KOREA FOUNDATION

21st Germany-Korea Forum & 11th Germany-Korea Junior Forum

From November 1 to 3, the 21st German-Korean Forum, jointly organized by the KF, the Korean-German Association, and the German-Korean Forum, will be held in Busan. The forum was launched as a non-governmental, permanent dialogue channel for political, economic, cultural, and educational leaders of both countries, following then German President Johannes Rau’s visit to Korea in 2002. Since its inaugural 2002 meeting in Seoul, the forum has been held annually, alternating between the two countries.

Celebrating the 140th anniversary of Germany-Korea diplomatic relations this year, more than 50 dignitaries will gather at the forum for in-depth discussion of the current political and economic environments of both countries. Talks will also cover the countries’ respective roles in coping with geopolitical crises and global challenges through cooperation in the fields of key, cutting-edge technology and green growth.

The forum will be accompanied by the concurrent 11th Germany-Korea Junior Forum, held in the same venue and jointly organized by the KF, the Public Diplomacy Center of Ewha Womans University, and the German-Korean Forum.

The two countries first devised the plan for the junior forum in 2011 to expand bilateral dialogue channels for youths as a part of a mentoring project. Since the forum’s formal 2012 launch, it has been held annually. Young women and men from both countries will debate ways of promoting bilateral cooperation and announce the result at the German-Korean Forum.

The outcome of both fora will be delivered to the two governments and institutions concerned in the form of policy recommendations. After all meetings are complete, participants will have the opportunity to witness some dynamic features of Korea by touring the PR hall and the site of the World Expo 2030 Busan, should the city win its hosting bid.

The German-Korean Forum, as a high-powered channel for dialogue, is expected to contribute to enhancing mutual understanding of bilateral issues and to working out substantive, concrete solutions to current international political circumstances.

Germany-Korea ForumGermany-Korea Junior ForumBusanKorean-German AssociationGerman-Korean ForumKFPublic Diplomacy Center of Ewha Womans University