South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz agreed to elevate bilateral ties to an Enhanced Strategic Partnership at a summit in Seoul on Thursday, pledging closer cooperation on economic security, advanced technologies and defense. The leaders outlined plans to strengthen semiconductor and battery supply chains, industrial artificial intelligence and energy cooperation, while reaffirming their commitment to an agreement protecting classified military information.

Lee also requested Germany’s support in securing treatment for South Korean companies equivalent to that of European Union (EU) firms under the proposed Industrial Accelerator Act. The governments announced an economic and high-tech