German Unity Day reception takes place in Busan for first time

German Ambassador to Korea Georg Schmidt, third from right, poses with other distinguished guests at the the German Unity Day reception in Busan, Sept. 24. From left, Robert Hermann, CEO of Germany Trade and Invest, Shin Chae-hyun, Busan's international ambassador, Sabine Sutterlin-Waack, state minister of the Interior, Municipal Affairs, Housing and Sports in the State of Schleswig-Holstein, Peter Tschentscher, first mayor of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, Schmidt and two German cyclists Hannes and Leon. Courtesy of Embassy of Germany in Seoul.

In an unprecedented move, the German Embassy in Seoul, in collaboration with the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg and Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI), hosted the German Unity Day reception in Busan on Sept. 24.

This marks the first occasion in the 141-year history of Korean-German bilateral relations that the event has taken place outside of Seoul, underscoring Busan's emerging importance as a strategic partner for Germany.

The event, held at the iconic Busan Cinema Center, celebrated the growing ties between Busan and Hamburg — both prominent port cities with rich maritime traditions. In 2023, the two cities signed a memorandum of understanding to foster cooperation and share best practices in areas such as smart green cities, climate protection and port digitalization.

Honorary guest Peter Tschentscher, the first mayor of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, attended the reception during his visit to Korea.

He was joined by Busan International Ambassador Shin Chae-hyun, representing Busan Metropolitan City. German Ambassador Georg Schmidt and GTAI CEO Robert Hermann also addressed the gathering, highlighting the vital Korean-German partnership in trade, sustainability and innovation.

Reflecting the strong maritime connection between Busan and Hamburg, the reception featured a traditional Hamburg fish sandwich stand, offering guests a taste of coastal German cuisine.

A memorable moment occurred when two young German cyclists, who had completed a grueling 20-hour journey from Seoul to Busan in a single day, arrived at the reception.