Key facts
- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will visit South Korea next week for a summit with President Lee Jae Myung.
- The summit is scheduled for Thursday, with a joint press statement and official dinner to follow.
- This is Merz's first visit to South Korea since taking office.
- The leaders previously met in June on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France.
- Discussions will focus on economic cooperation, future industries like batteries, semiconductors, and AI, and defense.
- Germany is South Korea's largest trading partner in Europe.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will make an official visit to South Korea next week for a summit with President Lee Jae Myung, Lee's office announced Friday. Merz is slated to visit Seoul next Thursday and Friday. This marks his first trip to the country since assuming office and the first such visit by a German chancellor in three years. The leaders' summit on Thursday will be followed by a joint press statement and an official dinner. This meeting comes about four months after their encounter at the G7 summit in France in June, and it will be their third meeting since Merz took office. Merz is also scheduled to participate in the 19th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business in Seoul. Discussions are expected to cover economic cooperation, future industries such as batteries, semiconductors, and AI, defense, and regional and international matters. South Korea's presidential spokesperson noted that Germany is Europe's largest trading partner for South Korea, with approximately 850 South Korean companies operating there, and expressed expectation that the visit will foster more strategic bilateral ties.