November 9, 2009, marked the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the symbol of the Cold War and the division of Germany. On November 9, 1989, the East German government mistakenly announced that travel restrictions for East Germans would be lifted immediately. Upon hearing the news, crowds of East German citizens swarmed crossing points to West Germany, prompting the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the eventual reunification of Germany. Following the incident, the former Soviet-controlled states of eastern European abandoned communist dictatorship and began a process of democratization. The fall of the Berlin Wall is widely viewed as a historic event; putting an end to the Cold War, a decades-long conflict between the Soviet Union and the U.S. Here’s Professor Yu Ho-yeol from Korea University to explain.

The collapse of the Berlin Wall represents the beginning of the German unification and the end of Europe’s East-West divide. In the following 20 years, the socialist system in East Germany crumbled and disappeared, while East German citizens and political order were integrated into West Germany. In the unification process, East Germany eliminated the institutional and personnel elements that had previously maintained the communist system. Also, Berlin recovered its status as the capital of Germany. The emergence of a unified Germany created a new order in Europe.

20 years later, the eyes of the world were again on Berlin. Citizens congregated at the historic scene to participate in the Festival of Freedom marking the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Participants included leaders from 27 member states of the European Union and former Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who played a leading role in the German unification. During the festival, a 1.5-kilomter-long domino block standing at the place of the former Berlin Wall fell down to relive the dramatic moment of 20 years ago. Behind the shining festival, however, there is a dark side to unification. A gap still exists between western and eastern regions in terms of per-capital gross domestic product, and many East Germans feel a sense of inferiority. German unification is particularly significant for Korea, which is still divided.

Germany achieved unification twenty years ago, while South and North Korea still remain divided, standing eye to eye in confrontation. Korea could learn lessons from Germany in the unification process. Korea may also learn something from difficulties and aftereffects that Germany experienced in a post-unification era. Of course, West Germany’s East German policy played a major role in realizing unification. But at the same time, citizens in East Germany discovered the true identity of their socialist system and eventually gave it up. In the same context, people in North Korea must give up their communist system and seriously seek integration with South Korea. That should serve as a driving force behind Korea’s unification. This is another lesson we can learn from the German unification.

Experts stress that Korea should not neglect preparing for unification, since it could come abruptly. In the German case, an unexpected situation led to its sudden unification. But the West German government had, in fact, long been preparing for reunification. From 20 years before unification, West Germany began providing economic compensation to East Germany when the communist nation joined in human exchanges. In doing so, West Germany was able to open the gate of East Germany little by little. As a result, East Germans could make phone calls across the border and watch West German television. Over the last 20 years, the German government has spent 1.3 trillion Euros reconstructing the social overhead capital in the East German region. Even now, annual reunification expenses reach 100 billion Euros. Some voice concerns about potential unification costs that South Korea may shoulder, noting that the economic gap between the two Koreas is far wider than the gap between East and West Germany when they were reunited. Still, Professor Yu says monetary concerns shouldn’t interfere with Koreans’ willingness to achieve unification.

As a matter of fact, the economic gap between South and North Korea is growing wider as time goes by. Germany has paid a considerable amount of unification costs for the last 20 years. I imagine South Korea will inevitably go through a similar process. But unification can’t be calculated solely by economic figures. Also, relations between East and West Germany can’t be compared to inter-Korean ties simply based on economic numbers. I don’t think it’s appropriate to worry about unification costs too much right now. It’s imperative for South and North Korea to become one again, even if they may have to pay some unification costs. The costs could be reduced considerably, depending on how effectively and systematically the two Koreas are unified.

Experts are also concerned that the sixty-year division has spawned distrust and hostility between South and North, as South Koreans seem to be losing enthusiasm for a unified Korea. They say it’s necessary to enhance public expectations for unification through brisk inter-Korean exchanges, and to elicit cooperation from neighboring countries in that process.

It’s true that the younger generation in South Korea is less interested the reunification of Korea. But we must consider potential benefits from Korea’s unification. We should also reawaken young people to the grave mission to unify their divided country. To this end, we have to review education about unification issues and devise policies aimed at easing unnecessary worries about unification. South Korea should also make consistent efforts to convince neighboring countries that Korean unification won’t pose them any threat. Seoul should settle peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, improve relations with North Korea, and develop close cooperation with neighboring countries. If all these elements are combined successfully, Korea will be able to achieve unification in a stable fashion.

To Koreans suffering from national division, the fall of the Berlin Wall twenty years ago provides various lessons and hope for unification and freedom. For the peaceful reunification of Korea, Korean people must make thorough preparations from a long-term perspective, based on patience and tolerance.


[Interview] Free Wedding Ceremony for Two N. Korean Defector Couples
A special wedding ceremony was held on November 4th at SH Corporation, a company that manages housing development projects in the Seoul metropolitan area. Organizers of the event chose seven couples who hadn’t performed a wedding ceremony due to economic difficulties and provided them with a free wedding rite. Of the fortunate couples, two were North Korean couples who had just begun a new life in South Korea. Let’s listen to Nam Yun-yong, official of the Health and Family Support Center at the Gangnam District Office, which arranged the meaningful event.

We’ve provided free wedding ceremonies to seven couples each year since 2006, with the help of SH Corporation. This is the fourth such event. Those living in rental apartments in Seoul can apply for this event. The applicants were asked to write their own stories and reasons for applying for the program. After a rigorous screening procedure, we finally selected seven couples, including two couples from North Korea. We took consideration of first-time marriages, North Korean defectors, multicultural families and families with many children. Since 2006, we’ve so far provided free wedding rites to a total of 28 couples, including seven North Korean defector couples.

Many entertainers volunteered to participate in this mass wedding ceremony, despite their busy schedules. Actor Kim Seong-hwan officiated at the group wedding and comedian Kwon Young-chan acted as master of ceremonies. Pop singer Yuri and some vocalists celebrated the wedding with their beautiful songs. Kwon, who runs a wedding agency, has volunteered to provide wedding dresses and to handle the casting for the event for the last two years. Actually, Kwon had great difficulties when he was married, as well. He could not have held a wedding ceremony without the heartfelt assistance from people around him. This experience in mind, he was willing to take part in the latest event along with many volunteers.

Although it was financially difficult, I was able to get married. These people, too, have the right to tie the knot, even if they can’t afford to do so. I understand they hope to hold a wedding ceremony and go on a honeymoon. I thought it would be greatly meaningful to help them. So I’ve provided lots of services for free. I feel immensely proud. Profits don’t really matter to me. I feel as though I earned a lot of profit. That’s why I’m so eager to participate in this event.

But it is the seven brides and seven bridegrooms who feel most delighted at the group wedding. The North Korean defector couples appeared excited and nervous at the same time. They say they were always envious of beautiful weddings of South Korean people. They shed tears, thinking of their families who are still in North Korea. But they smile brightly at one another, dressed in beautiful wedding gowns and tuxedos. In addition to the group wedding, the couples will be offered a honeymoon and a lecture session on useful tips about becoming a happy couple. Mr. Nam expects these programs will help the newcomers from the North build a happy family in South Korea.

North Korean defectors will discover that South and North Korea are very different in dealing with family issues, like childcare and marriages. They need to learn more about these matters so they can lead more stable and comfortable lives here in South Korea. In this respect, we provide a two-week training program in which married couples participate in group counseling and express what they really want from their spouses. It’s important for them to hold a wedding ceremony now, but it’s more important to live happily in the years to come. We’re more focused on this.