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You are warmly invited to a seminar in the Korean Studies Colloquium Series, titled: “The Two Koreas: Reconciliatory Efforts in Comparison with Germany" (by Professor Sangtu Ko of Yonsei University), which will be on Monday, 2 February, 2-4 pm NZDT.
Event details
Date & Time: Monday, 2 February 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM (NZDT)
Location: Arts Building 206 – Room 209, University of Auckland / Online via Zoom
Online Participation: You can join directly via Zoom using the link (NO pre‑registration required), or by scanning the QR code on the poster.
Time zones: As the event time is given in New Zealand time, participants outside New Zealand are encouraged to check the time difference in advance using the Time Zone Converter – Time Difference Calculator: https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html.
This event is part of the University of Auckland’s Strategic Research Hub in Korean Studies, generously supported by the Academy of Korean Studies (AKS).
About the talk
Germany’s Ostpolitik and South Korea’s Sunshine Policy are both diplomatic strategies aimed at engaging adversaries through dialogue and cooperation, though in different geopolitical contexts. Ostpolitik, initiated by West German Chancellor Willy Brandt in the late 1960s, sought to normalize relations with Eastern Bloc countries, particularly East Germany, through rapprochement, border recognition, and increased economic and cultural exchanges. The goal was to reduce tensions during the Cold War and pave the way for eventual German reunification, while fostering peace in Europe. Similarly, South Korea’s Sunshine Policy, introduced by President Kim Dae-jung in the late 1990s, aimed at improving relations with North Korea. The policy emphasized peaceful coexistence, economic assistance, and engagement through dialogue, while avoiding confrontation. Like Ostpolitik, it sought to reduce tensions and encourage gradual change in the North’s stance through cooperation and economic interdependence. Both policies faced criticism for being too conciliatory and for allegedly allowing the adversaries to exploit economic benefits without substantial political concessions. However, they both succeeded in reducing tensions and fostering dialogue. Ostpolitik played a key role in easing Cold War tensions and eventually facilitating German reunification, while the Sunshine Policy laid the groundwork for inter-Korean exchanges, though full reconciliation remains elusive.
Speaker bio
Dr. Sangtu Ko is a Professor Emeritus of Area Studies at Yonsei University. He received his Ph.D. in Political Science from the Free University of Berlin. He has served as Chair of the Research Committee (RC42) in the International Political Science Association, Director of the Yonsei-SERI EU Center, and President of the Korean Association of Political Science and Communication (KAPSC). His main research interest is comparative politics, focusing on Korea and Europe. His academic papers have been published in the Asia Europe Journal, International Peacekeeping, Pacific Focus, and Issues & Studies, among others. (stko@yonsei.ac.kr)
