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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will make an official visit to South Korea next week, arriving in Seoul on Thursday, Oct. 29, for a two-day trip that includes a summit with President Lee Jae Myung, according to Lee's office and Yonhap. The summit is expected to focus on cooperation in trade, people-to-people exchanges, and future industries, including shipbuilding, per KBS World. Merz's visit also coincides with the German-Asia-Pacific Business Conference in Seoul; it marks his first trip to Korea since taking office and the first bilateral visit by a German chancellor in three years, as reported by Yonhap's Japanese service. Korean media coverage is largely factual and forward-looking, emphasizing the economic and industrial agenda rather than political drama.