On October 13, Dr. Sang-Bong Park, one of the foremost experts on German reunification in South Korea, shared an analysis on his social media platform, detailing public satisfaction levels 35 years after the reunification of Germany.
In the aftermath of the Russia–Ukraine war, Germany has faced a complex set of challenges, including energy shortages and social tensions.
The disruption of Russian natural gas supplies has triggered a sharp rise in energy prices, while the acceptance of roughly one million refugees during the Merkel administration has increased welfare burdens and deepened social divisions.
Against this backdrop, Germany’s public broadcaster ARD conducted a nationwide survey marking the 35th anniversary of reunification, asking both eastern and western Germans about their satisfaction with the process.
According to the results, 61% of respondents expressed satisfaction with reunification (“very satisfied” 11%, “satisfied” 50%), while 34% said they were dissatisfied (“very dissatisfied” 8%, “dissatisfied” 26%). Overall, the share of satisfied respondents exceeded the dissatisfied by 27 percentage points.
ARD conducted a nationwide survey marking the 35th anniversary of reunification, asking both eastern and western Germans about their satisfaction with the process. / Photo = Dr. Sang-bong Park's Facebook
The main reasons for satisfaction included the fall of the Berlin Wall and the expansion of freedom, family reunions, national integration, the spread of liberal democracy, and economic reconstruction.
Conversely, dissatisfaction was primarily attributed to ongoing disparities in welfare standards, income and wealth gaps, and lingering cultural divides between East and West.
Dr. Park emphasized, “If Korea can systematically study and learn from both the strengths and the mistakes of West Germany’s reunification policies, as well as the challenges that followed, the prospect of Korean reunification will inspire more hope than fear.”