German Chancellor Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) held a telephone conversation with South Korean President Jae-myung Lee on Thursday, according to government spokesman Stefan Kornelius.
During the discussion, Chancellor Merz underscored the importance of the amicable relationship between Germany and South Korea, describing the nation as a close partner within the region. Both leaders agreed to further strengthen the economic ties between their respective countries.
President Lee, who assumed office in June, represents the liberal “Deobureo-minju” party and is generally positioned politically as centrist to left-leaning. While often portrayed in South Korean media and public discourse as left-liberal and left-populist, he also exhibits tendencies toward economic liberalism.