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Official visit to South Korea

Topic: Report

3 November 2022

Federal President Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender travelled to the Republic of Korea for an official visit from 3 to 6 November. In Seoul, the Federal President had talks with President Yoon Suk-yeol and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. Furthermore, he had meetings with German and South Korean businesses and a dialogue on the challenges facing ageing societies. In Busan, the Federal President visited the IBS Center for Climate Physics and the new container terminal, as well as the world’s only UN Memorial Cemetery.

Federal President Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender talk to young adults about challenges of their generation during an official visit to the Republic of Korea.

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender travelled to the Republic of Korea for an official visit from 3 to 6 November.

In the South Korean capital Seoul, the Federal President conducted political talks with President Yoon Suk-yeol and with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. He also had meetings with German and South Korean entrepreneurs, along with discussions with young adults on the challenges facing ageing societies and a meeting with South Korean film directors.

The Federal President’s second port of call was Busan. Here, President Steinmeier participated in expert talks on the future of the international order and economic globalisation and visited the IBS Center for Climate Physics (ICCP) to learn more about the impact of the climate crisis on marine ecology. Moreover, visits to the new container terminal and to the world’s only UN Memorial Cemetery for fallen UN soldiers were on the schedule. The visit to South Korea ended with a cultural evening in Busan.

Prior to their stay in Korea, Federal President Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender were on an official visit to Japan from 31 October to 3 November.

Overview of the programme:

Thursday, 3 November

  • Flight to Seoul

Friday, 4 November

  • Café Hoehwa Namu
    Discussion with young adults about the situation of the young generation and about demographic challenges
  • Seoul National Cemetery
    Wreath-laying ceremony at the Memorial Tower in the National Cemetery
  • Official residence of the President
    Welcome by the President of the Republic of Korea, Yoon Suk-yeol followed by talks
  • Lunch hosted by the President of the Republic of Korea, Yoon Suk-yeol
  • Delegation hotel
    Talks with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea, Han Duck-soo
    Joint discussion with representatives of the South Korean and German business community
  • Korea National University of Arts
    Tour of the film studio and discussions with filmmakers and students
  • Floating Islands
    Reception hosted by the President of the Federal Republic of Germany and Elke Büdenbender

Saturday, 5 November

  • Pyeongtaek Campus
    Tour of Samsung’s semiconductor production facility
  • Flight to Busan
  • United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea (UNMCK)
    Laying of a basket of flowers, tour of the memorial
  • Nakdong Estuary Eco Center
    Discussion with experts about climate change
  • Pusan Newport International Terminal
    Discussion with experts on security policy and supply chain security
  • Tour of the container terminal
  • Flight to Berlin

Sunday, 6 November

  • Arrival in Berlin

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