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SEOUL, March 25 (AJP) - German Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Georg Wilfried Schmidt underscored the depth and resilience of the bilateral relationship as the two countries marked the 140th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2024. Speaking to AJP in Seoul on Mar. 20, Ambassador Schmidt reflected on shared history, mutual values, economic and cultural partnerships, and the future potential for green cooperation.
"When I came here as ambassador in 2023, I was already familiar with Korea," he said. "My first visit was in 1987, and I’ve been impressed by how deeply connected our two countries have become since then." He described the current state of relations as broad and robust, rooted in people-to-people ties. "You don't achieve this with 10 or 20 years," he said. "The foundation is our people-to-people contacts."
Germany and Korea share democratic values, support multilateralism, and rely on international rules-based systems as middle powers. "We also need an open trading system. We are not sitting on mountains of oil or rare earths. We need to buy materials from anywhere, process them, and then sell," he explained. "That’s why we share not just values, but also economic foundations."
South Korea remains Germany’s most important trading partner in Asia after China and Japan. Ambassador Schmidt encouraged South Korean companies to explore investment opportunities in Germany and the European Union, especially in sectors like green energy, batteries, applied information technology (IT), and defense.
"With the changes in European defense policy, the South Korean defense industry might look at Europe from a very different perspective," he said, adding: "They have many strengths."
The ambassador noted that Germany welcomes South Korean investors. "Trade is not just about a deficit or a surplus,” he said, emphasizing partnership over balance sheets. "We would be very happy if South Korean companies also see Germany and the EU as a lock-in for growth and development."
Human exchange continues to be a strong pillar of the bilateral relationship. From South Korean miners and nurses who supported Germany’s postwar rebuilding efforts to modern football stars and K-pop entertainers, individuals have long built bridges between the two countries. "Football player Cha Boom’s arrival in Frankfurt in the 1970s was quite a sensation," he recalled. "Today, Kim Min-jae has a huge following in Germany. Football players and entertainers are more powerful ambassadors than we can ever be."
The ambassador also pointed to growing cultural curiosity between the two countries. "K-music, K-pop, and K-drama attract many Germans, while German culture, from classical music to techno clubs, draws South Korean interest," he said. His team even held an event at a techno club in Seoul to showcase a lesser-known side of German culture. "Germany is much more than classical music," he said, smiling.
He highlighted active student exchanges and university partnerships, noting that the embassy supports networking platforms for German students in South Korea. "At the end of the day, these things work well if you have committed individuals on both sides," he said. "Even my small hometown, Freiburg, has a city partnership with Suwon."
On climate and sustainability, Schmidt emphasized the importance of green cooperation. "We must break the idea that you either go green or go for growth," he said. "You can do both if market prices send the right signals." He pointed to initiatives like carbon pricing, hydrogen development, and green steel production as key areas for transformation. "Steel production is responsible for a huge amount of emissions. If South Korea manages to shift to green steel, that is a game changer."
He also noted Germany’s designation as a "climate embassy" and shared plans for climate-related events, policy dialogue, and global cooperation. "Everybody is talking about wars, but climate change is the real challenge to our security."
Reflecting on South Korea’s domestic political climate, the ambassador praised the country’s democratic maturity. "It’s impressive that the demonstrations, despite bitter controversies, have remained largely peaceful," he said. "This country achieved both economic development and political liberalization, which is remarkable."
Schmidt emphasized the need to preserve democracy amid rising global polarization. "What is worrying is how we agree to disagree. Social media traps people in echo chambers. Public broadcasters have a responsibility to air different sides of the story," he said. "Once you go deep down in polarization, it’s dangerous for democracy."
Schmidt expressed hope for more collaborative events and cross-cultural dialogue, inviting creativity in how the two nations engage. “Let’s find something that people don’t already know about Germany. That’s how we build new bridges.”
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