President Yoon Suk Yeol will hold a summit today with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who is on an official visit to South Korea. They will discuss ways to stabilize supply chains in key industries and expand cooperation in advanced technologies. The two leaders will also explore collaboration in defense, military, renewable energy, and power grid sectors.
Chief Presidential Spokesperson Kang Yu-jeong announced in a written briefing that after their meeting at the Blue House, President Yoon and Chancellor Merz will hold a joint press conference and an official dinner.
This marks Chancellor Merz's first visit to South Korea since taking office and the first bilateral visit by a German Chancellor in three years. The two leaders are meeting again about four months after their discussions during the G7 summit in France. This will be their third summit since Merz took office.
The talks will focus on deepening future-oriented cooperation across various fields, including politics, economy, defense, military, science and technology, and human exchanges, laying the groundwork for a new leap in bilateral relations.
In particular, they will broadly discuss stabilizing supply chains and enhancing cooperation in key industries such as semiconductors, batteries, and artificial intelligence (AI) with Germany, South Korea's largest trading partner in Europe. The agenda will also include expanding technological and industrial cooperation in renewable energy and power grids, as well as creating a supportive institutional environment for business activities.
The two leaders will explore possibilities for cooperation in defense and military sectors and exchange views on establishing a systematic foundation for ongoing collaboration. They will also discuss ways to share strategic perspectives on major regional and global issues and strengthen cooperation.
Spokesperson Kang stated that this visit is an important opportunity to transform new challenges in the rapidly changing international security and economic environment into mutually beneficial cooperation.
The Blue House has prepared the official dinner on a scale comparable to a state banquet, inviting around 60 guests, including a German business delegation and South Korean entrepreneurs. Attendees from the South Korean side include Yoon Jin-sik, chairman of the Korea International Trade Association, Chung Eui-sun, chairman of Hyundai Motor Company, Jang In-hwa, chairman of POSCO, Cho Hyun-joon, chairman of Hyosung, and Chung Mong-won, chairman of HL Group.
The dinner menu features Korean-style soy sauce grilled pork and potato pancakes inspired by German culinary traditions. Considering Chancellor Merz's preference for seafood, grilled flounder with gochujang sauce and clam miso soup will also be served.
To cater to Chancellor Merz's love for outdoor activities like camping and hiking, President Yoon has prepared a camping and hiking set from a Korean brand as a gift.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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