President Yoon Suk Yeol (fourth from left) and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (second from right) on Nov. 4 hold a bilateral summit at the Office of the President in Seoul's Yongsan-gu District. (Yonhap News) 

By Kim Hayeon 

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Nov. 4 held a bilateral summit with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the Office of the President in Seoul's Yongsan-gu District. 

President Steinmeier on Nov. 3 arrived for an official three-day trip in Korea as the first European leader to visit since the launch of the Yoon administration on May 10. 

In an opening statement before the summit, President Yoon said, "Korea and Germany have maintained a special relationship by sharing their experience of success in overcoming the ruins of war to achieve incredible economic development as well as share the pain of national division." 

"We hope to discuss boosting bilateral cooperation in fields such as national security, economy, science and technology, and culture and joint responses to global challenges facing both countries such as climate change and health."

"I praise Germany for being a key member of the European Union (EU) and North Atlantic Treaty Organization and for playing a leading role in solving global issues as chair country of the G7 (Group of 7)," he added. "As a country that also pursue the values of freedom, human rights and rule of law, we wish to strengthen solidarity with an ally that shares those same values."

President Steinmeier said in his opening statement, "This is already my fourth time visiting Korea," adding, "In 2018, I came to Korea once and at the time, the entire country was filled with immense joy." 

"That year was full of joy as Korea hosted the (PyeongChang) Winter Olympics, a huge event for the entire world."  

Saying the bilateral summit began with a silent prayer to remember the deceased in the Itaewon incident, President Steinmeier said, "I express my deep condolences to President Yoon personally and the same in the name of the German people." 

President Yoon Suk Yeol (right) and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Nov. 4 hold a joint news conference after their bilateral summit at the Office of the President in Seoul's Yongsan-gu District. (Yonhap News) 

At a joint news conference after their summit, President Yoon said, "Korea and Germany are key economic partners," adding, "While healthy trade and investment continue between both sides, bilateral economic cooperation is now expanding to future industries such as hydrogen and digitalization."

"German companies in advanced technologies such as semiconductors are raising investment in Korea."  

"As the two sides both recognized that insecurity in the global supply chain can negatively affect the world economy, we agreed to improve economic security to establish stable supply chains and strengthen energy security," President Yoon said.

"I also expressed fears over strengthening protectionism in Europe and asked Germany, a core EU member, to take special interest in ensuring that our corporations face no discrimination." 

On North Korea's recent missile launches, Seoul and Berlin stressed the reinforcement of "close cooperation"  

"Germany can offer many lessons to resolve the problem on the Korean Peninsula as a nation that experienced national division and unification," President Yoon said. "Both leaders agreed to share serious concerns over North Korea's recent and repeated missile provocations and work closely together to elicit a joint response from the international community if the North commits further major provocations."

"We agreed to strengthen cooperation to improve the human rights situation in North Korea."

Through their talks, the two sides announced their continued efforts to support peace and return to daily life for the Ukrainian people, bolster partnerships for peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region while seeking a strategic point of contact, and reaffirm the many tasks they have to perform together as key allies. 

President Steinmeier said he invited President Yoon to visit Germany next year, which will mark the 140th anniversary of bilateral exchange.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and first lady Elke Budenbender on Nov. 4 pay a silent tribute after laying flowers at a memorial altar for those who died in the Itaewon incident in front of Exit 1 at Itaewon Station in Seoul's Yongsan-gu District. (Jeon Han)