A special conversation with his excellency ambassador Michael Reiffenstuel

German-South Korean relations were established in the 1950s and play a vital role in the foreign policy of both countries today.

Both nations are connected by a common historical experience of national division, close economic ties, and intensive cooperation in education, science, and technology. The relationship between the two nations started in the form of a trade, shipping and friendship treaty and since then the bilateral relationship has grown to become a framework that guarantees commercial activities and investments and promotes people-to-people exchanges.

With its strong economy and advanced technological capabilities, South Korea is one of Germany’s main trading partners in East Asia and the third most important market for German goods in Asia after China and Japan. Germany on the other hand is also South Korea’s most important European trading partner with a bilateral trade volume of some 31.4 billion euro in 2021.

Biztech spoke to His Excellency Michael Reiffenstuel, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Korea to get a clearer picture of the common priorities shared between both nations, the flourishing bi-lateral trade relationship they have, including the close relations they enjoy, in the spirit of cooperation and trust.

During the engaging conversation, His Excellency also spoke about:

His role as an Ambassador in previous capacities, up to the present moment
The state of diplomatic relations between Germany and South Korea and the ties that bind both nations
His views on the changes in Germany’s foreign policy under the current administration, including President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol’s plans to upgrade relations with Germany
Bilateral trade relations between Germany and South Korea
Business opportunities for German businesses to invest and collaborate with South Korea and vice versa
How Germany engages South Korea from a cultural, education and arts perspective and vice versa
The German government’s priority to engage with South Korea in 2022 / 2023