KOREA FOUNDATION

As Head of the German-Korean Parliamentary Friendship Association, Co-Chairman of the Korea-Germany Forum, and Chairman of the German side of the Korean-German Advisory Group on the Foreign Policy toward Reunification, I have received the Gwanghwa Medal, the greatest honor of the Order of Diplomatic Service Merit. And now I’m being awarded the Korea Foundation Award—a true honor. I want to accept this prize on behalf of all those who have stuck by me and given their all for the continued progression of Korea-Germany relations. Inspired by the pain of Germany’s division and the joy of its reunification, I have always supported efforts by Germany and the EU that contribute to inter-Korean peace and reconciliation. To honor my beliefs, I plan to donate my prize money of $10,000 to the One Korea Foundation, which will soon be launched.
During his visit to Korea this past October, German President Joachim Gauck gave an address at the National Assembly that emphasized the importance of inter-Korean trust and dialogue. Just as Germany achieved reunification 25 years ago, I am confident that Korean unification will approach us sooner than expected. The past 70 years of Korea’s long and proud history will once again merge into a single episode.
I’d like to share the final line of President Gauck’s speech: “Germany’s unity and its new role impart a new sense of responsibility both within Europe and on the world stage. In relation to Korea, our responsibility is to follow its progress with interest and to provide advice where advice is welcome—now and in the future.”
I’ll continue to invest my utmost efforts to develop stronger Korea-Germany relations and encourage an inter-Korean partnership that heads toward a unified Korea.

January 2016
Hartmut Koschyk