Seongbuk-gu Children and Adolescents Write Over 3,600 Handwritten Letters to German Citizens Who Protected the Berlin Peace Statue of a Girl

Seongbuk-gu Holds 'Thank You German Citizens Handwritten Letter Delivery Ceremony' on 13th... Keiseong High School Student's Letter Writing on Berlin Peace Statue Removal Withdrawal Sparks Participation from All Local Elementary, Middle, and High Schools... Over 3,300 Letters from Seongbuk Children and Youth... Adults Moved by Future Generation's Actions Also Join, Totaling Over 3,600 Letters

At 5 p.m. KST on the 13th, Lee Seung-ro, Mayor of Seongbuk-gu, Hans Schneider, Honorary Seongbuk-dong Chief, and four student representatives who wrote handwritten letters held a video letter delivery ceremony with Han Jeong-hwa, head of the local 'Korea Council' in Germany.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Over 3,000 handwritten letters from children and adolescents in Seongbuk-gu will be delivered to the German people who stood together to protect the Berlin Statue of Peace.

After the news of the removal order for the Statue of Peace in Mitte District, Berlin was announced last October, students from Gyeseong High School in Gireum-dong began writing "Thank you, German people" letters.

Students from nearby schools also joined in upon hearing this news, resulting in a total of over 3,300 letters written by children and adolescents in Seongbuk-gu. Adults moved by the children's activities also participated, bringing the total number of handwritten letters to over 3,600.

Seongbuk-gu is collecting these letters and preparing to send them to Germany. Some of the over 3,000 letters will be selected and compiled into a book, which will be mailed to Germany along with the original letters.

Due to COVID-19 making direct delivery difficult, a video delivery ceremony was held on the 13th at 5 p.m. Korean time in the Seongbuk-gu Office, connecting with Germany.

Four student representatives who wrote the letters, Lee Seung-ro, Mayor of Seongbuk-gu, and Hans Kneider, Honorary Mayor of Seongbuk-dong (professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies), participated to convey the gratitude and support of 450,000 Seongbuk-gu residents to the 'Korea Council,' which established the Berlin Statue of Peace.

Han Jeong-hwa, representative of the Korea Council attending via video from Germany, said, "It is very moving to feel your hearts reaching here in Germany," adding, "I believe this was a great opportunity for students to raise historical awareness and participate directly. Once COVID-19 ends, I would like to meet those who prepared the letters in person." She also stated, "Regarding the Mitte District statue, we are awaiting good results toward its permanent preservation."

Mayor Lee Seung-ro, visiting the mayor’s office, told Na Yoo-jung (17) and Jin Young-joo (17), second-year students at Gyeseong High School who delivered the letters, "Our students have done a wonderful job acting as private diplomats," and added, "We will make sure to deliver these heartfelt letters well to the German people who protected the Berlin Statue of Peace."

Seungro Lee, Mayor of Seongbuk-gu, honorary Seongbuk-dong chief Hans Schneider, and four student representatives who wrote handwritten letters held a video letter delivery ceremony with Han Jeonghwa, head of the local 'Korea Council' in Germany. Representative Han said, "It is very touching as if the hearts of Seongbuk residents are being delivered all the way to Germany," and added, "I expect good news soon regarding the Mitte District comfort women statue."

Mayor Lee said, "Although the Berlin Statue of Peace has overcome the threat of removal, Japan’s persistent efforts worldwide to demand its removal continue," and added, "Amid ongoing invisible private diplomatic battles between Korea and Japan over the statue overseas, the efforts of hidden private diplomats are shining." He also stated, "Seongbuk-gu will continue to actively support and participate in activities to restore the honor of comfort women victims and to 'set history right' on behalf of its residents."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.