South Korea’s Lee asks Chancellor Merz to share Germany’s reunification experience

ISTANBUL

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Saturday asked German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to share Germany’s experience with achieving reunification in 1990.

"There is much for the Republic of Korea (South Korea) to learn from Germany's experience," Lee said Saturday during his first in-person meeting with Merz on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.

"We should learn about how Germany overcame division and achieved reunification, and the Republic of Korea should follow that path as well," he added, according to Yonhap News.

Merz, for his part, noted the strong bilateral relationship between South Korea and Germany and expressed hope that cooperation between the two nations would continue to deepen.

In a statement, Lee’s office said that the two leaders agreed to further expand economic cooperation in fields such as energy and critical minerals.

He also highlighted Germany’s growing role in Europe’s efforts to strengthen its defense industry and urged Merz to consider South Korean defense firms’ interest in developing deeper partnerships with German companies.

On the sidelines of the G20 Summit, Lee also met with Brazilian President Lula da Silva, French President Emmanuel and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.