One of eight siblings from a family in Goheung County, South Jeolla Province, Shin Seongsik moved to North Rhine-Westphalia in 1972 to work as a miner. He later settled in Berlin after he met his late spouse Kim Yuri, who had moved to the German capital from Busan to work as one of the Gastarbeiter (guest worker) nurses. After working in the mines, Shin moved on to work at BMW for four decades and later worked at the Mauer Museum in Berlin.
Cheon Chunok was one of the nurses from the Gastarbeiter generation. After her unexpected passing, her funeral was held at St. Fideliskirche, a catholic church attended by members of the South Korean community in Berlin.
Kultursensible Altenhilfe HeRo e.V. is a Berlin-based organization that provides general elderly care and hospice services to Koreans in the area. In addition to such services, the organization provides a social space for people from the Gastarbeiter generation with events and music classes. Kim Sookja is one of the students in the weekly guitar class that consists of former Gastarbeiter nurses.
Kaya-Ensemble is a Berlin-based group consisting of former Gastarbeiter nurses. The group focuses on traditional Korean dances and folk songs; they meet together regularly to rehearse for performances at events.
Byeon Juseob moved to Aachen from South Korea in 1970 to work in the mines and later settled in Berlin in 1973. His spouse was also one of the Gastarbeiter nurses and they have two sons.
In addition to the guitar classes, Kultursensible Altenhilfe HeRo e.V. holds singing classes where former Gastarbeiter nurses like Kim Jongsook (to the left) meet every week to sing and socialize.
Guests consisting of former Gastarbeiter miners and nurses watch the funeral proceedings for Cheon Chunok at St. Fideliskirche.
Kim Jinhyang saw Germany for the first time when she arrived at the Berlin Tempelhof Airport in 1966 along with other women who decided to join the Gastarbeiter program. When the West German goverment wanted to send her and other nurses back to South Korea at the end of their contract, they started a labor movement to fight for their right to remain in the country. Since then, Kim has been a crucial voice in Germany contributing to various causes, from seeking justice for women affected by Japan's sexual slavery during the Second World War to protesting in support of the Gwangju Uprising. While pushing for a peaceful reunification of Korea, she also visited North Korea and met with Kim Ilsung in 1992 in an attempt to discuss relations between the North and South.
Guests pay respects at the funeral for Cheon Chunok at St. Fideliskirche.
Kim Youngok, a former Gastarbeiter nurse and a member of Kaya-Ensemble, smokes a cigarette at a picnic.
Byeon Juseob spends some of his spare time looking after his garden where he relaxes and grows flowers and vegetables. While some live in single-family homes with their own backyards outside the city center, Byeon and others from the Gastarbeiter generation who live in apartments have separate garden spaces elsewhere.
Kim Okhi, a former Gastarbeiter nurse and a member of Kaya-Ensemble, watches the rest of her group practice during their rehearsal.
Former Gastarbeiter miners (from left to right) Kim Jinbok, Hong Seongjae, and Lee Jongha catch up over dinner in the backyard of St. Fideliskirche. Lee was one of the Gastarbeiter miners who also served in the Vietnam War for South Korea.
Shin Seongsik stands for a portrait outside his apartment in Spandau.
Byeon Juseob carries the cross during the funeral proceedings for Cheon Chunok at St. Fideliskirche.
Na Sughui, a former Gastarbeiter nurse and a member of Kaya-Ensemble, poses for a portrait with her daughter Idylle Klada in Neukölln.
Na Sughui (right) and Lee Choongsoon (left) watch as Shin Kyongsoo (center) demonstrates choreography during Kaya-Ensemble's rehearsal.