As autumn deepens in September, the Border Peace School hosted two groups of German university students for in-depth education and exchange focused on peace and unification in Korea. It was a meaningful journey that reaffirmed the message of empathy and solidarity extending beyond the division.

1. Hamburg Theological Students Meet Peace Makers

From September 10 to 12, students from the Hamburg Theological Seminary stayed at our school for a 3-day peace education program. While directly walking through and experiencing the reality of conflict on the divided Korean Peninsula, they also met with the Border Peace School's 'Peacemakers,' who strive for the hope of peace and unification.

Although a small-scale visit, it helped form a valuable base of international support in Germany for understanding the Korean division issue and the peace unification movement. As peace in Korea requires the support and cooperation of the international community, these individuals will become the seeds of that peace.

2. The Martial Law Incident and the Hope for Democracy

The German students specifically understood that the Korean Martial Law incident that occurred on December 3 of the previous year was deeply related to the divided situation. They recognized that in a state of division, political power holders can easily impose martial law if they harbor ill intentions.

The Korean Martial Law incident was widely reported in Germany, severely damaging Korea's image, and negatively impacted applications to the Korean Studies Department. However, at the Border Peace School, they heard stories of the non-violent democracy movement by Korean citizens who tenaciously and joyfully achieved change by singing and dancing against martial law. They realized that this narrative would help overcome the negative image and reveal the enduring strength of Korean democracy.

📢 Peace is Never Just a Korean Story

Upon completing all schedules, the German university students shared a profound message: "Peace in Korea is definitely not just a story for Korea alone, and only empathy and solidarity that cross borders can truly melt away this final boundary of division."

The Border Peace School will continue its efforts to realize the value of 'Peace, Solidarity Beyond Borders' with young people from all over the world.