President Lee Jae Myung wrapped up a five-nation tour on Sunday with a brief stop in Frankfurt, where he met with members of the Korean community before returning to Seoul. The visit marked the final leg of a trip that began in San Francisco on July 24 and included summits with leaders of Brazil, Chile, and Argentina.
In Frankfurt, Lee spoke at a meeting with the Korean community, emphasizing the role of Korean companies in the region and the community's function as a bridge between South Korea and Germany. According to Yonhap News, Lee noted that many South Korean companies are actively operating in Frankfurt and the broader Hesse region, and he praised their competitiveness across industries in Europe, including automobiles, electronics, finance, logistics, and advanced technologies.
Lee described the Korean community as a key pillar of South Korea's growing competitiveness, saying they can further strengthen the country's presence in the region by complementing national strengths with their strong local trust. He also mentioned that Germany is showing growing interest in South Korean culture, businesses, and technology.
Earlier in the trip, Lee met with the heads of leading U.S. tech companies in San Francisco, including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, as part of efforts to lay the foundation for South Korea's vision to become a global AI semiconductor manufacturing hub. In Brazil, Chile, and Argentina, he held summits with the presidents to strengthen bilateral cooperation, with a focus on critical and strategic minerals and crude oil imports.
Following the Frankfurt meeting, Lee departed for South Korea, with his arrival in Seoul expected on Monday.