South Koreans who left home to build two nations

About this episode

The episode discusses the experiences of South Koreans who migrated to West Germany in the 1960s and 70s under a labor agreement and the impact on both nations.

In the 1960s and 70s, tens of thousands of South Koreans went to what was then known as West Germany as miners and nurses under a labour-for-loan deal. They were meant to stay for three years. Many never left. Genevieve Woo speaks to CNA Senior Correspondent Lim Yun Suk about the sacrifices behind South Korea’s rise - and the lives built between two countries. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People in this episode

Host: Genevieve Woo

Guest: Lim Yun Suk

Topics covered

• South Korea
• West Germany
• labour migration
• history
• sacrifices
• cultural exchange

Keywords

• South Koreans
• West Germany
• labour-for-loan
• mining
• nursing
• migration
• sacrifices
• cultural ties

Mentioned in this episode

Places: South Korea, West Germany

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