At the news of the passing of Richard von Weizsäcker, a former president of both West Germany and a united Germany, the Korean people are sharing in the loss and send their sympathies to the German people.

As the former German president passed away on January 31, a former Korean prime minister, Kim Hwang-sik, is visiting Germany from February 10 to 12 to attend the state funeral on February 11, representing the Korean government. The funeral is scheduled to take place at the Berlinerdom in Berlin and is expected to draw around 1,400 visitors from home and abroad.


Richard von Weizsäcker was president of West Germany when Germany was reunited. He was the first president of a united Germany until 1994. He was recognized for his achievements and contributions to national integration and reconciliation with neighboring nations, and believed that Germany had to be responsible for its history. He also came under the spotlight as he gave a famous speech at a commemoration ceremony of the 40th anniversary of the termination of WWII in 1985, declaring that the younger generation of Germans, "cannot profess a guilt of their own for crimes they did not commit."

In addition to a state visit to Korea in 1991, Von Weizsäcker visited Korea a number of times. He showed much interest in the reunification of Korea, too.

At the sad news, President Park Geun-hye had previously sent a letter of condolences on February 5 to Joachim Gauck, the current officeholder. Minister of Foreign Affairs Yun Byung-se visited the German Embassy in Seoul to pay his respects to the deceased.

By Lee Seung-ah
Korea.net Staff Writer
slee27@korea.kr