President Lee Says South Korea and Germany Share Much in Common, Rising Above War and Division

President Lee Jae-myung stopped by Frankfurt, Germany, to meet with Korean residents on his way back home after concluding his tour of the United States and South America.

Speaking at a meeting with overseas Koreans held at a hotel in Frankfurt, President Lee said, "South Korea and Germany share a lot in common. Both countries have risen above the pain of war and division," adding, "Germany surprised the world with the Miracle on the Rhine, and South Korea with the Miracle on the Han River."

He continued, "This year marks exactly 60 years since our senior nurses first set foot at Frankfurt Airport in 1966," reflecting that "the first generation of Korean workers sent to Germany made known the diligence and responsibility of Koreans, and built and firmly solidified trust in the nation of South Korea."

President Lee evaluated that "from global conglomerates to strong mid-sized enterprises and small business owners, our companies are proving South Korea's competitiveness at the center of the European market."

He also emphasized, "A company's true competitiveness is only completed when it earns deep trust in the local society. You, the compatriots who are building that trust locally, are the core of South Korea's competitiveness."

President Lee promised, "We conducted a comprehensive review of civil petitions starting early this year, and I was reported that about 42 petitions were received from Germany," adding, "We will look closely and meticulously so that wherever you are in the world, you can have the belief that the government listens to my concerns, worries, and takes action."

At the start of the meeting, President Lee remarked, "This is an unusual gathering. After visiting South America, we needed to stop somewhere for refueling, but it felt awkward just passing by..." which brought laughter from the audience.

Smiling, President Lee added, "When considering where we needed to meet most and fastest, it seems Frankfurt was chosen."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.