As traditional power relations and partnerships move beyond established patterns and into an uncertain future, middle powers have an important role to play. The Republic of Korea and Germany – with their similar economic models, parallel security situations, complementary defense industries, and shared commitment to a rules-based international order – are natural partners for enhanced bilateral cooperation.
At this event, we will explore how Germany and the Republic of Korea can work together, and alongside other partners, to shape a more resilient and prosperous future. We will assess not only the challenges Berlin and Seoul face amid growing global uncertainty, including rapid technological developments, but also the opportunities they have to strengthen their cooperation in this context.
Panelists:
Dr. Aylin Matlé, Senior Research Fellow, Center for Security and Defense, German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP)
Dr. Kang Kyu Lee, Director, Future Strategy Office, Korea Institute for Defense Analyses (KIDA)
Prof. Thomas Risse, Senior Professor at the Cluster of Excellence “Contestations of the Liberal Script” (SCRIPTS), Freie Universität Berlin
Dr. Dongmin Shin, Director of the International Cooperation Team, Secretariat for the Global AI Hub Committee on Secondment from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea (MOFA); Former Director of the AI Diplomacy Division, MOFA
Dr. Valentin Weber, Senior Research Fellow, Center for Geopolitics, Geoeconomics, and Technology, German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP)
Moderator: Rachel Tausendfreund, Senior Research Fellow, DGAP
If you would like to attend, please send your request to events@dgap.org by November 13, 2026.
If you would like to join online, please register here.