This year marks the 25th anniversary of the “Peaceful Revolution” that began in the East German cities of Leipzig and Dresden and precipitated the fall of the Berlin Wall, and eventually led to the unification of the country the following year.

Commemorating the historic event this year is particularly important for the German Embassy and for the South Korean government. A slew of more than 20 events are planned, including academic seminars, cultural exchanges, visits by VIPs and trade delegations, and a huge reception on German Unity Day, which is celebrated on Oct. 3.

Of course, the anniversary has special importance for South Korea, too, which has long looked to the German experience with keen interest. The Korean Peninsula has been divided for nearly 70 years. Indeed, North and South Korea still remain technically at war.

“The revolution of 1989 could not have been possible if there were no preparations made for the 20 years from 1969 (to 1989),” said German Ambassador to South Korea Rolf Mafael during the opening session of a panel discussion, titled “Peaceful Revolution and German Unification,” at the embassy’s new chancery in Seoul on Tuesday.

“For more than 20 years there was detente, there were trust and confidence building measures. Both parts ― the spark of peaceful revolution in 1989 and the many years of preparation ― were equally important.”

Germany and South Korea have long cooperated on analyzing possible lessons that could be gleaned from German unification and applied to inter-Korean relations, but the effort took on new urgency this year. After President Park Geun-hye’s so-called “Dresden Declaration,” which she laid out in a speech delivered during a state visit in March, cooperation between Germany and South Korea on the issue increased markedly.

The many events scheduled in Seoul this month and in October will be in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of German unification.

(ephilip20114@heraldcorp.com)