2025 Korean-German Joint Conference & Seminar “Olympic · Democracy · Peace”
We are pleased to share with you the announcement of the upcoming 2025 Korean-German Joint Conference & Invited Seminar, titled “Olympic · Democracy · Peace”, which will take place on 30–31 October 2025 at Seoul National University, Republic of Korea. This event marks the third edition of the German-Korean Joint Conference series jointly initiated by the Willibald Gebhardt Institute (WGI) and Seoul National University (SNU).
The first conference was held in Seoul (2018), the second in Münster (2023), and the third now returns to Seoul (2025). Each of these gatherings has explored the intertwined histories of Germany and Korea as divided nations, focusing on how Olympism, democracy, and sport can serve as bridges for peace, dialogue, and international understanding. Following the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, the first joint conference was held in Seoul, where Korean and German scholars began their dialogue on “Sport and Peace.” The second meeting took place in Münster in 2023, when Korean scholars visited Germany and deepened this exchange through fruitful discussions focusing on “Sport Politics in Germany and Korea”.
The 2025 conference is organized by the Department of Physical Education, Seoul National University, and supported by the Institute of Sport Science (SNU), with the Willibald Gebhardt Institute as a key partner. The organizers were actively supported by doctoral student Yoonkyu Song, who is pursuing his doctorate in Münster and is involved in a wide range of activities within the WGI. The event will feature a keynote lecture by Prof. emer. Dr. Michael Krüger (University of Münster; Vice President for Olympic Studies, WGI) and presentations from Korean scholars. In addition, a special graduate seminar led by Prof. Krüger, titled “Olympism — A Universal Philosophy”, will offer an opportunity for graduate students and emerging researchers to engage in critical reflection on the humanistic and educational dimensions of Olympism.
These three successive gatherings reflect the shared historical experiences of divided nations — East and West Germany, and North and South Korea — and our ongoing efforts to explore how sport and Olympism can contribute to peace, reconciliation, and mutual understanding.