From October 15-17, 2009, in Dresden the 8th German-Korean Forum took place, where Dr. Bernhard Seliger, representative of Hanns-Seidel-Foundation Korea, moderated a session of the challenges of ageing for the German and Korean society. The dramatic demographic transition process especially in the Korean, but also the German society does not only affect social security systems, but also the economic model and the development of society. Other topics of the forum, at which beside the ambassadors of the two countries also important diplomats and politicians participated, included economic relations and the EU-Korea FTA, environmental policy and “green growth” as well as academic education in German and Korean studies. The forum was moderated by the co-chairmen, Hon. Hartmut Koschyk, Member of the German Parliament, Chairman of the German-Korean Parliamentary Group and President of the German-Korean society, as well as Prof. Choe Chong-Ho.

The German-Korean Forum, which alternately takes place in Germany and Korea, is the highest-ranking forum for the improvement and development of bilateral exchanges.

Participants of the VIIIth German-Korean Forum in Dresden

Dr. Seliger introducing the session on ageing societies (left), at the right Hon. Hartmut Koschyk, Member of German Parliament, Co-Chairman of the German-Korean Forum