Germany has proclaimed 2005 as the "Year of Korea."

South Korean and German officials from the cultural sector signed a joint statement on cooperation after holding discussions in Berlin on promoting cultural ties.

Following the proclamation, Seoul will kick off various events in the European country that will focus on promoting South Korea's culture, including festivals in November in major German cities that will introduce classic Korean literature as well as modern Korean music.

In February, a retrospective exhibition of works by top Korean filmmaker Lim Kwon-taek is slated to take place during the Berlin International Film Festival while three five-thousand-ton navy vessels from South Korea will visit Hamburg and Kiel around June.

The "Year of Korea" event will reach its climax in September during the biennial "Asia-Pacific Week" in Berlin and the Frankfurt Book Fair which will open in October.

Seoul is anticipating the event will greatly contribute to promoting economic exchanges between the two countries.