Lee, Merz seek stronger supply chain, high-tech ties amid global volatility

What happened: President Lee Jae Myung hosts German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Thursday, with supply chain security and high-tech cooperation high on the agenda. Key numbers: Merz took office in May 2025; this is their third summit and the first German chancellor bilateral visit in three years. Around 850 Korean firms operate in Germany. Why it matters: Both manufacturing powers face pressure to diversify supply chains and reduce reliance on China for critical materials, and Germany's rising military spending may open opportunities for South Korean defense firms.

President Lee Jae Myung hosts German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Thursday, with supply chain security and high-tech cooperation high on the agenda.

Both manufacturing powers face pressure to diversify supply chains and reduce reliance on China for critical materials, and Germany's rising military spending may open opportunities for South Korean defense firms.