Türkiye–South Korea ties

In an exclusive interview with Yeni Şafak at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Yeon-doo Jeong, Vice Minister for Diplomatic Strategy and Intelligence at South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, described Türkiye–South Korea relations as “excellent,” highlighting the deep historical ties between the two nations. He recalled Türkiye’s contribution during the Korean War, emphasizing that the Korean people continue to remember the sacrifice of Turkish soldiers, which laid the foundation for today’s strong bilateral partnership.

Jeong noted that both countries, as members of the G20 and OECD, share common ground in addressing global challenges, particularly amid turbulent international security conditions. He also pointed to growing cooperation under multilateral frameworks such as MIKTA, as well as expanding bilateral engagement in key sectors including defense industry and nuclear energy. According to Jeong, relations have seen rapid development following the South Korean president’s state visit to Türkiye last November, signaling a deepening strategic partnership.