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Foreign relations of South Korea

South Korea maintains diplomatic relations with 191 countries. The country has also been a member of the United Nations since 1991, when it became a member state at the same time as North Korea. South Korea has also hosted major international events such as the 1988 Summer Olympics and 2002 World Cup Football Tournament (2002 FIFA World Cup co-hosted with Japan) and the 2011 IAAF World Championships Daegu South Korea. Furthermore, South Korea had hosted the 2018 Winter Olympics which took place in Pyeongchang, South Korea from 9 to 25 February.

Participants of the 2010 G20 Seoul summit gather for a conventional "family photo".
United States, Japan, and South Korean leaders meet at G7 meeting

South Korea is a member of the United Nations, WTO, OECD/DAC, ASEAN Plus Three, East Asia Summit (EAS), and G-20. It is also a founding member of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the East Asia Summit.

On January 1, 2007, South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon assumed the post of UN Secretary-General, serving in that post until December 31, 2016.

International organization participation

Foreign policy

Indo-Pacific

South Korea's Indo-Pacific strategy is a comprehensive strategy that encompasses the economic and security spheres of Indo-Pacific countries. Announcing the strategy, the country said, "While strengthening the rules-based International order, which is conducive to a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific, we will work towards a regional order that enables a diverse set of nations to cooperate and prosper together."[1]

Free trade agreements

  South Korea
  Free-trade areas

South Korea has the following trade agreements:[2]

  • South Korea-ASEAN (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) FTA
  • South Korea-Australia FTA
  • South Korea-Canada CKFTA FTA
  • South Korea Central America (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama) FTA
  • South Korea-Chile FTA
  • South Korea-China FTA
  • South Korea-Colombia FTA
  • South Korea-EFTA (Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) FTA
  • South Korea-EU (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, UK) FTA
  • South Korea-India CEPA FTA
  • South Korea-Indonesia
  • South Korea-Israel
  • South Korea-New Zealand FTA
  • South Korea-Peru FTA
  • South Korea-RCEP (Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam)
  • South Korea-Singapore FTA
  • South Korea-Turkey FTA
  • South Korea-United Kingdom FTA
  • South Korea-United States of America (KORUS FTA)
  • South Korea-Vietnam FTA[3][4]

As of late 2021 states of GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council—Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates), Israel, Japan, Malaysia, MERCOSUR (Southern Common Market—Mercado comun del sur), Mexico, Mongolia, RCEP (Asian 10 Countries, Korea, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, India), Russia (BEPA), SACU (South Asia Cooperation Union) and South Korea-China-Japan[5] are in negotiations about the FTA with South Korea.[6]

Asia

China (PRC)

Countries which signed cooperation documents related to the Belt and Road Initiative

Active South Korean-Chinese people-to-people contacts have been encouraged. Academics, journalists and particularly families divided between South Korea and the People's Republic of China (PRC) were able to exchange visits freely in the late 1980s. Nearly 2 million ethnic Koreans especially in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in Jilin Province of Northeast China have interacted with South Koreans.

Trade between the two countries continued to increase nonetheless, Furthermore, China has attempted to mediate between North Korea and the United States, and between North Korea and Japan. China also initiated and promoted tripartite talks between North Korea, South Korea and the U.S.

South Korea had long been an ally of Taiwan. Diplomatic ties between Seoul and Taipei were nevertheless severed in 1992. Formal diplomatic relations were established between Seoul and Beijing on August 24, 1992.

In 2004 the PRC government began the Northeast Project, sparking a massive uproar in South Korea when the project was widely publicized.[7]

After the KORUS FTA (United States-South Korea Free Trade Agreement) was finalized on June 30, 2007, the Chinese government has immediately begun seeking an FTA agreement with South Korea.[8] The FTA between South Korea and China are under discussion South Korea has been running a trade surplus with China which hit a record US$32.5 billion in 2009.[9][10]

Taiwan (ROC)

On 23 August 1992, the government of the Republic of China (by then only in control of the island of Taiwan and a few outlying areas) severed diplomatic relations with South Korea in advance of its announcement of formal recognition of the People's Republic of China based in Beijing. The Yonhap News said in 2002 that since then relations between the two governments have been "in a rut".[11]

Japan

There is an ongoing dispute between Japan and South Korea over the sovereignty of the Liancourt Rocks

The relation between South Korea and Japan has both political conflicts and economic intimacies. Examples of conflicts include the East sea naming dispute, visits by successive Japanese Prime Ministers to the Yasukuni Shrine and the disputed ownership of Dokdo of the island Korea.

On January 18, 1952, The first president of South Korea Syngman Rhee declared that the vicinity of Dokdo was a territory of South Korea (Syngman Rhee line). Subsequently, some 3,000 Japanese fishermen who conducted fishery operations in this vicinity were captured. This incident, called the Dai Ichi Daihoumaru Ship case strained relations between South Korea and Japan.

June 22, 1965, The president in South Korea Park Chung Hee concluded the Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and South Korea As a result, Japan considered South Korea to be the legitimate successor of its rule over the Korean Peninsula.

South Korea's trade with Japan was US$892.1 million in 2008, with a surplus of nearly US$327.1 million on the Japanese side.[12] Japanese and South Koreans firms often had interdependent relations, which gave Japan advantages in South Korea's growing market.

In 1996 FIFA announced that the South Korea-Japan would jointly host the 2002 FIFA World Cup. The next few years would see leaders of both countries meet to warm relations in preparations for the games.[13] The year 2005 was designated as the "Japan-South Korea Friendship Year".

However, the Liancourt Rocks controversy erupted again when Japan's Shimane Prefecture declared "Takeshima Day", inciting mass demonstrations in South Korea.[14]

Mongolia

Both countries established diplomatic relations on March 26, 1990. South Korea has an embassy in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.[15] Mongolia has an embassy in Seoul.[16]

Philippines

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties on 3 March 1949, the relationship between the Philippines and South Korea has flourished. The Philippines was one of the first countries that extended diplomatic recognition to South Korea. This was cemented with the Philippine government's deployment of the Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea (PEFTOK) to help South Korea against the invasion of the communist North during the Korean War in the 1950s. After the war, the Philippines provided development assistance to South Korea and helped the country rebuild itself.

Since then, the Philippines's relations with South Korea have evolved with South Korea becoming one of the Philippines's most important bilateral partners aside from the United States, China and Japan. The Philippines's government seeks to cultivate strategic ties with South Korea given its increasing presence in the country. In the coming years, the Philippines anticipates to benefit from exploring unprecedented opportunities from South Korea that shall contribute significantly to the country's trade and economy, defense and security, and society and culture.

Vietnam

The relationship between these two Sinosphere countries is usually described as "from enemies to friends". Despite the two states' hostile positions in the Vietnam War and South Korean war crimes and atrocities in the Vietnam War, which are still recently sparkling some controversies between the two states, both countries have still become each other's most important trade partner throughout their relationship. South Korea is the third biggest trade partners of Vietnam while also being the second-biggest ODA provider and the biggest foreign direct investor to Vietnam; meanwhile, Vietnam is the third-biggest trade partner of South Korea and it is also hosting many important factories and facilities of South Korea's biggest conglomerate such as Samsung and LG.[17][18]

In December 2022, the two nations have elevated their ties to comprehensive strategic partnership – technically the highest level of bilateral relationship that is designated by the Vietnamese side. Both countries have aimed to raise their two-way trade to 100 billion U.S. dollars in 2023 and expected to reach 150 billion by the end of this decade. Besides major economic ties and cooperations, South Korea and Vietnam also plan to further cooperate in politics, cultural exchange, resources exploitation, national security as well as in the defense sectors. Both countries share core benefits, concerns, and support to each other in issues related to the security of the region, noticeably Vietnamese support towards South Korea's effort in denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula (mentioning North Korea) and South Korea's support on Vietnam's attitude towards the stability and freedom of navigation of the South China Sea.[19] Vietnam is also an important partner of South Korea to exercise its Indo-Pacific strategy and the insight to strengthen South Korea's relationship with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. It is said that Vietnam can be a "bridge" or "ambassador" representing South Korea's influence to the Southeast Asia region.[20]

In the state visit of the President of Vietnam to South Korea in December 2022, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has honored Vietnamese President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc as "my very first national guest" (referring the fact that his Vietnamese counterpart was the first head of state to visit South Korea during his terms), and also saying that the people of Vietnam and South Korea are "close brothers".[21]

North Korea

Inter-Korean relations may be divided into five periods. The first stage was between 1972 and 1973; the second stage was Pyongyang North Korea's delivery of relief goods to South Korea after a typhoon caused devastating floods in 1984 and the third stage was the exchange of home visits and performing artists in 1985. The fourth stage, activated by Nordpolitik under Roh, was represented by expanding public and private contacts between the two Koreas. The fifth stage was improved following the 1997 election of Kim Dae-jung. His "Sunshine Policy" of engagement with North Korea set the stage for the historic June 2000 Inter-Korean summit.

The possibility of Korean reunification has remained a prominent topic. However, no peace treaty has yet been signed with the North. In June 2000, a historic first North Korea-South Korea summit took place, part of the South Korea's continuing Sunshine Policy of engagement. Since then, regular contacts have led to a cautious thaw. President Kim was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 for the policy.

With that policy, continued by the following administration of president Roh Moo-hyun, economic ties between the two countries have increased, humanitarian aid has been sent to North Korea and some divided families have been briefly reunited. Military ties remain fraught with tension, however, and in 2002 a brief naval skirmish left four South Korean sailors dead, leaving the future of the Sunshine policy uncertain. The North Korea cut off talks but the South remained committed to the policy of reconciliation and relations began to thaw again. The resurgence of the nuclear issue two years later would again cast relations in doubt, but South Korea has sought to play the role of intermediary rather than antagonist, and economic ties at the time seemed to be growing again.

Despite the Sunshine Policy and efforts at reconciliation, the progress was complicated by North Korean missile tests in 1993, 1998, 2006 and 2009. As of early 2009, relationships between North Korea and South Korea were very tense; North Korea had been reported to have deployed missiles,[22] Ended its former agreements with South Korea[23] and threatened South Korea and the United States not to interfere with a satellite launch it had planned.[24]As of 2009 North Korea and South Korea are still opposed and share a heavily fortified border.[25]

On May 27, 2009, North Korea media declared that the armistice is no longer valid due to the South Korean government's pledge to "definitely join" the Proliferation Security Initiative. To further complicate and intensify strains between the two nations, the sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan in March 2010, killing 46 seamen, is as of May 20, 2010 claimed by a team of researchers around the world[26] to have been caused by a North Korean torpedo, which the North denies. South Korea agreed with the findings from the research group and president Lee Myung-bak declared in May 2010 that Seoul would cut all trade with North Korea as part of measures primarily aimed at striking back at North Korea diplomatically and financially.[27] As a result of this, North Korea severed all ties and completely abrogated the previous pact of non aggression.[28]

In November 2010, the Unification Ministry officially declared the Sunshine Policy a failure, thus bringing the policy to an end.[29][30] On November 23, 2010, North Korean artillery shelled Yeonpyeong with dozens of rounds at Yeonpyeong-ri and the surrounding area.[31]

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in during the 2018 inter-Korean summit.

According to a 2013 BBC World Service Poll, 3% of South Koreans view the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's influence positively, with 91% expressing a negative view.[32] A 2015 government-sponsored poll revealed that 41% of South Koreans consider North Korea to be an enemy, with negative views being more prevalent among younger respondents.[33] Still, in a 2017 poll, 58% of South Koreans said they don't expect another war to break out with North Korea.[34]

Europe

Russia

Dmitry Medvedev meeting Lee Myung-bak at The Kremlin.

In the 1980s South Korean president Roh Tae Woo's Nordpolitik and Mikhail Gorbachev's "New Thinking" were both attempts to reverse their nations' recent histories. Gorbachev had signaled Soviet interest in improving relations with all countries in the Asia-Pacific region including South Korea as explained in his July 1986 Vladivostok and August 1988 Krasnoyarsk speeches.

In initiating Nordpolitik Roh's confidential foreign policy adviser was rumored to have visited Moscow Russia to consult with Soviet policymakers. Kim Young Sam visited Moscow Russian Federation from June 2 to June 10, 1989, as the Kremlin announced that it would allow some 300,000 Soviet-South Koreans who had been on the Soviet island of Sahkalin since the end of World War II to return permanently to South Korea. Moscow even arranged Kim's meeting with the North Korean ambassador to the Soviet Union In June 1990, Roh held his first summit with president Gorbachev in San Francisco, United States.

South Korea and the Soviet Union established diplomatic relations on September 30, 1990. These relations continued by the Russian Federation on December 27, 1991. Russian president Vladimir Putin visited Seoul in February 2001 while South Korean president Roh Moo-hyun visited Moscow Russia in September 2004.[35][36]

Russian Federal Space Agency and the Korean Astronaut Program cooperated together to send South Korea's first astronaut into space. Yi So-Yeon became the first South Korean national as well as the third woman to be the first national in space on 8 April 2008 when Soyuz TMA-12 departed from Baikonur Cosmodrome.[37]

Since the 1990s there has been greater trade and cooperation between the Russian Federation and South Korea. The total trade volume between South Korea and Russia in 2003 was 4.2 billion U.S. dollars.[38]

United Kingdom

The establishment of diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and South Korea began on 18 January 1949.

Visits from South Korea to the United Kingdom:

From the United Kingdom to South Korea:

European Union

The European Union (EU) and South Korea are important trading partners, having negotiated a free trade agreement for many years since South Korea was designated as a priority FTA partner in 2006. The free trade agreement has been approved in September 2010, following Italy's conditional withdrawal of its veto of the free trade agreement.[40] The compromise made by Italy was that free trade agreement would take provisional effect on July 1, 2011. South Korea is the EU's eighth largest trade partner and the EU has become South Korea's second largest export destination. EU trade with South Korea exceeded €65 billion in 2008 and has enjoyed an annual average growth rate of 7.5% between 2004 and 2008.[41]

The EU has been the single largest foreign investor in South Korea since 1962 and accounted for almost 45% of all FDI inflows into South Korea in 2006. Nevertheless, EU companies have significant problems accessing and operating in South Korea market due to stringent standards and testing requirements for products and services often creating barriers to trade. Both in its regular bilateral contacts with South Korea and through its FTA with South Korea, the EU is seeking to improve this situation.[41]

Americas

United States

United States President Barack Obama and Lee walking after a meeting at the Blue House in Seoul in November 2010.

The United States engaged in the decolonization of Korea (mainly in the South, with the Soviet Union engaged in North Korea) from Japan after World War II. After three years of military administration by the United States, the South Korean government was established. Upon the onset of the Korean War, U.S. forces were sent to defend South Korea against invasion by North Korea and later China. Following the Armistice, South Korea and the U.S. agreed to a "Mutual Defense Treaty", under which an attack on either party in the Pacific area would summon a response from both.[42]

In 1968, South Korea obliged the mutual defense treaty, by sending a large combat troop contingent to support the United States in the Vietnam War. The U.S. Eighth Army, Seventh Air Force, and U.S. Naval Forces Korea are stationed in South Korea. The two nations have strong economic, diplomatic, and military ties, although they have at times disagreed with regard to policies towards North Korea, and with regard to some of South Korea's industrial activities that involve usage of rocket or nuclear technology. There had also been strong anti-American sentiment during certain periods, which has largely moderated in the modern day.[43]

Since the late 1980s, the country has instead sought to establish an American partnership, which has made the Seoul–Washington relationship subject to severe strains. Trade had become a serious source of friction between the two countries. In 1989, the United States was South Korea's largest and most important trading partner and South Korea was the seventh-largest market for United States goods and the second largest market for its agricultural products.

From Roh Tae-woo's administration to Roh Moo Hyun's administration, South Korea sought to establish a U.S. partnership, which has made the Seoul–Washington relationship subject to some strains. In 2007, a free trade agreement known as the Republic of Korea-United States Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) was reportedly signed between South Korea and the United States, but its formal implementation has been repeatedly delayed, pending further approval by the legislative bodies of the two countries.

The relations between the United States and South Korea have greatly strengthened under the Lee Myung-bak administration. At the 2009 G-20 London summit, U.S. President Barack Obama called South Korea "one of America's closest allies and greatest friends."[44]

South Korean President Moon Jae-in with U.S. President Donald Trump in November 2017

However, some anti-American sentiment in South Korea still exists; the United States' alleged role in the May 1980 Gwangju uprising was a pressing South Korean political issue of the 1980s. Even after a decade, some Gwangju citizens and other South Koreans still blamed the United States for its perceived involvement in the bloody uprising. In 2008, the protests against U.S. beef was a center of a major controversy that year.

In a June 2010 open letter from President of South Korea Lee Myung-bak published in the Los Angeles Times, he expressed gratitude for the 37,000 Americans who were killed in the Korean War defending South Korea, saying that they fought for the freedom of South Koreans they did not even know. He stated that thanks to their sacrifices, the peace and democracy of the South Korean state was protected.[45]

The U.S. states that "The Alliance is adapting to changes in the 21st Century security environment. We will maintain a robust defense posture, backed by allied capabilities which support both nations' security interests We will continue to deepen our strong bilateral economic, trade and investment relations In the Asia-Pacific region we will work jointly with regional institutions and partners to foster prosperity, keep the peace, and improve the daily lives of the people of the region The United States and South Korea will work to achieve our common Alliance goals through strategic cooperation at every level."[46]

Diplomatic relations

List of countries which South Korea maintains diplomatic relations with (all UN member states except North Korea and Syria):

#CountryDate[47]
1  United Kingdom18 January 1949[48]
2  France15 February 1949
3  Philippines3 March 1949
4  United States25 March 1949[49]
5  Spain17 March 1950
6  Italy24 November 1956
7  Turkey8 March 1957
8  Germany25 May 1957[50]
9  Thailand1 October 1958[51]
10  Norway2 March 1959
11  Denmark11 March 1959
12  Sweden11 March 1959
13  Brazil31 October 1959
14  Malaysia23 February 1960
15  Netherlands4 April 1961
16  Greece5 April 1961
17  Portugal15 April 1961
18  Belgium2 May 1961[52]
19  Ivory Coast23 July 1961
20  Niger27 July 1961
21  Benin1 August 1961
22  Chad6 August 1961
23  Cameroon10 August 1961
24  AustraliaOctober 1961
25  Mexico26 January 1962
26  Nicaragua26 January 1962
27  Argentina15 February 1962
28  Colombia10 March 1962
29  Luxembourg16 March 1962
30  New Zealand26 March 1962[53]
31  Honduras1 April 1962
32  Israel10 April 1962
33  Chile18 April 1962
34  Burkina Faso20 April 1962
35  Dominican Republic6 June 1962
36  Paraguay12 June 1962
37  Madagascar25 June 1962
38  Sierra Leone25 June 1962
39  Morocco6 July 1962
40  Jordan26 July 1962
41  Costa Rica15 August 1962
42  El Salvador30 August 1962
43  Haiti22 September 1962
44  Panama30 September 1962
45  Gabon1 October 1962
46  Ecuador5 October 1962
47  Iceland10 October 1962
48  Jamaica13 October 1962
49  Saudi Arabia16 October 1962
50  Senegal19 October 1962
51  Iran23 October 1962
52  Guatemala24 October 1962
53  Canada14 January 1963
54   Switzerland11 February 1963
55  Rwanda21 March 1963
56  Uganda26 March 1963
57  Democratic Republic of the Congo1 April 1963
58  Peru1 April 1963
59  Austria22 May 1963[54]
60  Togo26 July 1963
61  Mauritania30 July 1963
62  Central African Republic5 September 1963
63  Ethiopia23 December 1963
64  Kenya7 February 1964
65  Liberia18 March 1964
66  Uruguay7 October 1964
67  Malawi9 March 1965
68  Malta2 April 1965
69  Gambia21 April 1965
70  Bolivia25 April 1965
71  Venezuela29 April 1965
72  Japan18 December 1965
73  Lesotho7 December 1966
74  Maldives30 November 1967
75  Botswana18 April 1968
76  Guyana13 June 1968
77  Eswatini6 November 1968
78  TunisiaMarch 1969
79  Cambodia18 May 1970
80  Tonga11 September 1970
81  Fiji30 January 1971
82  Mauritius3 July 1971
83  Samoa15 September 1972
84  Finland24 August 1973
85  Indonesia18 September 1973
86  India10 December 1973[55]
—  Holy See11 December 1973[56]
87  Bangladesh18 December 1973
88  Afghanistan31 December 1973[57]
89  Oman28 March 1974
90  Qatar18 April 1974
91    Nepal15 May 1974
92  Laos22 June 1974
93  Grenada1 August 1974
94  Myanmar16 May 1975
95  Singapore8 August 1975
96  Suriname28 November 1975
97  Bahrain17 April 1976
98  Papua New Guinea19 May 1976
99  Seychelles28 June 1976
100  Sudan13 April 1977
101  Ghana14 November 1977
102  Sri Lanka14 November 1977
103  Barbados15 November 1977
104  Djibouti7 December 1977
105  Solomon Islands15 September 1978
106  Dominica3 November 1978
107  Tuvalu15 November 1978
108  Comoros19 February 1979
109  Saint Lucia23 February 1979
110  Kuwait11 June 1979
111  Nauru20 August 1979
112  Equatorial Guinea14 September 1979
113  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines28 October 1979
114  Nigeria22 February 1980
115  Kiribati2 May 1980
116  United Arab Emirates18 June 1980
117  Vanuatu5 November 1980
118  LibyaDecember 1980
119  Lebanon12 February 1981
120  Antigua and Barbuda1 November 1981
121  Saint Kitts and Nevis19 September 1983
122  Ireland4 October 1983[58]
123  Pakistan7 November 1983[59]
124  Guinea-Bissau22 December 1983
125  Brunei1 January 1984
126  Bahamas8 July 1985
127  Trinidad and Tobago23 July 1985
128  Yemen22 August 1985
129  Belize14 April 1987
130  Bhutan24 September 1987[60]
131  Somalia25 September 1987
132  São Tomé and Príncipe20 August 1988
133  Cape Verde3 October 1988
134  Hungary1 February 1989
135  Iraq9 July 1989
136  Poland1 November 1989
137  Serbia27 December 1989
138  Algeria15 January 1990
139  Namibia21 March 1990
140  Czech Republic22 March 1990
141  Bulgaria23 March 1990
142  Mongolia26 March 1990
143  Romania30 March 1990
144  Republic of the Congo16 June 1990
145  Zambia4 September 1990
146  Mali27 September 1990
147  Russia30 September 1990
148  Federated States of Micronesia5 April 1991
149  Marshall Islands5 April 1991
150  Albania22 August 1991
151  Lithuania14 October 1991
152  Estonia17 October 1991
153  Latvia22 October 1991
154  Angola6 January 1992
155  Kazakhstan28 January 1992
156  Uzbekistan29 January 1992
157  Kyrgyzstan31 January 1992
158  Moldova31 January 1992
159  Turkmenistan7 February 1992
160  Belarus10 February 1992
161  Ukraine10 February 1992
162  Armenia21 February 1992
163  Azerbaijan23 March 1992
164  Tajikistan27 April 1992
165  Tanzania30 April 1992
166  China24 August 1992
167  Croatia18 November 1992
168  Slovenia18 November 1992
169  South Africa1 December 1992
170  Georgia14 December 1992
171  Vietnam22 December 1992
172  Slovakia1 January 1993
173  Liechtenstein2 March 1993
174  Eritrea24 May 1993
175  Mozambique11 August 1993
176  Burundi3 October 1993
177  Zimbabwe18 November 1994
178  Andorra23 February 1995
179  Palau22 March 1995
180  Egypt13 April 1995
181  Bosnia and Herzegovina15 December 1995
182  Cyprus28 December 1995
183  San Marino25 September 2000
184  East Timor20 May 2002
185  Guinea28 August 2006
186  Montenegro4 September 2006
187  Monaco20 March 2007
188  South Sudan9 July 2011[61]
—  Cook Islands22 February 2013
189  North Macedonia18 July 2019
—  Niue29 May 2023[62]
190  Cuba14 February 2024[63]

Bilateral relations

Americas

CountryFormal relations beganNotes
 Argentina1962-02-15[64]See Argentina–South Korea relations
 Brazil1959-10-31[67]See Brazil–South Korea relations
  • Brazil has an embassy in Seoul.
  • South Korea has an embassy in Brasilia.
  • In 2006, Korea's export in Brazil was 3.06 billion US dollars.[68]
 Canada1963-01-14[69]See Canada–South Korea relations
 Chile1962-04-18[73]See Chile–South Korea relations
 Colombia1962-03-10[74]See Colombia–South Korea relations
 Cuba2024-02-14See Cuba–South Korea relations
  • Diplomatic relations were established on 14 February 2024.
 Mexico1962-01-26[76]See Mexico–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Mexico and South Korea started on 26 January 1962.
  • Mexico has a Working Holiday Program Agreement with South Korea
  • Mexico has an embassy in Seoul.
  • South Korea has an embassy in Mexico City, Mexico.
 Panama1962-09-30[77]See Panama–South Korea relations
 Paraguay1962-06-12[78]See Paraguay–South Korea relations
 Peru1963-04-01[82]See Peru–South Korea relations
 United States1882-05-22[83]
1949-01-01[84]		See South Korea–United States relations
 Uruguay1964-10-07[87]See South Korea–Uruguay relations
 Venezuela1965-04-29[89]See South Korea–Venezuela relations

Asia

CountryFormal relations beganNotes
 Afghanistan1973-12-12[90]See Afghanistan – South Korea relations
  • The initial establishment of diplomatic relations between Afghanistan and South Korea began in December 1973 and lasted until September 1978.
  • The 2007 South Korean hostage crisis in Afghanistan was a major event in relations between the two countries. Two hostages were killed, and after the safe release of the remaining hostages, a Taliban official announced that South Korea had paid the Taliban more than US$20 million in ransom.[91] However, South Korea stated that they have made a promise with the Taliban not to make any public statements about the ransom.[92]
 Bangladesh1973-12-18[93]See Bangladesh–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and South Korea began on 18 December 1973.
  • Bangladesh has diplomatic relations with both North Korea and South Korea; North Korea commenced diplomatic relations with Bangladesh in 1973.
  • In 1974, South Korea opened its embassy in the capital Dhaka while her counterpart in 1987.[94]
  • In 2008, Ministry of Justice of South Korea ceased the protocol of visa exemption. It is decided in that illegal residents from Bangladesh have been over 13,000 through South Korea. Both nations should get permission from each country to enter from July 15, 2008.[95]
  • Scale of bilateral trade between two nation is US$1.2 billion.[96]
 Bhutan1987-09-24[97]See Bhutan–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Bhutan and South Korea began in September 1987.
  • Bilateral Trade in 2012
    • Exports 3.27million US dollars.
    • Imports 382 thousand US dollars.
  • South Korea's Grant Aid to Bhutan, Total of $6.21million US dollars (1987–2012).
 Brunei1984-01-01[98]See Brunei–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Brunei and South Korea began on 1 January 1984.
  • Bilateral Trade in 2013 was about 2,030 million US dollars.
  • Brunei Darussalam has an embassy in Seoul.
  • South Korea has an embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei.
  • Both countries working closely in economic.[99]
 Cambodia1970-05-18[100]See Cambodia–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Cambodia and South Korea began on 18 May 1970 and lasted until 5 April 1975. They were re-established on 30 September 1997.
  • Bilateral Trade in 2013 750 million US dollars
    • Exports 610 million US dollars
    • Imports 140 million US dollars
  • The number of South Koreans living in the Kingdom of Cambodia in 2013 was about 5,000.
 China1992-08-24[101]See China–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the People's Republic of China and South Korea began on 24 August 1992.
  • South Korea has an embassy in Beijing, China.[102]
  • China has an embassy in Seoul.[103]
  • South Korea's Investment in China (cumulative total at the end of 2014) about $3.7 billion.
  • Bilateral Trade in 2014 was about 235.4 billion US dollars.
    • Exports: $145.3 billion US dollars.
    • Imports: $90.1 billion US dollars.
  • People-to-People Exchanges, total of 10.3 million visitors
    • The number of South Korean visitors to China: 4.18million.
    • Number of Chinese visitors to South Korea: 6.12million.
  • Number of Long-Term Residents
    • South Korean long-term residents in China: 800.000.
    • Chinese long-term residents in the KOR: 780.000.
 Republic of China (Taiwan)1948-08-13[104]
1992-08-23[105]		See South Korea–Taiwan relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Taiwan and South Korea began on 13 August 1948. They lasted until South Korea's establishment of diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China (PRC) on 22 August 1992. Due to the One-China Policy required by the PRC as a prerequisite for establishing diplomatic relations, South Korea does not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
  • Taiwan has a Working Holiday Program Agreement with South Korea.
  • South Korea has a Mission Office in Taipei.[106]
  • Taiwan has a Mission Office in Seoul[107] and Busan.[108]
 East Timor2002-05-20[109]
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between East Timor and South Korea began on 20 May 2002.
  • Bilateral Trade in 2012 was about 75 million US dollars.
    • Exports 7.7 million US dollars.
    • Imports 67 million US dollars.
  • South Korea's Investment in the East Timor (cumulative total as of 2012) 14 million US dollars.
 Hong Kong1945-05-01[110]
 India1973-12-01[114]See India – South Korea relations
  • During the Korean War, India sent military medical staff to support South Korea as a part of the United Nations troops.
  • Diplomatic relations between the two countries has been relatively limited, although much progress arose during the three decades. Since the formal establishment of the diplomatic ties between the two countries in 1973, several trade agreements have been reached: Agreement on Trade Promotion and Economic and Technological Cooperation in 1974; Agreement on Cooperation in Science & Technology in 1976; Convention on Double Taxation Avoidance in 1985; and Bilateral Investment Promotion/ Protection Agreement in 1996.
  • Trade between the two nations has increased exponentially, exemplified by the $530 million during the fiscal year of 1992–1993, and the $10 billion during 2006–2007.[115] During the 1997 Asian financial crisis, South Korean businesses sought to increase access to the global markets, and began trade investments with India.[115]
 Indonesia1973-09-17[116]See Indonesia–South Korea relations

  • South Korea has an embassy in Jakarta.
  • The Republic of Indonesia has an embassy in Seoul.
  • Scale of bilateral trade between two nation is US$14.88 billion.[117]
  • South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade about relations with Indonesia
  • Indonesia and South Korea have invested in multiple joint military development projects, including the KFX/IFX fighter jet.[118]
  • South Korean firm Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) is in final contract negotiations to supply Indonesia with three Type-209 submarines. This will be the largest ever bilateral defense deal, valued at US$1.1 billion.[119]
  • Trade in National currencies and moving away from the US dollar.[120][citation needed]
 Japan1965-12-18[121]See Japan–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and South Korea began on 18 December 1965.
  • South Korea has an embassy in Tokyo, Japan.[122]
  • The State of Japan has an embassy in Seoul.[123]
  • The State of Japan has a Working Holiday Program Agreement with South Korea
  • Between the two countries's People-to-People Exchanges in 2014 was about 5.04 million visitors.
 North KoreaNo RelationsSee North Korea–South Korea relations
  • North Korea and South Korea have not established diplomatic relations.
 Laos1974-06-22[124]See Laos–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Laos and South Korea began on June 22, 1974, and lasted until July 24, 1975. They were reestablished on October 25, 1995.
  • Bilateral Trade in 2013 was about 199 million US dollars.
    • Exports 187 million US dollars.
    • Imports 12 million US dollars.
  • South Korea's Investment in the Laos (cumulative total as of 2011) 32 million US dollars.
 Macau
  • The number of South Koreans living in the Macau in 2008 was about 320.
  • The number of South Korean visitors to Macau in 2008 was about 281,129.
  • South Korea's Investment in Macau was about 5,530 US dollars.[125]
 Malaysia1960-02-23[126]See Malaysia–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and South Korea began on 23 February 1960.
  • Malaysia has an embassy in Seoul.
  • South Korea has an embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • The two countries established relations in 1960.[127]
  • Scale of bilateral trade between two nation is US$15.7 billion.[128]
 Maldives1967-11-30[129]See Maldives–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Maldives and South Korea began on 30 November 1967.
  • Bilateral Trade in 2012
    • Exports 3.67 million US dollars.
    • Imports 380 thousand US dollars.
  • The number of South Koreans visitors to Maldives in 2012 was 23,933.
 Mongolia1990-03-26[130]See Mongolia–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Mongolia and South Korea started on 26 March 1990.
  • Bilateral Trade in 2013 was about 520 million US dollars.
    • Exports 507 million US dollars.
    • Imports 13 million US dollars.
  • Investment (cumulative total at the end of 2013) about 350 million US dollars.
 Myanmar1975-05-16[131]See Myanmar–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Myanmar and South Korea began on 16 May 1975, when the former was known as Burma.
  • Bilateral Trade in 2012 was about 1,682 million US dollars
    • Exports 1,331million US dollars
    • Imports 351 million US dollars
  • The number of South Koreans living in Myanmar (Burma) in 2013 was about 2,300.
   Nepal1974-05-15[132]See Nepal–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and South Korea started on 15 May 1974.
  • Nepal has an embassy in Seoul.
  • South Korea has an embassy in Kathmandu Nepal.
  • Scale of bilateral trade between two nation is 27.2 million US dollars.[133]
  • South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade about relations with Nepal
 Pakistan1983-11-01[134]See Pakistan-South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and South Korea started in November 1983.
  • Bilateral Trade in 2012 was about 1.33billion US dollars.
    • Exports 810 million US dollars.
    • Imports 520 million US dollars.
  • South Korea's Investment in Pakistan (total at December 2012) 100 million US dollars.
 Philippines1949-03-03[135]See Philippines–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Philippines and South Korea started on 3 March 1949.
  • South Korea has an embassy in Manila, Philippines.
  • The Philippines has an embassy in Seoul.
  • Scale of bilateral trade between two nation is 6.8 billion US dollars.[136]
  • South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade about relations with Philippines
 Singapore1975-08-08[137]See Singapore–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Singapore and South Korea started on 8 August 1975.
  • Singapore has an embassy in Seoul.
  • South Korea has an embassy in Singapore.
  • Scale of bilateral trade between two nation is 24.7 billion US dollars.[138]
  • South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade about relations with Singapore
 Sri Lanka1977-11-14[139]See Sri Lanka–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and South Korea started on 14 November 1977.
  • South Korea has an embassy in Colombo.
  • Sri Lanka has an embassy in Seoul.
  • Scale of bilateral trade between two nation is 686 million US dollars.[140]
  • South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade about relations with Sri Lanka
 Thailand1958-10-09[141]See South Korea – Thailand relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Thailand and South Korea started in October 1958.
  • During the Korean War, Thailand was the second state sending troops for supporting South Korea just after United States. In October 2003, South Korean president Roh Moo-hyun visited Thailand while Prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to Seoul in November 2005.[142]
  • The Republic of Korea is Thailand's 10th largest trade partner, which is due to reach the scale of 10 billion US dollars.[143]
  • South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade about relations with Thailand
 Vietnam1992-12-22[144]See Vietnam–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and South Korea started on 22 December 1992.
  • South Korea has an embassy in Hanoi.
  • Vietnam has an embassy in Seoul.
  • Scale of bilateral trade between two nation is 9.8 billion US dollars.[145]
  • South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade about relations with Vietnam

Oceania

CountryFormal Relations BeganNotes
 Australia1961-10-31[146]See Australia–South Korea relations
 Fiji1970-10-01[153]See Fiji–South Korea relations
  • The Republic of the Fiji Islands and South Korea established official diplomatic relations in 1970, when the Republic of Fiji became independent.[154]
  • South Korea embassy in Suva Republic of Fiji.[155]
  • Fiji embassy in Seoul.[156]
  • South Korea's Investment in Fiji (cumulative amount at the end of 2013) 73.3 million US dollars.
  • South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade about relations with Fiji
 New Zealand1962-03-01[157]See New Zealand–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and South Korea began on 1 March 1962.
  • During the Korean War, New Zealand has sent 5,350 New Zealand soldiers to offer military cooperation with South Korea.
  • Republic of Korea has a consulate general in Auckland and an embassy in Wellington New Zealand.[158]
  • New Zealand has an embassy in Seoul.[159]
  • Scale of bilateral trade between two nation is US$1.94 billion.[160]
  • New Zealand–Korea Free Trade Agreement.
  • New Zealand has a Working Holiday Program Agreement with the South Korea.
  • South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade about relations with New Zealand
 Niue29 May 2023[1]See Niue–South Korea relations

Europe

CountryFormal Relations BeganNotes
 Albania1991-08-22[162]See Albania–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Albania and South Korea began on 22 August 1991.
  • Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Ban Ki-moon and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania Besnik Mustafaj signed the Convention between the government of the Republic of Korea and the Council of Ministers of the Albania for the Avoidance of Double Taxation with Respect to Taxes on Income and for the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion on May 17, 2006.[163]
 Andorra1995-02-23[164]See Andorra–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Principality of Andorra and South Korea began on 23 February 1995.
  • Bilateral Exchange in 2014: None.
  • Bilateral trade in 2014 was valued at 315,000 US dollars.
  • 2007 June Minister for Government Policy Coordination Im Sang-gyu.
  • 2008 August Foreign Minister Meritxell Mateu Pi.[164]
 Armenia1992-02-21[165]See Armenia–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and South Korea began on 21 February 1992.
  • The Republic of Korea and Armenia Policy Consultation will deal with ways to vitalize high-level exchanges promote substantive cooperation and work together on regional and global issues.[166]
 Austria1963-05-22[167]See Austria–South Korea relations
 Azerbaijan1992-03-23[171]See Azerbaijan–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between South Korea and the Republic of Azerbaijan began on 23 March 1992.
  • The Republic of Korea embassy in Azerbaijan held a briefing for journalists and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.[172]
  • Azerbaijan has an embassy in Seoul.
  • South Korea has an embassy in Baku.
 Belarus1992-02-10[173]See Belarus–South Korea relations
 Bosnia and Herzegovina1995-12-15[175]See Bosnia and Herzegovina–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Bosnia Herzegovina and South Korea and began on 15 December 1995.
  • The Republic of Korea and Bosnia Herzegovina Policy Consultation was held in Sarajevo on July 9 with MOFAT's Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Lee Yong-joon and his Bosnian counterpart Ana Trisic-Babic leading their respective delegations.[176]
 Bulgaria1990-03-23[177]See Bulgaria – South Korea relations
 Croatia1992-11-18[180]See Croatia–South Korea relations
 Cyprus1995-12-28[181]See Cyprus–South Korea relations
 Czech Republic1990-03-22[182]See Czech Republic–South Korea relations
 Denmark1902-07-15[185]
1959-03-11[186]		See Denmark – South Korea relations
 Estonia1991-10-17[190]See Estonia–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Estonia and South Korea began on 17 October 1991.
  • Estonia has an embassy in Seoul.
  • South Korea is represented in Estonia through its embassy in Helsinki, Finland and through an honorary consulate in Tallinn.
  • In 2006 South Korea was ranked as Estonia's 35th export partner and 29th import partner. Estonia's exports to South Korea consist primarily of machinery and mechanical appliances and wood items. The main import articles are transport vehicles and mechanical inventory. The total value of exports to South Korea in 2006 was 19.2 million EUR while imports totalled 34.6 million EUR.[191]
  • South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade about relations with Estonia
 Finland1973-08-24[192]See Finland–South Korea relations
 France1886-06-04[193]
1949-02-15[194]		See France – South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the France and South Korea began on 15 February 1949.[194]
  • France and South Korea still maintain very good relations. They collaborate on many topics and issues, such as the question of North Korea which is a matter of great importance for both countries. Besides bilateral cooperation France and South Korea also work together in International organizations such as the United Nations, UNESCO, the OECD etc. On the matter of North Korea. France is one of the few European countries to not have official diplomatic relations with the North Korea. France has also supported the Six-party talks as well as the role of the IAEA in finding solutions to the nuclear issue.[195]
  • France has a Working Holiday Program Agreement with South Korea.
  • The number of South Koreans living in France in 2012 was about 14,000.[194]
  • South Korea has an embassy in Paris.[193]
  • France has an embassy in Seoul.[196]
  • President of the Republic of Korea Park Geun-hye visited France in November 2013.
  • South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade about relations with France
 Georgia1992-12-14[197]See Georgia–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Georgia and South Korea started on 14 December 1992.
  • The number of South Koreans living in the Georgia in 2014 was about 50.
  • Bilateral Trade in 2014 was about 162 million US dollars.
  • Georgia has an embassy in Seoul.
  • South Korea has an embassy in Tbilisi.
 Germany1883-11-26[198]
1955-12-01[199]		See Germany – South Korea relations
 Greece1961-04-05[202]See Greece–South Korea relations
 Holy See1966-09-01[204]See Holy See–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and South Korea began on 1 September 1966.[205]
  • The Holy See Has a nunciature in Seoul.[206]
  • The current (as of 2008) South Korean ambassador to the Holy See is "Kim Ji-Young" (Christian name Francis).[207]
  • The Pope John Paul II visited the Republic of Korea twice during his pontificate, in 1984 and 1989.[208] – 1984 visit to Seoul was for the canonization of the 103 Korean martyrs held outside Rome Italy in a break from tradition.[209]
  • In 2000 then president of the Republic of Korea, Kim Dae Jung made a state visit to Vatican City the first South Korean head of state to do so.[210]
 Hungary1989-02-01[211]See Hungary–South Korea relations
  • The Republic of Hungary–the Republic of Korea relations date back to the exchange of permanent missions between the two countries announced during the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul The announcement made Hungary the first Eastern Bloc country to exchange ambassadors with South Korea At the time, a large number of officials from various Communist countries were in Seoul having ignored North Korea's call for a boycott of the Olympics along with Hungary they also made various formal and informal contacts with South Korean government.
  • Hungary has a Working Holiday Program Agreement with the Republic of Korea
  • The South Korean embassy is in Budapest .
  • Hungary has an embassy in Seoul.
  • South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade about relations with Hungary
 Iceland1962-10-10[212]See Iceland–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Iceland and South Korea began on 10 October 1962.
  • Bilateral Trade in 2014 was about 57,000,000 US dollars.
  • Bilateral Investments (from 1962 to 2014) about 5,140,000 US dollars.
  • Minister of Foreign Affairs Halldor Ásgrímsson has visited South Korea in August 1996.
  • Minister of Foreign Affairs Choi has visited Iceland in September 2002.
 Ireland1983-10-01[213]See Ireland–South Korea relations
 Italy1884-06-26[216]
1956-11-24[217]		See Italy – South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Italy and South Korea began on 24 November 1956.
  • Bilateral Trade and Investment between Italy and the Republic of Korea were about 10,926,000,000. US dollars in 2014.
  • Bilateral Investments in 2014
    • South Korea's Investment in Italy 654,000,000 US dollars.
    • Italy's Investment in South Korea 539,000,000 US dollars.
  • During the Korean War, Italy sent medical staff to support South Korea.
  • Italy has an embassy in Seoul.
  • South Korea has an embassy in Rome.
  • The number of South Koreans living in Italy in 2012 was about 4,054.
  • The Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti has visited to attend Seoul Nuclear Security Summit in March 2012.
  • The South Korean President Park Geun-hye has visited to Italy October 2014.
  • Italy has a Working Holiday Program Agreement with the Republic of Korea
  • South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade about relations with Italy
 Kazakhstan1992-01-28[218]See Kazakhstan–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Kazakhstan and South Korea started on 28 January 1992.
  • The number of South Koreans living in Kazakhstan in 2013 was about 100,000.
  • Kazakhstan has an embassy in Seoul.
  • South Korea has an embassy in Nur-Sultan.
  • Bilateral Trade in 2013 was about 1,323 million US dollars.
 Latvia1991-10-22[219]See Latvia–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Latvia and South Korea began in October 1991.
  • Latvia has an embassy in Seoul.
  • South Korea has an embassy in Riga.
  • The number of South Koreans living in Latvia in 2012 was about 41.
  • Bilateral Trade in 2014 was about 166,000,000 US dollars.
  • In 2019, South Korean MOFA was taught from Latvia that the country belongs to the Baltic region, not Balkans.[220]
 Liechtenstein1993-03-01[221]See Liechtenstein–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Principality of Liechtenstein and South Korea started in 1993.
  • Bilateral Trade in 2013
    • Exports 4.5 million US dollars
    • Imports $8.7 million US dollars
 Lithuania1991-10-14[222]See Lithuania–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Lithuania and South Korea began in October 1991.
  • Lithuania has an embassy in Seoul.
  • South Korea has an embassy in Vilnius.
  • The number of South Koreans living in the Lithuania in 2012 was about 106.
  • Bilateral Trade in 2014 was about 3,485,000 US dollars.
 Luxembourg1962-03-16[223]See Luxembourg–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Luxembourg and South Korea started in March 1962.
  • Bilateral Trade in 2014
    • Exports 572,000,000 US dollars
    • Imports: $39,000,000 US dollars
  • The number of South Koreans living in the Luxembourg in 2012 was about 61.
 North Macedonia2019-07-18[224]See North Macedonia–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between North Macedonia and South Korea started on 18 July 2019.
  • Bilateral Trade in 2014
    • Exports 9.4 million US dollars
    • Imports 2.1 million US dollars
  • Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski visited South Korea in July 2014.[225]
 Malta1965-04-02[226]See Malta–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Malta and South Korea started in April 1965.
  • Bilateral Trade in 2014
    • Exports: $1,014,000,000 US dollars
    • Imports: $514,000,000 US dollars
  • Bilateral Investments in 2014 was about 5,419,490,000. US dollars
 Moldova1992-01-31[227]See Moldova–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Moldova and South Korea started on 31 January 1992.
  • The number of South Koreans living in the Republic of Moldova in about 130.
  • Bilateral Trade in 2014
    • Exports 10 million US dollars
    • Imports 18 million US dollars
 Monaco2007-03-20[228]See Monaco–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Principality of Monaco and South Korea began on 31 March 2007.
  • Bilateral Trade in 2014
    • Export 241,000,000 US dollars
    • Imports 1,460,000 US dollars
  • Former foreign minister Yu Myung-hwan has attended the 6th World Policy Conference in Monaco on December 13–15 as Special Envoy of the President.[229]
 Montenegro2006-06-04[230]See Montenegro–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Montenegro and South Korea started on 4 September 2006.
  • Bilateral Trade in 2014
    • Export $0.935 million
    • Imports:$0.027 million
  • The Montenegrin Deputy Prime Minister has visited South Korea in October 2014.
 Netherlands1961-04-01[231]See Netherlands–South Korea relations
 Norway1959-03-02[234]See Norway–South Korea relations
 Poland1989-11-01[236]See Poland–South Korea relations
 Romania1990-03-30[239]See Romania – South Korea relations
 Russia1884-07-07[243]
1990-09-30[244]		See Russia–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Russian Federation and South Korea began on 30 September 1990.
  • The Russian Federation has an embassy in Seoul.
  • South Korea has a consulate general Office in Vladivostok and has an embassy in Moscow
  • President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin has visited Republic of Korea in November 2013.
  • President of the Republic of Korea Lee Myung-bak has visited Russia in November 2011.
  • Russia and South Korea's Bilateral Trade in 2013 was about $22.64 billion US dollars.
  • The Republic of Korea's Investment in Russia in 2013 was about $2,962 million US dollars.
  • The Number of Ethnic Koreans living in Russia about 210,000 and South Koreans living in the Russian Federation in 2013 was about 5,350.
 Serbia1989-12-27[245]See Serbia–South Korea relations
 Slovakia1993-01-01[247]See Slovakia–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Slovak Republic and South Korea began in January 1993.
  • Slovakia has an embassy in Seoul.[248]
  • South Korea has an embassy in Bratislava Slovak Republic.
  • Bilateral Trade in 2014 was about 45 billion US dollars.
  • The Republic of Korea's Investment in the Slovak Republic in 2014 million US dollars.
 Slovenia1992-04-15[249]See Slovenia–South Korea relations
 Spain1950-03-17[251]See Spain–South Korea relations
 Sweden1959-03-07[254]See Sweden–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea and Sweden began on 11 March 1959.
  • South Korea has an embassy in Stockholm.
  • Sweden has an embassy in Seoul.
  • Sweden has a Working Holiday Program Agreement with the Republic of Korea. There is no quota to Swedish citizens.
  • The number of South Koreans living in Sweden in 2012 was 2,602.
  • Bilateral Trade in 2014
    • Exports 871,000,000 US dollars
    • Imports 1,799,000,000 US dollars
  • South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade about the relations with Sweden
  Switzerland1963-02-11[255]See Switzerland–South Korea relations
 Tajikistan1992-04-27[257]See Tajikistan–South Korea relations
 Turkey1957-03-08[258]See Turkey–South Korea relations
 Turkmenistan1992-02-07[260]See Turkmenistan–South Korea relations
 Ukraine1992-02-10[261]See Ukraine–South Korea relations
 Uzbekistan1992-01-29[264]See Uzbekistan–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Uzbekistan and South Korea began on 29 January 1992.
  • Bilateral Trade in 2013 was about 2,020 million US dollars
    • Exports 1,968 million US dollars
    • Imports 53million US dollars
  • The number of South Koreans living in the Republic of Uzbekistan in 2013 was about 2,500.
  • Number of Ethnic Koreans living in the Republic of Uzbekistan about 180,000.
 United Kingdom1883-11-26[265]
1949-01-18[39]		See South Korea–United Kingdom relations
 Vatican City1963-12-11[268]See Vatican City–South Korea relations

Middle East and Africa

CountryFormal Relations BeganNotes
 Egypt1995-04-13[270]See Egypt–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Egypt and South Korea began on April 13, 1995.
 Ghana1977-11-14[271]See Ghana–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Ghana and South Korea began on November 14, 1977.
 Iran1962-10-23[272]See Iran–South Korea relations
 Israel1962-04-10[273]See Israel–South Korea relations
 Ivory Coast1961-07-23[276]See Ivory Coast–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Ivory Coast and South Korea began on July 23, 1961.
  • Since 1966 South Korea has an embassy in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
 Jordan1962-07-26[277]See Jordan–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Jordan and South Korea began on July 26, 1962.
 Kenya1964-02-07[278]See Kenya–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Kenya and South Korea began on February 7, 1962.
 Saudi Arabia1962-10-16See Saudi Arabia–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and South Korea began on October 16, 1962.
  • In business, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the largest exporter of oil to the Republic of Korea (300,000,000 barrels, 2014) Also, ARAMCO Korea was established in 2012. In 2016, two-way trade volume reached US$29.04 billion with South Korea exporting cars, electronic goods, steel and other items to Saudi Arabia and importing oil and other petrochemical products from it.[279] Now, South Korea is described as a "core" partner for the Saudi Vision 2030 project, noting progress in joint efforts to flesh out their cooperation scheme to realize the vision.[279]
  • On the matter of North Korea. Saudi Arabia is one of the few Asian countries to not have official diplomatic relations with the North Korea.
    • South Korea has an embassy in Riyadh and a consulate in Jeddah
    • Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Seoul
 Somalia1987-09-25[280]See Somalia–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between Somalia and South Korea began on September 25, 1987.
 South Africa1992-12-01[281]See South Africa–South Korea relations

See also

References

Further reading

  • Ahn, B.J. "Korea: A Rising Middle Power in World Politics", Korea and World Affairs 1987. 11#1 pp 7–17.
  • Choi, Young Jong. "South Korea's regional strategy and middle power activism." Journal of East Asian Affairs(2009): 47–67. online
  • Hwang, Balbina Y. "The US Pivot to Asia and South Korea's Rise." Asian Perspective 41.1 (2017): 71–97.
  • John, Jojin V. "Becoming and being a middle power: exploring a new dimension of South Korea's foreign policy." China Report 50.4 (2014): 325–341. online[dead link]
  • John, Jojin V. "Globalization, National Identity and Foreign Policy: Understanding'Global Korea'." Copenhagen Journal of Asian Studies 33.2 (2016): 38–57. online
  • Kim Jinwung. "Recent Anti-Americanism in South Korea: The Causes" Asian Survey, 1989 29#8 749–63
  • Kim, Min‐hyung. "South Korea's China Policy, Evolving Sino–ROK Relations, and Their Implications for East Asian Security." Pacific Focus 31.1 (2016): 56–78.
  • Kim, Samuel S. ed. International Relations of Northeast Asia (Rowman and Littlefield,) esp pp 251–80
  • Lee, Sook Jong, ed. Transforming Global Governance with Middle Power Diplomacy: South Korea's Role in the 21st Century (Springer, 2016) online.
  • Milani, Marco, Antonio Fiori, and Matteo Dian, eds. The Korean Paradox: Domestic Political Divide and Foreign Policy in South Korea (Routledge, 2019).
  • Nam, Sung-Wook, et al. eds. South Korea's 70-Year Endeavor for Foreign Policy, National Defense, and Unification (Springer, 2018).
  • Pardo, Ramon Pacheco. South Korea’s Grand Strategy: Making Its Own Destiny (Columbia University Press, 2023). ISBN 9780231203227 online scholarly review of this major book
  • Rozman, Gilbert. "South Korea and Sino-Japanese rivalry: A middle power's options within the East Asian core triangle: Pacific Review 2007. 20#2 pp 197–220.
  • Saxer, Carl J. "Capabilities and aspirations: South Korea's rise as a middle power," Asia Europe Journal 2013. 11#4 pp 397–413.
  • Tayal, Skand R. India & the Republic of Korea: Engaged Democracies (2013)

External links

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