Roundtable discussions with historian Dr. Henrik Bispinck
Dr. Henrik Bispinck, research associate at the Institute of Contemporary History, Berlin, was invited by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation Korea to share the experience of refugees in divided Germany. In a round table discussion at the renowned Asan Institute for Policy Studies (아산정책연구원), Mr. Bispinck vividly discussed the issues with experts. They were especially interested in the legal framework of the German-German migration. How the German “emergency reception law” was implemented and in how far it might have been a constitutional problem were main questions posed during the discussions.
During a visit to the Sejong Institute, one of the most prestigious think tanks in Korea, FNF Korea and Mr. Bispinck hold talks with the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr. Park Joon-Woo. The following round table discussion with researchers was very fruitful and both sides gained a deeper understanding of the refugee/defector issue.
Overall, many participants were not aware of the different stages of German-German migration history and how the attitude varied between discontent and welcoming atmosphere. It was a great chance to shed light on an issue not yet prominently researched and to compare the Korean and German situation. The topic is more present than ever, with the refugee crisis in Europe and the rising number of prominent defectors in Korea.