'JSA' leads German student to Korea

“Joint Security Area (JSA)” directed by Park Chan-wook

Pleyer seeks to introduce Korean history and culture in Europe

Benedikt Aegidius Pleyer, a German graduate from the Graduate School of Korean Studies

By Chung Ah-young

In 2005, Benedikt Aegidius Pleyer happened to watch the Korean film “Joint Security Area (JSA)” directed by Park Chan-wook. He didn’t expect the film to change his life from being an ordinary chemistry student to an avid fan of Korean culture.

The 29-year-old German found a strong connection between his native country and (South) Korea through the movie that recounts an incident that happened in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) between the two Koreas. Before watching the film, he didn’t know about Korea which remains divided since the Korean War (1950-53).

“Although I was born in the divided Germany in 1985, I was too young to remember the bitter memory of the division or historical moments of unification. But after watching JSA, I felt a sense of connection with Korea and developed an interest in this country,” he said.

Out of curiosity, he chose the Korean language as a minor subject while majoring in chemistry at university. He bought Korean grammar books and found it more interesting as his studies progressed.

Pleyer came to Korea in 2011 to enroll at the Graduate School of Korean Studies at the Academy of Korean Studies (AKS) and was recently granted a Master’s Degree on his thesis on the history of the rifle during the Joseon Kingdom.

Before studying at AKS, he previously stayed on Jeju Island from June to September in 2006 at Jeju National University. During the stay, he was impressed by the beautiful natural landscape there that deepened his affection for Korea.

“At first it was hard to adapt into Korean society because of the cultural differences, especially the food. But now I just understand its part of Korea,” he said.

While learning the Korean language for seven years, he felt the necessity of studying its history. “If one wants to understand a country, he or she should know its past through history. Only when understanding the past, we can see the present,” he said.

Graduates and professors pose at a graduation ceremony at the Graduate School of Korean Studies at the Academy of Korean Studies at its campus in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province last week. / Courtesy of AKS

Pleyer said that in Europe, many people come to know Korea through Japan. “Many Europeans first encounter Japan’s culture and then know Korea,” he said.

But he said that the Korean films, especially indie movies, are better recognized than any others among Europeans. “Like me, the Korean films can provoke the interest of foreigners outside Korea. I think that Korean indie films have better content than K-pop or dramas because they have more universal appeal by touching on various social and cultural issues,” he said.

After graduation, he said that he will introduce Korean history to Europe through translations. “In Europe, academic research or books about Korean history are still hard to find. So I want to translate a lot of Korean historical research or documents into German or other languages,” he said.

The graduate school opened on March 5, 1980 to advance Korean culture through in-depth research into the humanities and social sciences, and to develop academic human resources to further the globalization of Korean studies.

Over more than three decades since its inception, the school has produced new generations of scholars capable of taking the discipline of Korean studies.

Since the first graduation in 1982 to this year, the school has nurtured some 742 MA and 408 Ph.D. degree holders. These graduates are working in various fields, in universities, research institutions and cultural organizations in and out of Korea.

“Now our graduate school is recognized as the leading research and educational institution for Korean studies and nurturing the next generation’s scholars achieving the global standards. I want our graduates to continue their academic endeavors for promotion of Korean studies and development,” Lee Bae-yong, president of the AKS, said at last week’s graduation ceremony.

“Korea should play a leading role in the global community and continue to inspire many developing countries as a model country which overcame economic difficulties and now thrives in cultural fields. On that sense, we need more experts on Korean studies to further research and spread the values of Korean culture,” she said.

The school is receiving applications from growing numbers of foreign students from both Korea and overseas, every year. This year, 43 students, including 19 foreigners, graduated from the school. “We will fully encourage our graduates to grow up as the influential experts on Korean studies in many other countries and open the door for supporting diverse research and projects,” Lee said.