What is scheduled during Friedrich Merz’s visit to Seoul?

Lee and Merz are due to meet Thursday, followed by a joint press statement and an official dinner. Merz is also scheduled to attend the 19th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business in Seoul.

Why is Germany an important economic partner for South Korea?

Lee’s spokesperson Kang Yu-jung described Germany as South Korea’s largest trading partner in Europe and said around 850 South Korean companies operate there. She said the visit is expected to advance bilateral ties in a more strategic and forward-looking direction.

German Chancellor Merz to visit S. Korea next week for summit with Lee

Q: What will Friedrich Merz and Lee Jae Myung discuss at their Seoul summit?

Their talks are set to cover economic cooperation and future industries, including batteries, semiconductors and artificial intelligence, as well as defense, the arms industry, and regional and international issues.

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Summary

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will visit Seoul next Thursday and Friday for a summit with President Lee Jae Myung. The visit will be Merz’s first to South Korea since taking office and the first bilateral visit by a German chancellor in three years. The leaders are scheduled to discuss economic cooperation, future industries, defense and regional and international issues.

Key Facts

Lee and Merz are scheduled to hold their summit Thursday, followed by a joint press statement and an official dinner.
The visit will be Merz’s third meeting with Lee since taking office; their previous meeting was on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in France in June, about four months earlier.
Merz will attend the 19th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business in Seoul.
Lee’s spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said Germany is South Korea’s largest trading partner in Europe and that around 850 South Korean companies operate there.

By Yonhap

Published Oct 23, 2026 10:04 pm KST

President Lee Jae Myung and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz hold talks in Evian-les-Bains, France, on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit, June 16. Yonhap

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 said Friday.

Merz is scheduled to visit Seoul next Thursday and Friday, marking his first visit to South Korea since taking office and the first bilateral visit by a German chancellor to the country in three years, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a written briefing.

Lee and Merz are scheduled to hold a summit Thursday, followed by a joint press statement and an official dinner, she added.

The summit will come about four months after their previous meeting on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) summit in France in June. It will be their third meeting since Merz took office, Kang said.

Merz will also attend the 19th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business in Seoul.

During the upcoming talks, the leaders will hold in-depth discussions on economic cooperation; future industries, such as batteries, semiconductors and artificial intelligence (AI); defense and the arms industry, as well as regional and international issues.

"Germany is South Korea's largest trading partner in Europe and a key partner, with around 850 South Korean companies operating there," Kang said.

"The visit is expected to help advance bilateral ties in a more strategic and forward-looking direction."

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