South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said that South Korea and Türkiye are continuing their mutually beneficial cooperation in the defense industry, emphasizing that both countries are strengthening their international standing through advanced defense capabilities and technological infrastructure.
Cho highlighted that Türkiye and South Korea share a deep historical bond dating back to the Korean War, when Türkiye sent nearly 20,000 soldiers in support of South Korea. He noted that this shared history continues to form the foundation of trust and friendship between the two countries.
According to Cho, bilateral relations have expanded steadily across political, economic, and cultural fields. He underlined the importance of South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s official visit to Türkiye last year—the first in 13 years—which reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to advancing their strategic partnership and increasing high-level dialogue.
In the economic sphere, Cho stated that trade volume between the two countries has grown consistently under the South Korea–Türkiye Free Trade Agreement, reaching a record high of 10.4 billion dollars in 2023. He added that both sides aim to expand cooperation into future-oriented strategic sectors such as defense industry, nuclear energy, biotechnology, renewable energy, and artificial intelligence.
Regarding defense cooperation, Cho pointed to joint projects including the Altay main battle tank as examples of ongoing collaboration. He emphasized that future cooperation would focus on joint production, technology sharing, and training programs, contributing not only to the defense capacities of both countries but also to regional and global security.
Cho also addressed regional and global issues, including developments on the Korean Peninsula, Ukraine, and Gaza, noting South Korea’s support for diplomatic efforts, ceasefires, humanitarian assistance, and international cooperation. He expressed appreciation for Türkiye’s mediation efforts in regional conflicts and highlighted Türkiye’s strategic position connecting Europe and the Middle East, particularly in global supply chains.
Finally, Cho noted the growing cultural and people-to-people ties between the two countries, stating that both governments aim to further strengthen youth exchanges, tourism, and cultural cooperation as the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations approaches in 2027.
Source:AA
