CHOI Wooyoung
History Personal&POV Social&Human Interest War&Conflict
In February 2019, Andres, a 52-year-old German pianist living in Seoul, plays Beethoven¡¯s Sonata No. 14 when the second summit between the US president and North Korea¡¯s leader ends without any deal. It reminds him of the moment when the Wall abruptly fell down 30 years ago in Berlin. 1989 Berlin, Seoul 2019 is about three East and West Germans who were faced with the collapse of the Wall as teenagers and have lived in South Korea for over 15 years. Now they're facing an atmosphere that may lead to reunification in South Korea. As Koreanized Germans who experienced unification and know Korean society as well, Andres, Mark, and Sonya start to reveal its bittersweet consequences and share controversial futures if the two Koreas were to become one. This November, Andres and Mark will return to Germany to join a concert for peace and to meet a pen-pal who lived on the other side of the Berlin Wall. Sonya starts guiding DMZ tours and preparing classes to talk to youngsters about what our future holds. What will happen to us if we're made one?
Politically, Germany was and South Korea is divided. The process to open the gate between East and West, and between South and North is both similar and distinct. The meaning of reunification is that people peacefully live together, talk freely and cross the border without any limitations. 1989 Berlin, Seoul 2019 is not only about a divided Korea and unified Germany. Through the fluctuating political situations among the Koreas, China, and the US, we'd like to extend our subject to border matters touching on great political, security and diplomatic sensitivities. However, the approach is not political and historical. Through three Germans' daily lives, we'd like to reflect the consequences of German unification across 30 years and predict controversial futures for the next 30 years in South Korea.
CHOI Wooyoung