Germany–South Korea relations explained

Mission1:Embassy of Germany, Seoul
Mission2:Embassy of South Korea, Berlin
Filetype:svg
Envoytitle1:Ambassador
Envoytitle2:Ambassador
Envoy1:Georg Wilfried Schmidt
Envoy2:Lim Sang-beom

Germany–South Korea relations (;) were established in the 1950s and play a vital role in the foreign policy of both countries today.

Today, Germany and South Korea are the world's third- and 12th-largest economies, respectively, and are bonded through strong economic, cultural, and political cooperation.

Historical background

See also: Koreans in Germany. The Korean state of Joseon first established diplomatic relations with the German Empire under the Germany–Korea Treaty of 1883 which remained in effect even after in 1905.[1]

In 1955, West Germany officially recognized South Korea as a sovereign state.[2]

Present situation

Since the German reunification of 1990, much effort has been undertaken by both countries to improve diplomatic relations with each other. In the mid-2000s, the Germany–Korea Treaty of 1883 was renewed by both countries and was officially put into effect on December 19, 2008, as a form of commemoration of the 125th anniversary of the original treaty.[3]

On December 20, 2012, the German chancellor Angela Merkel congratulated Park Geun-hye on her appointment as President of South Korea and invited her to make an official visit to Germany. Both politicians stressed the importance of furthering and strengthening the "traditionally very good ties" between the two countries.[4] Merkel has also vowed to assist in the potential challenges of any future Korean reunification, since Germany underwent a reunification itself.

On March 7, 2016, the Ministry of National Defense of South Korea and Germany signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the German Ministry of National Defense to discuss ways to strengthen military cooperation, including regularization of military cooperation meetings between the two countries. According to the memorandum of understanding, the two countries agreed to hold regular military cooperation meetings and deepen and develop friendly cooperation relations and share their experience in military innovation.[5]

In 2023, Germany and South Korea marked 140 years of diplomatic relations. As of 2022, the volume of trade between the two countries was about $33.6 billion, an increase of 34% from 2011.[6]

Education

See also: Korean as a foreign language and International students in South Korea.

Some high schools in Germany adopt Korean language as a formal elective.[7] As of 2022, South Korea was the fourth most popular destination for German students.

High-level visits

High-level visit from Germany to South Korea[8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]

High-level visit from South Korea to Germany [16] [17] [18] [19] [20]

See also

References

  1. Korean Mission ; excerpt, ", November 22, 1905, declares: 'In bringing this agreement to the notice of the powers having treaties with Korea, the Imperial Government declares that * * * they will see that these treaties are maintained and respected, and they also engage not to prejudice In any way the legitimate commercial and industrial interests of those powers in Korea'."
  2. http://www.mofat.go.kr/english/regions/europe/20070818/1_985.jsp Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Republic of Korea: Germany
  3. http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/sid_213362F4E7A5F4F7E816E3BC5C759D43/DE/Aussenpolitik/Laender/Laenderinfos/KoreaRepublik/Bilateral_node.html Beziehungen zwischen der Republik Korea und Deutschland
  4. http://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/DE/Pressemitteilungen/BPA/2012/12/2012-12-20-korea.html Presse- und Informationsamt der Bundesregierung
  5. News: March 7, 2016 . S. Korea, Germany Sign MOU on Military Supply . KBS WORLD.
  6. News: September 25, 2023 . Korea, Germany mark 140 years of diplomatic ties . The Korea Times.
  7. Web site: September 14, 2021 . German high school offers Korean as language elective . Korea.net.
  8. https://digitalarchive.wilsoncenter.org/document/chancellors-helmut-kohls-meeting-korean-president-kim-young-sam-tuesday-2-march-1993-seoul The Chancellor's [Helmut Kohl's] Meeting with Korean President Kim Young-Sam on Tuesday, 2 March 1993 in Seoul
  9. https://www.bridgemanimages.com/en/noartistknown/german-president-roman-herzog-and-south-korean-president-kim-in-seoul-1998-09-15-photo/photograph/asset/8030444 German President Roman Herzog And South Korean President Kim In Seoul, 1998-09-15 (photo)
  10. https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2018/01/25/socialAffairs/Gerhard-Gerhard-Schroder-to-wed-Korean/3043781.html Gerhard Gerhard Schroder to wed Korean
  11. https://www.bridgemanimages.com/en/kim-kyung-hoon/german-president-rau-and-south-korean-foreign-minister-choi-reveiw-honour-guard-in-seoul-2002-06-27/photograph/asset/7804288 German President Rau And South Korean Foreign Minister Choi Honour Guard In Seoul, 2002-06-27 (photo)
  12. https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230511010700315 German Chancellor Scholz to visit Seoul on May 21
  13. https://www.dw.com/en/german-president-seeks-to-promote-korean-unification-with-state-visit/a-18775356 German president arrives in South Korea
  14. https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20221102007000325 German president to pay respect to victims of Itaewon crush during S. Korean visit
  15. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/germanys-scholz-urges-north-korea-stop-ballistic-missile-tests-2023-05-21/ South Korea, Germany to sign information pact to boost defence cooperation
  16. https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/02/113_147609.html When Park spoke, everybody cried'
  17. https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2017/04/120_227347.html S. Korea tried to have nuclear bombs in 1980s: declassified papers
  18. https://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/dossiers/coree/A/1904 Address by President Kim Dae-jung of the Republic of Korea, Lessons of German Reunification and the Korean Peninsula
  19. https://en.asaninst.org/contents/evaluating-president-park-geun-hyes-foreign-policy-in-its-1st-year/ Evaluating President Park Geun-Hye’s Foreign Policy in its 1st Year
  20. https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20170707000032 Full text of Moon's speech at the Korber Foundation

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Germany–South Korea relations".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.