Berlin helps N. Korea restore Taejos home
By Kim Se-jeong
With the help of Germany, the residence of an ancient Korean king in Gaeseong, North Korea, has recently been restored.
According to the German diplomatic source in Pyongyang, the restoration of the two buildings at the site of "Taejo Mokchongjeon" was completed in mid-July this year.
Taejo, known as Yi Seong-gye (1335-1408), was the founder and first king of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910). "Mokchongjeon" was the residence where he lived until he became king.
The move was part of the German Foreign Office's Cultural Preservation Program, which was launched last October.
"In helping preserve ancient cultural heritage sites in North Korea, Germany is paying tribute to the outstanding culture of the entire Korean nation both in the north and south of the country," the source told The Korea Times in a recent email interview.
The Cultural Preservation Program, begun in 1981, has supported more than 1,300 projects around the world.
Mokchongjeon was chosen by North Korea, the source said, "when Germany had signaled interest in providing financial support."
The site was examined by a German specialist before the agreement was signed.
Germany provided North Korea with 50,000 euros to purchase materials, transportation and power, and local people were recruited to work on the site by the local authority.
"Both sides are very pleased with the outcome of the cooperation," he said, and are discussing another project in Gaeseong, the details of which the embassy in Pyongyang refused to disclose.
Gaeseong is an ancient capital of the Goryeo Kingdom (918-1392), and home to the Gaeseong south gate and Manwoldae, the official royal palace.
The source stressed that "Taejo Mokchongjeon was purely a cultural cooperation project. It has nothing to do with anything else," drawing a line between political and cultural engagement with the repressive regime.
Relations between Germany and North Korea go back to 1949.
The former German Democratic Republic, or East Germany, was a close ally of North Korea. In the wake of German reunification in 1990, ties were discontinued.
They were revived in 2001 when the unified Germany reopened its embassy in Pyongyang, one year after the late former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung flew to North Korea for a summit with Kim Jong-il.
Between 2004 and 2009, the Goethe Institute, an organization promoting German culture abroad, operated the "Reading Room" in Pyongyang.
Berlin decided to close it, citing difficulty accessing the site and censorship by local authorities.
Books on medicine, language, education and culture were donated to two local universities. Computers are currently stored in the Germany Embassy.
Next month, three German movies will be screened at the Pyongyang International Film Festival.
North Korea was invited to participate in this year's Berlin International Film Festival in February, but didn't accept.
