Column

Initiated in 2023 by the Division of Understanding Korea Project at the Academy of Korean Studies, the 'Accurate Presentation of Korean History in German Videos Project' aimed not only to convey Korean history to German youth but also to critique and overcome the Eurocentrism and superiority pervasive in German society. This project, undertaken by Korea Verband, was designed to open new ways of thinking for German youth, moving away from unilaterally explaining historical events and allowing for a critical examination of Western-centric thinking and Orientalism.1

Since the establishment of the Statue of Peace in 2020, Korea Verband has been leading a movement against the removal of the statues, in solidarity with global civil societies, and has been actively involved in transnational solidarity and peace and human rights education for youth through the Museum of Sexual Slavery by Japanese Military. In collaboration with various institutions and organizations including the Berlin State Government and the German Federal Government, Korea Verband has also been consistently working in solidarity with domestic groups such as Justice for the ‘Comfort Women’, House of Sharing, Solidarity with Migrants, the May 18 Foundation, Korea Democracy Foundation, Center for Historical Truth and Justice, the Hope of Kim Bok-dong, and Okedongmu Children in Korea.

The main content of the project's videos revolves around specific events in Korean history, but the essential aim was to enable German youth to discover perspectives and voices from non-European regions that were overlooked in their history education. In other words, through the lens of Korean historical events, the project hoped to encourage German youth to view history and the present more critically, moving beyond a Eurocentric perspective. To make the narratives appealing to German youth who are largely unfamiliar with Korean history, the project chose an animation format centered around events and figures related to Germany, such as the German protagonist in the 'Ernst Oppert's Excavation Incident' and symbols of European imperialism like the Berlin Conference.

The Future of Africa and Collaboration: The Transnational Connectivity of Colonial Issues

The essence of this project is not limited to Korean history but aims to illuminate the transnational connectivity of colonialism and imperialism within world history. For this purpose, we collaborated with AfricAvenir International e.V., a German organization dedicated to African decolonization studies, to incorporate a decolonial perspective into the video production process. AfricAvenir, an organization that studies and critiques the historical relationships and effects of colonization between Germany and Africa, has been a key collaborator in this project. While addressing the issues faced by Korean history within the context of Japanese colonialism, the collaboration with AfricAvenir also played a crucial role in connecting these issues not only as regional events but also with colonial experiences across various regions of the world.

First Video: "The Garden and the Jungle"

The first video deals with a tomb robbery led by the German merchant Oppert in late 19th century Joseon. In the video, Oppert narrates the events from his perspective as he explores Joseon. However, students watching the video are introduced to the perspectives of the Joseon people, leading them to realize the limitations of a Western-centric viewpoint. This video offers German youth more than just historical information; it provides an opportunity to critically examine the issues of Western-centric thinking within the discourse of Orientalism. Particularly, the structure that shifts the viewpoint from Western to Joseon perspectives emphasizes opening new possibilities of thought for German youth.

Second Video: "The Eraser and the Pencil"

The second video focuses on Japan's policy of cultural annihilation centered around the 1940s Korean Language Society Incident. It demonstrates to German youth that language and culture are not merely tools, but essential elements that constitute human identity and dignity. Japan's suppression of the Korean language and the Name-Changing Program illustrate the cultural violence Koreans endured. The video goes beyond merely exposing this violence to explore the processes of resistance and recovery.

Particularly, by casting a student as the protagonist, the video fosters greater empathy among its intended German youth audience. It connects the narrative to the students' own lives by illustrating the conflicts, choices, and efforts to preserve dignity and resistance they experience.

Additionally, the video uses the historical context of the Japanese occupation period to shed light on the alliance between Japanese imperialism and Nazi Germany. This helps German youth understand that colonialism and imperialism are not confined to the past of specific nations but are intertwined within a complex, international structure. This approach is designed to provide a global historical perspective through the interconnectedness of historical events, encouraging critical thinking among youth.

Local Collaboration and Response

During the video production process, we collaborated with various institutions and organizations in Germany. Notably, we conducted pilot screenings of two videos at Fritz-Karsen School in Berlin and received feedback from teachers and students. After the screenings, students expressed positive reactions to both the content and the format of the videos.

They found it particularly interesting that the characters spoke different languages (Korean and Japanese). This approach went beyond merely aiding comprehension with subtitles; it allowed students to experience the unique identity and context inherent in each language. Additionally, the narrative structure, which intertwines German and Korean perspectives, was perceived as a novel approach in German educational content, providing a fresh experience for both students and teachers.

Potential for Use as Educational Content

The outputs of this project are intended for use in various educational settings within Germany. They will serve as resources for German schools like Fritz-Karsen School when covering Korean history and will also be valuable for students visiting the Museum of Sexual Slavery by Japanese Military. Specifically, the videos will be used as comparative material to Germany's history of colonial rule over Africa, providing educational opportunities to connect the colonial experiences of Asia and Africa.

Moreover, these videos can serve as significant resources in German youth human rights education programs. The suppression of language and culture during the Japanese occupation of Korea is not just a historical event but also a topic that can be discussed in connection with contemporary societal issues of linguistic and cultural identity. Through this, young people will gain a new perspective on the issues of identity and social conflicts they face.