Cross-border Interactions and Encounters between Germany and Korea

Yonson Ahn is professor, chair of Korean Studies at the Goethe University of Frankfurt, Germany. Jihye Kim is lecturer in Korean Studies at the University of Central Lancashire in the UK.

“Commemorating the 140th anniversary of Germany-Korea diplomatic ties, this pioneering collection fills a central gap in both German and Korean studies. This insightful work reaches far beyond the customary focus on economics, high politics, and history to delve into interactions, representations, migration, mobility, cultural exchanges, and, notably, the influence on the German-Korean relationship exerted by 'otherness' portrayals across media, art, migration and academia. The book interweaves the micro-context of Koreans' lives in Germany with macro-interdisciplinary perspectives, including gender, intersectionality, and cultural representation. This approach sheds light on the repercussions of eurocentrism, colonialism, and Western discourses in their shared history. A must-read for those seeking insights into German-Korean relations, this book is likely to become an invaluable resource for students, policymakers, regional experts, and enthusiasts intrigued by the interplay of changing cultures and ideas.”

• ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction by Yonson Ahn and Jihye KimPart I: Korean Migration in GermanyChapter 1. Challenging “Other-ness” in Berlin: German Koreans, Multi-raciality, and Diasporic Resources by Helen KimChapter 2. Mothering Practices of Korean Healthcare Workers in Germany by Yonson AhnChapter 3. Korean Newcomers in Germany: The Changing Sociodemographics of Korean Immigrants by Jaok KwonChapter 4. Recent Immigration and Self-Employment: Motivations and Factors in the Rise of Korean Restaurants in Frankfurt by Jihye KimPart II: Cultural InteractionsChapter 5. P’ansori in Germany: Korean Singing-Storytelling, from Representation of Culture to Creative Collaboration by Jan CreutzenbergChapter 6. Ethnographic Collecting and Transculturally Shaped Images of Korean Culture in Germany Towards the End of the Choson Dynasty by Katharina SüberkrübChapter 7. Translation as Cultural Transfer between Korean and German by Yuri KoPart III: Representation in Media and AcademiaCha