria, known as the "Fairytale King." The magnificent building was not completed even at Ludwig's passing in 1886 as he wished the castle to be perfect.
The last day in Germany was May 1. While I leisurely drank a jug of freshly brewed beer at Marienplatz, the central square of Munich, in the afternoon, the place turned into a festival zone to celebrate the Labor Day. A concert of vibrant vocal music reminded me of a famous saying "the Miracle on the Rhine." I wish to visit Germany again!
Choe Chong-dae is a guest columnist of The Korea Times. He is president of Dae-kwang International Co., and Director of the Korean-Swedish Association. He can be reached at choecd@naver.com
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On the trip were 32 members of the society, enthusiasts of Korean and German culture from a variety of fields such as business, academia and cultural art including renowned photographer Kim Jung-soo.
Exploring many prominent tourist attractions such as Berlin, Hamburg, Bremen, Hannover, Cologne, Aachen, Sankt Goarshausen, Koblenz, Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Stuttgart, Fussen and Munich, I was fortunate to experience diverse cultural aspects. I will long remember every place for its incredible beauty and the rich cultural life.
While in Berlin, I came across a group of young people who were dancing and singing in accordance with K-pop lyrics at a park. Currently, K-pop has gained international popularity which transcends space and time.
In Hamburg, I had the pleasure of reuniting with Dr. Wulf Kopke, head of the Institute for Transcultural Competence at the Police Academy Hamburg. Because he served as director of the Museum of Ethnology Hamburg previously, Kopke visited Korea many times in cooperation with the National Museum of Korean Folklore. He has maintained a close friendship with me. Although I stayed in Hamburg shortly, he kindly invited me to a luncheon with traditional Hamburg food and shared interesting views with associates of the Korea Heritage Society.
Moving to the Loreley, a high cliff in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Sankt Goarshausen, I unexpectedly noticed a pair of Dolhareubang, traditional Korean stone statues made from the volcanic rock of Jeju Island, at its entrance.
The Dolhareubang, donated by Jeju Provincial Government in 2009, represents Jeju inhabitants' desire for God's protection and fertility since ancient times. They are placed outside of village gates for protection against demons. I admired a picturesque view of Goarshausen from the Loreley with the unique towering Katz Castle and neighboring Rheinfels Castle, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Furthermore, the atmosphere on the hills of Loreley was enhanced by the spontaneous singing of the romantic song, "the Loreley" by participants of our tour.
What impressed me most in Heidelberg was the Philosophers Walk, a path located on the northern banks of the Neckar River in Heidelberg. Many German poets such as Joseph von Eichendorff (1788-1857) and Friedrich Holderlin (1770-1843) created their remarkable writings after being inspired by the place. Numerous prominent scholars and philosophers of Heidelberg have enjoyed the impressive path for its solitude, unique beauty and colorful views of the Neckar River as well as the fabulous ruins of the Renaissance Castle, thus it came to be called the Philosophers Walks during the Romantic Period.
A fairytale-like castle, the Neuschwanstein (New Swan) Castle in Bavaria, near Fussen, will be long remembered in my memory. What a fascinating castle! Its construction began in 1869 by King Ludwig II of Bavaria, known as the "Fairytale King." The magnificent building was not completed even at Ludwig's passing in 1886 as he wished the castle to be perfect.
The last day in Germany was May 1. While I leisurely drank a jug of freshly brewed beer at Marienplatz, the central square of Munich, in the afternoon, the place turned into a festival zone to celebrate the Labor Day. A concert of vibrant vocal music reminded me of a famous saying "the Miracle on the Rhine." I wish to visit Germany again!
Choe Chong-dae is a guest columnist of The Korea Times. He is president of Dae-kwang International Co., and Director of the Korean-Swedish Association. He can be reached at choecd@naver.com
