125 years of German-Korean relations

German Ambassador Norbert Baas poses for a photo with guests, including Rep. Moon Kook-hyun, head of the Creative Korea Party, at the “125 Years Germany and Korea: Historic Photographs” exhibition that opened at Deoksu Palace last Wednesday. By Park Sun-young

As part of events marking the 125th anniversary of bilateral relations between Germany and Korea this year, the German Embassy in Seoul, in cooperation with the Korean Foreign Ministry, is presenting a historical photo exhibition.

The opening ceremony of the “125 Years Germany and Korea: Historic Photographs” exhibition, featuring historic pictures of Korea around the turn of the 19th century as well as those giving a glimpse of Germany at that time, was held last Wednesday at the Seokjojeon Hall in Deoksu Palace.

The 125 photos on display were from a private collection of Chung Sung-kil, the honorary director of the Museum of Medical Missionary Works at Keimyung University’s Dongsan Medical Center, who has collected nearly 80,000 historic photographs over the course of more than 30 years.

The exhibition is expected to offer rare insights into the Korea of the late 19th century as it includes rare photos such as one showing German Prince Heinrich being received at Hamnyeongjeon in Deoksu Palace by invitation of King Gojong on June 8, 1899.

“This is a unique exhibition which goes beyond the German-Korea relationship. It is about different societies far apart geographically and culturally but opening up to each other economically,” German Ambassador to Korea Norbert Baas said.

The German Embassy has also premiered its publication “Deutschland und Korea: 125 Jahre Beziehungen,” featuring 52 contributions by German and Korean authors, to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the two countries.

The exhibition, will continue through Sunday at Seokjojeon in Deoksu Palace, central Seoul.

By Park Sun-young Staff Reporter [spark0320@joongang.co.kr]