Today, let's explore one of the main topics: 30 Years After Unification: The Current State of East Germany. This has recently been a hot issue in Western media, and I thought it might be relevant to our country as well. It has been over 30 years since Germany was unified, more than 30 years since East and West Germany merged. So, how well has the integration gone? What is the current state of West and East Germany?

In June 2024, there will be elections in the European Union. In the past, there was a significant event concerning Germany. If we look at the current political landscape, the leading party is the CDU, which is represented by a dark blue color. The second-largest party is the AfD, which is shown in blue. The Green Party and the Left Party have faced considerable challenges and may be experiencing a kind of political limbo. The rise of the AfD as the second-largest party is noteworthy.

The AfD is a party that symbolizes the far-right populism in Germany. It is extremely opposed to immigration, particularly Muslim immigration, and even defends Nazism. Of course, after making such statements, they face backlash, but they frequently make such remarks. The party is so extreme that discussions about its dissolution have arisen. How strong is the AfD? After winning elections in Europe, they joined a far-right party group in Europe. There are far-right parties in Europe, and they entered this far-right party group. However, they were expelled from it. Why were they expelled from a far-right party group? The reason is that a member stated that not all members of the Nazi armed forces are criminals. But the problem is...

The old parties in Europe have all been invaded, either by countries that were invaded or by their own axis powers. But there are people who say, I want to enter because I'm not a criminal, and they can't be accepted here either. No matter how you look at it, they would say, Even a fool knows to cover his own excrement. So, you could say that these parties have been expelled. However, in Germany, where there is the strongest reflection on Nazism, the AFD party has received support from certain areas. Looking at the votes, it seems that the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which is the majority party in Germany, naturally won in the center and the old West German regions, almost sweeping the board. But surprisingly, in the old East German regions, the AFD won. It has been 30 years since reunification, and yet in West and East Germany, there is this kind of division.

Can there be a difference like cutting a square like that? And I can understand why the far-right AFD party exists, because there used to be communism here. It was a communist country in the Soviet Union, so I can understand the far-left perspective. There’s a lingering nostalgia from the past, but why is it that the East, not the West, is supporting this party? East Germany was a communist country, so why does it support this party? Moreover, it's been a while since reunification, so how can such politics still exist? There are voices in Germany that can't understand the popularity of this party. Why is it popular? The residents of West Germany say they don't understand the feelings of the residents of East Germany. Why is there such a big difference? We are all the same Germany, so why is it that one side is like this and the other side is like that? We used to have similar issues in the past, like with Honam and Gyeongnam in the old days.

When regional sentiments are intense, it feels somewhat like this, but I can't quite understand why. Of course, the biggest reason we can all think of is that it has been 30 years since unification, yet there is still a significant economic gap. Below is East Germany, and above is West Germany. In 2020, East Germany's economy rose to 70% of West Germany's. However, from East Germany's perspective, this still indicates a gap. Back when unification first occurred, East Germany was at 60%. After 30 years, they have only managed to catch up by 10%, which means the gap still exists. The Berlin Wall fell in October 1990. It has been 30 years since unification, and yet there are still complaints about the existing gap. Surprisingly, even after 30 years of unification, surveys of East Germans show that they feel a sense of isolation. This is because capable young people from East Germany have already left the region.

Berlin has moved entirely to the old West German region for the sake of the date. The East German area, if you visit now, has become a place where diversity has diminished, and only the elderly remain. It feels like our future has entirely shifted to West Germany, creating a sense of isolation. Moreover, in this situation, the German government has implemented significant pro-immigration policies, accepting 2.5 million refugees. I will explain why this has a significant impact on the East German region. The most fundamental issue is that East Germany has faced considerable difficulties in integrating immigrants, while West Germany had been a more open society even before this. In our country, people went to West Germany to work as miners or nurses. When immigrants and foreign workers came in, the shock was relatively less, but East Germany did not have that experience.

In a situation where there is no prior experience, suddenly millions of foreign workers are coming in, and there are difficulties in blending in. One of the main reasons for concern in Germany nowadays is real estate. Owning a home is extremely difficult in Germany. It is said that Germany has one of the lowest homeownership rates in Europe. Moreover, real estate prices in Germany have risen significantly recently, and then they plummeted, causing great distress. Germany is experiencing pain both when prices rise and when they fall. Just like us, as interest rates and construction costs rise, housing supply decreases. Naturally, housing supply declines, which stagnates growth, but rental prices increase. The trend in real estate rental prices in Germany is affected by high interest rates and high inflation.

Purchasing a home has become difficult, leading many to give up, while supply is decreasing and rental prices are significantly rising. As I mentioned earlier, Germany is one of the countries with the lowest homeownership rates, at only 45%, whereas most countries have a rate of around 60%. It's said that acquiring a home is challenging, and it seems to be quite expensive. In a situation where more than half of the population is renting, this becomes even more difficult. Moreover, with the recent slowdown in construction and rising interest rates, the number of affordable public rental housing provided by the government has sharply decreased. Private rentals are filling that gap, and these days, getting into public rental housing feels akin to winning the lottery. The public rental situation has become quite tough. By the way, when I looked at the public rental housing in Germany, I realized that people live similarly there as they do in our country. It seems that life is quite similar. This is said to be the state of rental housing in Germany, and there is a noticeable decline.

There is a gradual decline, and currently, there is a shortage of over 800,000 apartments in Germany. Recently, the Chancellor of Germany also stated that the housing shortage is the most important social issue in the country right now, and specific measures and actions are needed. In particular, the situation is more difficult in East Germany, as the economy is struggling. Many people do not have their own homes, rental prices are rising, and it is hard for young people to find housing. There has also been a significant reduction in public rental housing provided by the government, leading to increased difficulties. 

What has happened is that 2.5 million refugees have arrived. The rate of homelessness is the highest among these refugees. The competition for rental housing has intensified, and rental prices have surged, making it challenging to secure housing. The government is not providing enough public rental housing, which makes it even harder to obtain a home.

You can't just live on the street, right? The government provides housing for these people, like hostels or communal living spaces where refugees can stay together. However, you can't completely segregate refugees; they need to live together with others. So, the government builds houses where refugees can live next to German residents. Now, in a situation where it's already difficult to find housing and rent is high, these refugees come in and receive government support to live in newly constructed homes. From the perspective of German residents, they would want to live in new buildings too. How do you think Germans feel about this? Can they accept it, especially considering the incidents frequently reported in the German news regarding refugees?

To accommodate, the tenants living in the area were evicted. The Germans are wondering whose hearts are being assimilated. The tenants who lived there were me, of course, but now I see it differently. It feels like someone is coming in and pushing me out. It seems like many outsiders are coming in, and the government is only looking in that direction. I feel neglected, as if only competitors for my space are coming in. Whose immigration policy is this? Especially from the perspective of East Germans, it's unbearable. Moreover, these newcomers are not even familiar with the situation, and it's becoming economically more difficult for them to come in. Who made this decision? The German government made it. The coalition of the CDU and SPD—who do they think they are? They are making decisions that focus on West Germany, and politicians are making us feel marginalized. This has greatly shaken the hearts of East Germans, especially economically.

It's difficult for us in East Germany, where refugees are not accustomed. Are refugees prioritized? Protesters opposing the construction of new housing for refugees have taken to the streets. The refugee issue is shockingly intertwined with the real estate problem, making it complicated. There is anger about this. It's clear that we have failed; we need to provide the minimum living environment for our citizens, but that has been pushed aside. Instead, we are focusing on their living conditions. Isn't this a clear failure? Especially in the old East German regions, there is tremendous anger. The economically underdeveloped East Germany sees refugees as economic competitors. In West Germany, wages are higher, and there are people earning high incomes, so they think refugees will come and help with the underdeveloped jobs. However, in East Germany, they become competitors, especially in the housing market. This is difficult. When it comes to housing, they become competitors.

There is anger over the decision made by the West German government, which seems to be primarily focused on the interests of the West. This has led to a growing rivalry. The extreme right-wing parties are all shouting the same thing: anti-immigration policies. In the East German regions, parties like the Christian Democratic Union, which are popular in West Germany, are not well-liked. Why? Because they feel that these decisions are made for the benefit of the West while ignoring them. They believe that their jobs are being taken away and that decisions are being made that affect their homes.

Both the far-left and far-right are gaining popularity in East Germany. It is not that the far-right has the most important message; rather, they resonate with the concerns of the people. They argue that the real estate issues in Germany can only be resolved if the number of immigrants and refugees decreases. They think that the far-right is voicing their concerns. 

In September, there were local elections in Germany, which is the reason for this discussion.

Recently, there was a local election where anti-immigration parties received between 42% and 49% of the votes. This means that nearly half of the votes went to extreme parties in the former East German regions. For the first time since World War II, extreme parties have come in first place in local elections in Germany. I believe this is because current politicians in Germany do not represent us. The central parties, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU), received 23% of the votes, placing them in first and fourth, respectively. The simultaneous popularity of the CDU and CSU suggests that people are expressing their dissatisfaction with current politicians. The AfD representative from the eastern region embodies this sentiment, despite the fact that in Germany, it is difficult for such individuals to gain traction. This person has been convicted twice for his slogans, which shows the extreme views that are gaining ground.

압승을 했어. 아, 이거 쉽지 않은데. 저 오이라 아저씨가 AF 대표가 뭐라 그랬냐면, 덕적 대표입니다. 이제 독일은 과거로 돌아갈 수 없다. 이민이 없으면 국가는 붕괴할 것이다. AF가 요구한 상황을 보면, 나와서 얘기를 하고 연설할 때 요구한 상황을 보면 우리는 다문화 사회를 원하지 않는다. 우리는 독일을 구하고 싶다. 뭘 어떻게 하라? 지금 당장 이민자들을 대량으로 추방하라. 언제 반발이 있는 건데, 이게 정확하게 동독인들의 마음과 맞닿으면서 옛날 동부 지역에서 큰 인기를 얻고 있다는 거고, 극단적인 BSW도 똑같이 얘기합니다. 여기는 과거 소련 치하 동독 시절의 고전적 공산주의를 표방한다. 세상에 미쳐 돌아가는 건가? 내가 세상의 트렌드를 못 따라가는 건가? 한 명은 낫질하고 손을 들고 있고, 한 명은 소련 치하 고전적 공산주의를 표방하는 한 당은.

They came in first and fourth place, respectively, and together they accounted for almost 50%. But wait, can both the Nazis and the Soviets gain popularity at the same time? Aren't they enemies? No, the Soviet communism and Nazism are two extremes that clashed violently, resulting in millions of deaths. Ah, I find it hard to keep up with the trends in this world. So, I don’t really understand what this is all about, but that’s not the important part. What matters is the perspective of the old residents of Dongdeok. That’s not what’s important. Anyway, they can increase public investment and raise taxes to build their own homes, implementing anti-immigration policies. So, the bizarre scenario of the Soviets and Nazis coexisting is something we need to endure. They have valid reasons for their anti-immigration slogans. Germany is completely overwhelmed, with a shortage of 700,000 homes, and they want to bring in more immigrants.

They say it doesn't make sense to receive it, but the truth is that when you look at the news or the indicators, the economic atmosphere in the Dongdeok region has been good recently. It has been better than the West in the past few years. This is because the West has been struggling. Germany has been facing difficulties recently, and when we say Germany is struggling, it means that the western part of Germany is struggling. Because they are struggling, I have narrowed the gap, so the situation in the East is better than in the West. If that’s the case, the atmosphere in the East should be good, right? The government is also paying attention to the people in the East. Despite their complaints, they are providing pension benefits and various other perks. So why are there complaints? The West is doing even worse. I think this is crucial; even though the houses are nice and the economic differences are favorable, what we cannot tolerate is the feeling of being ignored.

There is nothing, really. With such a sarcastic attitude, they throw out our opinions as if they don't even matter. It's unbearable to feel overlooked and ignored by such people. This sense of frustration is something I cannot tolerate. Those guys make decisions that have nothing to do with our demands. They gather among themselves, make decisions, and give apartments to refugees, while ignoring what we are asking for. I cannot stand being treated as second-class citizens. This was well-known, and the survey results showed that major decisions are being made by politicians from West Germany. About 75% of politicians are making decisions that disregard us. Isn't this all based on the logic of West Germany? People from East Germany are treated as second-class citizens, and again, 75% confirmed this. I see this as decisive. We can't just endure being ignored while the economy rises a bit; it's still tough. In conclusion, East and West Germany are...

Do you still think we are culturally and mentally divided? It's been 30 years since reunification, and a survey showed that 78% of East Germans feel this way. Almost 80% appear to be united, but culturally and mentally, we are still divided. It's been 30 years, and 80% of people feel this way. If we look at the discontent in East Germany, we see articles stating that East German households have personal assets at half the level of West German households. While income has increased significantly, the accumulated assets are still at half the level. This is somewhat inevitable, as West Germany has been building its wealth since 1945, while East Germany was reunified in 1990 and has only been accumulating wealth for about 20 years. It’s natural that their cumulative wealth is likely to be half or even less. Pension insurance is certainly better for them; they have been working for 20 years while the West has been working for 40 or 50 years. Nevertheless, income is also...

It's not just about pensions and insurance; it's about half of the docks. As a result, young people have all moved to areas with income, and the old Dongdeok area lacks vitality. It seems like there's something going on here. Who is to blame for this? Germany constantly pushes for policies on climate change and integration, which sound self-satisfied and elitist, centered around Western interests. From the perspective of East Germany, one can really feel this disparity. As I mentioned earlier, it's been 30 years since reunification, but the hearts of the German people are still divided, and the unhealed wounds remain. The Financial Times addressed this issue with a provocative title: Is Germany Still Divided? The East German region still resembles a different state within the country. For nearly 40 years, it followed a different social structure and path. Even after reunification, 30 years have passed, but the expectation that everything would be fine has proven to be nothing more than an illusion.

가장 결정적인 이유는 독일이 분단 후 통일까지 45년이 걸렸다는 것입니다. 그리고 45년 후에 통일을 했지만, 30년이 지난 지금도 여전히 통합에 어려움을 겪고 있습니다. 대한민국은 소련이 38선을 봉쇄한 지 80년이 흘렀습니다. 만약 통일이 이루어진다면 통합에는 몇 년이 걸릴까요? 경제적으로 잘 나간다고 평가받는 독일이 30년이 지났지만 주민의 78%가 여전히 분단된 상황이라고 합니다. 우리는 38선에서 소련이 들어와 봉쇄한 지 80년이 되었습니다. 그렇다면 통일이 된다면 통합에는 몇 년이 걸릴까요? 게다가 서독 지역과 동독 지역의 1인당 GDP 격차가 통일 당시 동독이 32%였다고 합니다. 지금은 70%로 올라왔습니다. 30년 만에 많이 상승한 것이죠. 통일 당시 동독의 GDP는 약 13 정도였다고 합니다. 대한민국과 북한의 GDP 차이는 통일 당시 32%였습니다.

In terms of GDP per capita, what percentage do you think North Korea is of South Korea? The GDP per capita of East Germany was 32%. North Korea is actually hard to calculate; it's about 3.4%. South Korea, in terms of annual salary, is a country with an average income of 1.59 million won. In the past, East Germany's income was about 3.4%, but how can we compare that? When considering Gross National Income, it’s 1.7%. Our GNI is 41 trillion won, while North Korea's is 243 trillion won. North Korea as a whole is less developed than even a decent-sized city in our country. So, if reunification happens, I feel like it would take over a hundred years to bridge that gap, right? More importantly than the economic aspect, East Germany managed to catch up to some extent, but the cultural and mental gap is significant. I feel like they would dismiss me and exclude me from decision-making. How many years do you think it would take for North Koreans to recover from this cultural and mental gap? It's a difficult question.

When it comes to the treatment one receives in society based on being male or female, there is a certain expectation. Initially, there might be a disparity, especially if someone is small in stature. After about 20 to 30 years, things might even out, but it's not easy. For instance, if someone from North Hamgyong Province comes to work here, there will be cultural and mental gaps. Even within our own country, there are differences between people in their 20s and those in their 40s. The struggle between men and women is ongoing, but for those who have been under a regime for over 80 years, talking about the leader and national events, once the doors open, everything will change in an instant. I believe that the kind of reverence for the leader will disappear in a few years. Within just one or two years, kids will start to insult him, saying things like Kim Jong-un is a bastard. That’s not the real problem; it’s about catching up with the differences in perspective. The discussions around Kim Jong-un will soon be forgotten by the youth as well.

You know that when unification happens, there will be conflicts again. That's not the problem. The issue is that it will take a long time for people to mix and integrate. I don't think it will even take a hundred years. Personally, I believe that we should unify as soon as possible. I truly think that once unification occurs, it will take a significant amount of time, maybe even a hundred years, to resolve the conflicts and issues in the region. As I mentioned earlier, the country may be unified, but psychologically and mentally, people will still be divided for a long time. Therefore, we should aim for unification as quickly as possible to minimize the disparities. On the other hand, unification will bring numerous opportunities, which can be seen as a chance for us. It will be a driving force for our development and growth. So, let's wait and see what happens. The Financial Times has mentioned this.

I talked about it. It’s not that we wrote it to show our country. Unlike West Germany, the residents of Dongdeok were relatively poorer, which is only natural. The Dongdeok area is not a special case; it’s like a crystal ball that shows our future. I think a Korean wrote it. It truly is a crystal ball that shows our future. After unification, when we have elections and such, it will happen just like this. It’s highly likely that there will be political parties in the North and parties in the South. And as I have shown, there will be a massive migration from the North to the South. Young people will flock here. Who would go the other way? People from the South will be looking for real estate, thinking about investing in land, while the population will be moving toward the South. I wonder how many years it will take for the kids to follow. How many years?

I don't know if it will happen, but right now, the personal gap is 1%, 1.7%, and 3.4%. They say the difference is significant, but East Germany still hasn't been unified. I hope that North Korea will be unified as soon as possible so that we can all wisely solve these concerns together. I look forward to the day when that will come.

통일 후 30년, 소외된 동독의 분노

경제, 금융을 기반으로 달리는 방송!
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감사합니다.
각종 문의 : syukaworld@sandbox.co.kr 으로 부탁드립니다.
