South Korea and Turkey should expand cooperation in defense, energy and advanced technologies as bilateral ties gain fresh momentum, Turkey’s new ambassador to Seoul, Fatih Yildiz, said Monday.
Speaking at an event in Seoul marking the 103rd anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey, Yildiz highlighted the longstanding ties between the two countries and called for deeper cooperation in strategic industries.
Turkey supported South Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War, and the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1957. They elevated their ties to a strategic partnership in 2012.
Yildiz said relations have gained new momentum through exchanges between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as well as broader high-level contacts.
At their Ankara summit in November 2025, Lee and Erdogan agreed to strengthen cooperation in areas including defense, nuclear energy and biotechnology.
Existing industrial cooperation includes Turkey’s Altay main battle tank program, which incorporates technology from South Korea’s K2 tank, as well as infrastructure projects involving Korean companies.
During Lee’s visit to Turkey, Korea Electric Power Corp. and Turkey’s state nuclear company, TUNAS, also signed a memorandum of understanding on nuclear cooperation as Seoul sought to take part in the proposed Sinop nuclear power plant project.
Economic ties have also expanded steadily. Bilateral trade rose from $5.22 billion in 2012 to $10.66 billion in 2025, according to South Korea’s Trade Ministry.
Korean investment, along with exports of materials and components, has also contributed to Turkey’s manufacturing sector and supply chains.
Yildiz said the relationship extends beyond government and business ties, pointing to exchanges involving Korean War veterans and their families, students and cultural programs.
“Our relationship therefore cannot be fully measured by political dialogue, trade figures or industrial projects alone,” he said.
sanjaykumar@heraldcorp.com