[INTERVIEW] Ex-conductor orchestrates Austrian democracy in different keys

Diplomacy

Published: 28 Nov. 2022, 15:49 Updated: 28 Nov. 2022, 19:24

[INTERVIEW] Ex-conductor orchestrates Austrian democracy in different keys

Wolfgang Sobotka, president of the Austrian National Council, at the exhibition ″Six Centuries of Beauty in the Habsburg Empire″ at the National Museum of Korea in central Seoul on Thursday. Included in the exhibition is a special armor gifted from King Gojong (1864-1897) of Joseon Dynasty to Emperor Francis Joseph I of Austria. [PARK SANG-MOON]

In Vienna, a politician with a professional background in music is a rarity.

Wolfgang Sobotka, president of the Austrian National Council, fits that uncommon bill.

Though he retired from his career as a conductor a decade ago, Sobotka still conducts music for a good cause, or when he can find spare time in his busy schedule.

But during a recent visit to Seoul, his passion for music, the arts and history became quickly apparent as he toured a special exhibition organized by the Kunsthistorisches Museum and the National Museum of Korea.

“It’s amazing to see this very fine collection of art works and artifacts of the Habsburg family presented here in Korea,” Sobotka said, after viewing “Six Centuries of Beauty in the Habsburg Empire” at the museum in Seoul on Thursday.

“We are very proud that this part of Austrian history can be presented to the people of Korea, with added digital features to enhance the storytelling,” he said.

Paintings such as the “Patronage of the Arts by the House of Habsburg” by Julius Victor Berger, a ceiling fresco at the Kunsthistorisches Museum, have been brought to Seoul in video footage. The exhibition, open through March 1, showcases other famous works collected by the Habsburgs such as "Infanta Margarita Teresa in White Dress" by Diego Velazquez.

While both Sobotka’s trip to Seoul and the exhibition were organized on the occasion of the 130th anniversary of Austria-Korea relations, rising military tensions in both Europe and Asia, as well as a growing list of common challenges to democracies around the world were ample reasons for his trip to take place at this time, said the top Austrian parliamentarian.

To hear more about the common challenges facing the people of Austria and Korea and the lessons that may be drawn from their pasts, the Korea JoongAng Daily sat down with Sobotka in Seoul. The following are edited excerpts of the interview.

The last time that the president of the Austrian National Council paid a visit to Korea was in 2007.

I received the invitation to visit Korea from the former speaker of the National Assembly when he visited Austria last year to attend the World Conference of Speakers of Parliament. The Austrian parliament is always looking to have more connections with Asia, [especially with] strong democracies and like-minded countries. This year also marks the 130th anniversary of Austria-Korea relations, making it a perfect time to visit.

You had an up-close look at the nation’s security situation during your visit to the demilitarized zone at the inter-Korean border. Were there any takeaways from that visit in the context of the security crisis Europe?

When the former National Assembly speaker visited Vienna, we had discussed the security situation of the Korean Peninsula. But it is one thing to discuss it and another to actually come and see it for yourself, to get a whole picture of the situation. There is much interest in Europe on the geopolitical situation of this region, including Korean affairs and the role that China plays in the regional security dynamics including in relation to Taiwan. Both Austria and Korea are interested in seeing peace in the region. We see that South Korea has been offering the option for dialogue and negotiations with North Korea, and we think this effort should continue.

Austria, an EU member but a non-NATO country, has a policy of neutrality when it comes to its involvement in Ukraine. What exactly is this position of neutrality?

Austria has been a neutral country since 1955, and neutrality has been the national identity of Austria because we have been occupied by four powers after the Second World War, and we got our independence when we declared our neutrality. This is why we are not supporting Ukraine militarily. But we are not neutral in our political position, which we have made clear: what Russia is doing to Ukraine, invading the country and violating its borders, is unacceptable.

From right, Wolfgang Sobotka, president of the Austrian National Council; Susanne Angerholzer, wife of Austrian ambassador to Korea; Wolfgang Angerholzer, ambassador of Austria to Korea; and the curator of the ″Six Centuries of Beauty in the Habsburg Empire″ at the National Museum of Korea on Thursday. [PARK SANG-MOON]

Antisemitism has been on the rise in Austria, a country that has in recent years began recognizing its role as perpetrator during the Third Reich. What is being done in Austria to combat this phenomenon?

From 1945 to 1949, we have done a lot to bring the perpetrators to court. The people who were tried were afterwards forbidden to serve as civil servants, including in the police force or as teachers at schools. Austria, for a while, positioned itself as a victim of this era ruled by Hitler, but from 1986, our perspective changed, with Chancellor Franz Vranitzky saying that we were not only victims but also perpetrators. We established funds for compensating the survivors of forced labor and the Holocaust, made an agreement with the United States, the Washington Agreement, to return art and objects seized by the Nazis, and gave citizenship to the survivors of the Holocaust and their descendants, and now we have to act against antisemitism increasing throughout Europe. Right now, we’re seeing antisemitism taking root in the middle of societies, but it only gets visible on the extreme fringes. Antisemitism is antidemocratic, and we should be combating all forms of antisemitism.

Would you say there are ongoing connections between your career as a musician and politician?

There is no connection. Because my career as a conductor ended about 10 years ago. But also, profession-wise, the two roles are very different: an orchestra gets together to play the same piece, the same note, in unity, whereas a parliament gets together to discuss different positions – there is supposed to be opposition to different ideas, which is key to democracy.

BY ESTHER CHUNG [chung.juhee@joongang.co.kr]