Jung Yu-dam, a student from the Department of German Language and Literature

On September 11, Jung Yu-dam, a student from the Department of German Language and Literature at Incheon National University, was selected as a participant in the German-language session of the 13th Deutsch-Koreanisches Junior Forum, held at Samjung Hotel in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. A total of 50 young participants under the age of 35 from Korea and Germany took part in the event, engaging in in-depth discussions on a variety of topics including geopolitical crises, the rights of platform workers, immigration, and social integration.

Jung Yu-dam, who was selected as a participant in the German-language session of the Deutsch-Koreanisches Junior Forum, shared her thoughts: “Listening to stories about immigration in German society felt like seeing an ‘advance team,’ and through those stories, I was also led to reflect on Korean society.” She further emphasized that the forum served as a valuable opportunity for young people to explore the future through each other’s social contexts and to seek out shared challenges.

The Deutsch-Koreanisches Junior Forum is held annually alongside the Deutsch-Koreanisches Forum, in which experts and scholars from Korea and Germany participate. The event alternates between the two countries each year, and the results of the discussions are compiled into policy recommendations submitted to the governments and relevant institutions of both countries, serving as a channel through which youth voices can be reflected in actual policy. Starting in 2025, the forum is co-organized by the Alumni Netzwerk Deutschland-Korea (ADeKo) and the Korea Foundation (KF).

The Deutsch-Koreanisches Junior Forum is expected to continue to serve as a meaningful platform for Korean and German youth to strengthen mutual learning, empathy, and solidarity toward a shared future.