German Ambassador to South Korea Georg Wilfried Schmidt stated that bilateral ties are shifting from trade competition toward joint development, co-creation, and integrated supply chains. He emphasized that South Korea is now an essential partner for Germany, having surpassed Japan as a destination for German exports two years ago, with deep mutual reliance in batteries, displays, and automotive parts.
Looking ahead to the 19th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business (APK 2026) in Seoul from October 29 to 31, Schmidt noted that around 800 global leaders will address industrial AI, critical raw materials, and international partnerships. The event will feature German Chancellor Friedrich Merz alongside Naver CEO Choi Soo-yeon and Siemens CEO Roland Busch. Despite high land and labor costs, Schmidt affirmed that Korea’s advanced manufacturing ecosystem continues to draw German investment into chemicals, precision engineering, and semiconductor optics.
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